Oaks winner Thundering On will face nine rivals in Saturday’s Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh after declarations for the Paddy Power-sponsored 10-furlong contest were confirmed on Thursday morning.
The Joseph O’Brien-trained filly, owned by Shapoor Mistry, has been drawn in stall seven and will again be ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle. That draw carries a neat recent echo: last year’s winner Whirl came from the same stall, as did Mistry’s 2021 Pretty Polly winner Thundering Nights.
O’Brien also has depth around his headline runner. Wemightakedlongway, runner-up in last year’s Irish Oaks, has been handed stall five, while German Oaks third Nyra will break from stall nine. That gives the Carriganog team three live chances in one of the key older-filly and mare races of the Irish summer.
Pretty Polly field gives Joseph O’Brien a strong hand
Britain’s challenge is led by Cheveley Park Stud’s Estrange, the dual Group 1-placed Lancashire Oaks winner, who has drawn stall six. The confirmed field also includes Juddmonte’s Red Letter in stall three, Wathnan Racing’s One Look in stall ten, and Charlie Johnston’s 1000 Guineas third Venetian Lace in stall eight.
The declarations, first reported by Thoroughbred Daily News, set up a significant midsummer test for Thundering On as she returns to Group 1 company over 10 furlongs at the Curragh.
