Lugnaquilla

Lugnaquilla did well to finish second to Shamiyna in the 11-furlong fillies’ maiden at Killarney on Wednesday. Settled back towards the rear of the field early on by Gavin Ryan, she was just a little keen on the run down the back straight, which wasn’t ideal on the soft ground. Last of the 10 runners as they left the back straight, she made ground on the near side in the home straight to move in behind the leaders. It never really looked like she was going to get to Shamiyna, but she stayed on well to take second place from Zero Turn, with the first three nicely clear.

This was a nice step forward by Donnacha O’Brien’s filly from her racecourse debut at Leopardstown. She had Shamiyna one and a half lengths and two places ahead of her that day too, when she kept on well to take fourth place behind Ennistymon, who finished second in the Ribblesdale Stakes next time and then went on to finish second in the Oaks.

Lugnaquilla is a well-bred filly, a full-sister to Cliffs Of Moher, by Galileo and out of Wave, a sister to Henrythenavigator. She should progress from this, and she should do better again when she gets back on better ground.

Killarney, 19th August 2020

© Sportinglife.com, 24th August 2020