Cherry Blossom

Cherry Blossom was impressive in winning her maiden at The Curragh on Saturday. Smartly away from her high draw, she was quickly into her stride and quickly into her racing rhythm towards the near side for Ryan Moore. She raced in a share of the lead with Bitcoin Profit early on, but she moved into a clear lead on the run to the two-furlong marker, and, when her rider gave her a squeeze, she came away from her rivals impressively, winning by five lengths in the end from Chandigah, who was, in turn, five lengths clear of the rest.

You could hardly have expected more from Aidan O’Brien’s filly, on this, her second run. She was obviously beaten on her first run, this was a maiden, but that was over five furlongs on soft ground in the Marwell Stakes, in which she stumbled on leaving the stalls. It was significant too that she was sent off as favourite for that listed race. She seemed happier here on better ground and she saw out the six furlongs well.

A seriously well-bred filly, by No Nay Never out of a half-sister to Rail Link, she clocked a good time here, only marginally slower than the time that Bucanero Fuerte clocked in winning the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes over the same course and distance later on the day. She holds entries in the Lowther Stakes and the Mill Reef Stakes and the Cheveley Park Stakes, and she will be of interest in any or all of them.

The Curragh, 13^th August 2023