'My two girls are in great form' - unbeaten filly heads Willie McCreery challenge for Matron Stakes

Willie McCreery calculates 95 per cent of his string are fillies and two of the best ones are likely to take each other on in the Coolmore America "Justify" Matron Stakes on day one of the Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown on Saturday week. 

The unbeaten Jancis falls into the 'could be anything' category and her potential will be tested when she tackles four-time Group 1 winner Porta Fortuna and possibly Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Fallen Angel in what promises to be a superb support act to the Irish Champion Stakes. 

Vespertilio is likely to be McCreery's other runner in the race he won ten years ago with Fiesolana. She went down fighting in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp back in May when beaten a head and a neck by Rouhiya and, with a mark of 110, is actually rated 3lb superior to her stablemate. 

However, the market suggests Jancis has better prospects as she is 8-1 with Paddy Power, while Vespertilio is 25-1. 

Jancis did not run as a juvenile but she is certainly making up for lost time at three. She is two from two and exploded on to the scene when storming home to win a Leopardstown maiden in June at 40-1. She went straight from there into the Group 3 Brownstown Stakes and once again powered home to beat a strong field, four of whom were rated 101 or higher. 

Jancis wins the Group 3 Brownstown Stakes under Billy LeeCredit: Patrick McCann

Both of those victories were over seven furlongs, but she looks to be crying out for a mile and McCreery feels the future is bright for the daughter of Tamayuz, who could develop into an even better four-year-old next year. 

Speaking at a press morning, McCreery said: "She came into her own late. She did nothing as a two-year-old and was very backward early on in the year. 

"I said the first day she ran that once she went through the stalls I didn't care. It was a little bit of a worry for us going there. She's a very shy filly and she just took a bit of time to come together. She seems to like Leopardstown anyway and whatever she does this season I hope it will be a bonus for next year.

"You are always worried in a big field, especially with her run style as she likes to sit in and then quicken up, and the quicker the ground the better for the two of them."

He added: "Vespertilio has the same run style as Jancis so we hope there's plenty of pace. She seems in great form. In the last couple of weeks she has really started to furnish again and I'm very happy with her.

"My two girls are in great form and I'm looking forward to the race now. We did the major bits of work yesterday and you're always worried then as that's the time something could happen. After that it's just about keeping them happy and healthy from now until the race."

McCreery has serious respect for favourite Porta Fortuna, saying: "She's the standout filly. She's exceptional. Every time she's shown up she's never far away and she tries her heart out.

"In her last race she did it totally the opposite way, from the front, and it made no difference to her. She goes on every type of ground and has danced every dance. She's going to be the one with a target on her back."

McCreery has always been known for his star fillies such as Fiesolana, Insinuendo, Epona Plays and now Vespertilio, Jancis and Ocean Jewel. 

He explained why that is, saying: "About 95 per cent of mine are fillies. Most have always been fillies. Most of the colts we get we geld them because they are not well-bred. There is only one colt here now and that's by accident. 

"I don't get to buy colts because they are just too dear and the breeders send me fillies so that's the way it is and I'm happy with the fillies."

Coolmore America "Justify" Matron Stakes (2.50 Leopardstown, September 14)

Paddy Power: 11-8 Porta Fortuna, 5-2 Fallen Angel, 9-2 Opera Singer, 8 Jancis, Ylang Ylang, 10 Elmalka, 12 Rogue Millennium, Soprano, 14 bar

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