Can Henry de Bromhead's top-rated filly uphold Irish 1,000 Guineas form?

Sunday: 4.15 Fairyhouse
Irish Stallion Farms EBF Brownstown Stakes (Group 3) | 7f | 3yo+ Fillies and Mares | RTV

It generally pays to side with maturity over youth in this Group 3 for fillies and mares, but it's a pair of three-year-olds who will likely be most prominent in the market this year.

Across the last 15 editions of the Brownstown Stakes, 12 have gone to horses aged four or older, as was the case last year when high-class miler Pearls Galore edged out fellow four-year-old Valeria Messalina.

After finishing fourth to Homeless Songs in the Irish 1,000 Guineas before filling the same position behind Noble Truth in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, this looks a significantly less demanding task for Star Girls Aalmal.

Trained by Henry de Bromhead, she's proven over this trip and has the highest rating of the field, her mark of 107 being 4lb superior to fellow three-year-old Affogato.

Affogato: seeking a hat-trick since switching to Ger LyonsCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

That promising rival, representing Ger Lyons, impressed when beating older and much more experienced rivals in a three-runner affair over this course and distance last month. She could yet have more improvement to come as an unexposed youngster.

Joseph O'Brien saddles two contenders, Emphatic Answer being the most appealing. A reproduction of the four-year-old's penultimate second behind Pearls Galore in the Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes would give her a massive chance.

Given Paddy Twomey's 38 per cent strike rate in 2022, 7f German Listed race winner Diadora could show up well if back to her best.

What they say

Paddy Twomey, trainer of Diadora
She's in good form and I think the track should suit her. Hopefully, coming back to seven furlongs will be fine too. It looks a good race on paper but we're hoping she can run a nice race.

Brendan Powell, assistant to Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Emphatic Answer and Perfect Thunder
Emphatic Answer has really improved over the last year, and her latest two runs at the Curragh were good efforts. The form of her second to Pearls Galore two starts ago looks a nice run. Perfect Thunder won a maiden at the Curragh earlier this season and hasn't run badly in either start since. Hopefully, she has a chance of getting some black type here. It's a warm race but both fillies are in good form and should like the ground, so we're hoping they can run well.

Colin Keane, rider of Affogato
She's a lovely filly and seems to be progressing with racing. She won her maiden well at Gowran and I thought she did it nicely last time at Fairyhouse. It was a small field and I felt she was still a bit green that day. Hopefully, there's no reason why she can't continue to improve, even if she isn't a huge filly.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Nectaris
She's a good, solid filly and has been running some nice races. We're hoping for a big run and it would be great if she could get some black type.

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