Pearls Galore faces serious test from exciting Twilight Spinner in Group 2 prize

Sunday: 3.10 Curragh
Lanwades Stud Stakes (Group 2) | 1m | 4yo+ fillies and mares | RTV/RTE1

A field of eight have been declared for this €120,000 prize but two contenders stand out a mile from the rest, as established, high-class miler Pearls Galore gears up for a tussle with the fast-improving four-year-old Twilight Spinner.

Paddy Twomey has brought Pearls Galore along beautifully since the five-year-old joined his team two seasons ago, progressing from a mark of 87 to become a dual Group 3 winner now rated 109.

She was arguably unlucky not to land the Group 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown when beaten a neck last September before finishing second to Space Blues in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret at Longchamp.

Pearls Galore (left): was just denied by No Speak Alexander in the Matron Stakes last SeptemberCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

If running to that sort of standard, having blown away the cobwebs with a decisive success on her comeback at Leopardstown last month, the daughter of Invincible Spirit will take plenty of beating in this company.

We don't know just how good the Joseph O'Brien-trained Twilight Spinner is though and just 1lb separates the pair on official ratings.

O'Brien has not rushed the Twilight Son filly since she was bought privately out of David O'Meara's yard around this time last year. Connections' patience was rewarded at the start of this month when she bolted up in the Group 3 Athasi Stakes on just her third start in Ireland.

That seven furlong assignment was Twilight Spinner's first effort beyond six furlongs, and she appeared to relish the step up in trip. Going further is unknown territory again, but we know she's effective with an ease in the ground and could possibly even improve from it. She was supplemented for this prize at a cost of €12,000 on Tuesday.

Scott Heider's 108-rated performer hasn't achieved as much as Pearls Galore and needs to improve to match the older mare's level, but she clearly remains open to progression.

Joseph O'Brien on Twilight Spinner: 'She shaped last time over seven furlongs as if she'd get a mile but there's only one way to find out'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

On official figures, there should be a battle on for third as Emphatic Answer (rated 100), Sh Boom (100), Diadora (98) and Thunder Beauty (97) are all closely matched.

Diadora, who made her seasonal and stable debut for Paddy Twomey when second in Listed company at Naas last Sunday, makes most appeal to fill the frame.

A Listed winner when trained by Markus Klug in Germany last June, she brings a useful level of form to the table and can be expected to improve from her last run.

Pearls Galore takes next step on path to top-level success

Paddy Twomey has made no secret of the fact Pearls Galore has been kept in training this season with the specific aim of winning a first Group 1, and Sunday's contest is deemed the next logical step on her path to that target.

This has been a lucky race for her jockey Billy Lee, having ridden in three of the last six runnings and won it twice aboard the Willie McCreery-trained fillies Devonshire (2016) and Epona Plays (2021), as well as securing black type in third with Silk Forest (2020).

Diadora (red cap): runner-up to Lust in the Listed Owenstown Stud Stakes at NaasCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Twomey said: "Pearls Galore was good on her return at Leopardstown. That form has been boosted nicely since with [runner-up] Pretreville winning the Amethyst Stakes since.

"She seems to be in good form and this looked the logical next step, being a Group 2, so we're looking forward to running her."

On Diadora, he added: "She made a nice first start for us at Naas. I think the visor helped her there and she seems to have come out of her race well."

What they say

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Emphatic Answer and Twilight Spinner
It will be interesting to see how Twilight Spinner gets on over this trip. She shaped last time over seven furlongs as if she'd get a mile but there's only one way to find out. If she does, she has a live chance of being placed anyway. Emphatic Answer needs to bounce back from a disappointing run last time. If she can do that, she'll have a live each-way chance. She seems to have saved her best for the Curragh in the past.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of My Holy Fox
Hopefully she will come forward from her first start of the season. We'd love to pick up some black type with her.

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