Discoveries (far side) winning at the Curragh© Photo Healy Racing
There are five juvenile races on the Curragh card this evening and the Group 2 Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes should help to sort out the pecking order among the fillies.
Jessica Harrington, who trained multiple Group 1 winner Alpha Centauri and landed this prize with her half-sister Alpine Star in 2019, is this year represented by Alpha Centauri’s full-sister Discoveries
The daughter of Mastercraftsman improved from her debut fourth at Leopardstown to open her account over this course and distance on her second start and further improvement can be expected.
Alan Cooper, racing manager for her owner-breeders the Niarchos family, said: “Hopefully it will be a good race.
“Alpha Centauri didn’t actually run in the Debutante, but we thought we’d name the race after her.
“Discoveries improved from her first run to her second and I think Mrs Harrington is hoping she can step forward again.
“Let’s hope it all comes together.”
Aidan O’Brien fires a twin assault, with course and distance scorer Concert Hall joined by Galway Festival-winning stablemate Twinkle
O’Brien said of Concert Hall: “We’ve been very happy with her since her last run.
“She obviously progressed from her first run to her second and we think she’s progressed again.”
Moore has sided with the former, and said: “Concert Hall showed the benefit of a run in Fairyhouse when winning the same maiden as Snowfall did a year earlier over course and distance last time out.
“As you would expect, being out of Oaks winner Was, she finished off her race very well and showed guts to come back at them after being headed.
“Like her mother, she seems to have plenty of ability and a good attitude to go with it. Aidan has won this race with some very talented fillies over the years and hopefully this filly can take another step forward and go well.”
Joseph O’Brien also saddles a couple of previous Stakes winners in Agartha and Seisai with the Johnny Murtagh-trained Hapipi Go Lucky and Mise Le Meas also in the mix for what promises to be an informative contest.
