Bocca Baciata gives Harrington optimism Jessica Harrington is keeping her fingers crossed Bocca Baciata can get back on the winning trail in the Kilboy Estate Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday. A Group Three winner last season, the four-year-old made a successful return in a Listed event at Gowran Park in April and has acquitted herself well at Group One level the last twice, most recently giving Aidan O'Brien's dual Classic winner Minding a run for her money in the Pretty Polly Stakes. Bocca Baciata has her sights lowered slightly this weekend and Harrington is hopeful she can make the most of the opportunity. "She's in very good form and we've been happy with her since the last day," said the trainer. "The ground should be perfect for her, she's in good order and I'd be very hopeful, so we'll see." A strong British representation includes Hugo Palmer's German 1000 Guineas heroine Hawksmoor. The Newmarket handler said: "She's a Group Two winner and she's a good filly. "I think she's going to be quite hard to place as in my opinion it's a quantum leap from winning a German Guineas to winning a Sun Chariot or a Falmouth. "She has to carry a penalty in Group Twos, so it's not going to be easy to win races, but like I said to her owner, we'd rather be a Classic winner and have the penalty than not be a Classic winner and not." Hawksmoor is joined on the trip across the Irish Sea by Marco Botti's Kyllachy Queen, Mick Channon's Epsom Icon and the Roger Varian-trained Lady Of Dubai. Epsom Icon was last seen delighting her locally-based owners when landing the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom on Derby day. "She's in great form. I thought she was really impressive at Epsom and she's been in great nick since," said Channon. "This was the next logical target after and we've aimed at it ever since. I'm hoping she'll run very well." Lady Of Dubai, third in last year's Oaks at Epsom for Luca Cumani, finished fifth in York's Middleton Stakes on her debut for Varian and has not been seen since. Speaking on his website, the trainer said: "Lady Of Dubai appears to be in very good form. "The nine-furlong trip is quite enticing and she is a talented filly who ought to run well." The Godolphin-owned Devonshire has won twice at the Curragh for Willie McCreery, most recently landing the Group Two Lanwades Stud Stakes in May. She disappointed in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, but connections are hoping to see her in a better light back on home soil. McCreery said: "She's in great form and we'd be hoping she'll run well. She likes the Curragh and the ground should be fine. "We were a little bit disappointed with the run in Ascot, but the straight mile doesn't really suit her and I don't think she really likes the place. Hopefully she'll bounce back, but it is a tough ask giving the weight away, especially to Bocca Baciata."
