Fies Aiming to Repay Mccreery Faith

Trainer Willie McCreery is confident Fiesolana can repay the faith of her connections by making her presence felt in Saturday's Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.

Since joining Curragh-based McCreery from French handler Jean-Claude Rouget earlier in the year, the four-year-old has clinched a Curragh handicap and three Group Three prizes at Leopardstown, Fairyhouse and Tipperary.

She steps up to Group One company this weekend, having been supplemented for the one-mile contest on Monday, and McCreery is keeping his fingers crossed the owners at least get their money back by finishing in the frame.

"She's in great form. She came out of her race at Tipperary very well and we're looking forward to it," the trainer told At The Races.

"We're clutching at straws a little bit, but she deserves to be there. She's won three Group Threes this year, so what else can you do? There's nothing much left for her.

"Her wins this year have all been on watered ground. I don't know if she needs a bit of cut in the ground.

"She has a very high cruising speed and she's able to quicken off it. She did that the last day and she saves a little bit for herself when she hits the front as well.

"When we got her she was rated 92 and I thought she'd be a hard mare to place, but all she's done is progress and everything we've asked, she's answered.

"She has a good draw, Billy (Lee, jockey) knows her well and she's very straightforward in her races.

"The mile shouldn't be a problem and once we get this rain that we're meant to get, the ground will be absolutely perfect.

"We're in there, we're happy to be there and we have a chance, we hope.

"I'd be very disappointed if we're not in the frame, mainly because we paid £20,000 on Monday and if we're not in the first three we don't get it back."

French trainer Henri-Alex Pantall won the Matron back in 1997 with Clerio and returns with another major challenger in Kenhope.

Second in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and third in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville, she is another filly unlikely to be inconvenienced if ground conditions deteriorate.

Pantall's assistant, Ludovec Gadben, said: "She has recovered very well from her last race at Deauville and she travelled well to Ireland and arrived on Thursday morning. Everything is going in a good way for the filly.

"It was good news for us that Elusive Kate does not run. We were in third place behind her last time when just beaten for second by another good filly (Duntle).

"She is a tough filly and has been running well all year at a high level so we think she should run very well.

"Any rain would be good news for her. She goes on all ground but she is better if it is somewhere between good and heavy.

"She has run well on all types of racecourses so the track won't be a problem for her. She can pull during a race but she is like that and the jockey knows that. It will not be a problem.

"She can be far away during the race and can come back pretty quickly at the end of the race and can do a good final stretch from behind. I hope she can win. We have travelled in the hope of that, we will see."

Lady Cecil's Chigun was not far behind Kenhope in a blanket finish for the minor placings in France last time.

Rob Speers, racing manager for Chigun's owner Ibrahim Araci, said: "The ground is probably irrelevant for her as long as it's not extreme either way. She wouldn't want it very quick or too heavy.

"I think with Elusive Kate not running, it's a very open race. There are probably half a dozen fillies in there with a genuine chance and hopefully we're one of them.

"Her last run at Deauville was probably better than the bare result. She finished ninth of 12 but was only four lengths behind Elusive Kate and a couple of lengths behind Kenhope.

"Her form from earlier in the year with the likes of Dank and Duntle is strong, so fingers crossed she can run well."

Tommy Stack's Wannabe Better has won her last two starts including a Listed success at Killarney last week.

She is turned out quickly and takes a significant step up in class.

The trainer's son and assistant, Fozzy Stack, said: "We declared hoping the race might cut up and it has, but whether it's cut up enough, we'll have to wait and see.

"I don't think the ground will be a problem for her, she seems well and she's improving.

"We're taking a bit of a chance and just hoping we might get lucky."

Kevin Prendergast's La Collina was a Group One-winning two-year-old and was not beaten far when fifth in last year's Matron.

Prendergast said: "She was only beaten a couple of lengths last year and suffered a bit of interference, so I'm hoping she'll run a big race.

"Most of her runs this season have been good. The ground is pretty fast at the moment, so a drop of rain won't do it any harm. She wouldn't want it heavy, but of a bit of cut is fine."