Johnston hoping to give Venetian Lace her chance at the Curragh Charlie Johnston is keen to send Venetian Lace to Ireland for Saturday’s Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes, provided ground conditions are deemed suitable. An excellent third in the 1000 Guineas on her three-year-old debut, the Masar filly then finished last of nine when stepped up to a mile and a half for the Oaks at Epsom. With Johnston of the opinion rain-softened ground was to blame for her disappointing showing on the Surrey Downs, he is keen to ensure underfoot conditions are more in her favour before committing to another Group One outing this weekend. Ground Crucial for Curragh Outing “It will depend on the ground and I’ve actually been meaning to phone the groundsman this afternoon,” said the Middleham-based trainer. “You’d like to think in these conditions they’re able to produce good to firm ground and provided the ground is good or quicker the intention is very much to go, as from the moment we were unsaddling her at Epsom I thought this was the obvious next step. “We didn’t learn at Epsom whether she stayed or not – she was beaten too far out. But coming back to this intermediate trip made perfect sense for her next run. “She’s in good order. Jason (Hart) came in and had a sit on her this morning, so it’s all systems go subject to ground.”
