Pollenca has Athasi target and new owner Andy Slattery has revealed that Pollenca will carry new colours when she lines up in the Athasi Stakes at the Curragh on May 4th. The Oasis Dream filly made a good impression when landing her maiden at the Curragh on the opening day of the Flat season. She was owned by Rachel Halley then but has since been purchased by Sheikh Hamed Dalmook Al Maktoum. “She runs in the Athasi Stakes. She has changed colours and is now owned by Sheikh Dalmook, who is a nephew of Sheikh Mohammed. She runs for him the next day,” said Slattery. “I’ve never had a Sheikh before! “She’s working very well and is in good nick. We supplemented her for the (Irish 1,000) Guineas and we’ll see what she can do in the Athasi and see where we go after that. “I think she’ll be better when she steps up to a mile-and-a-quarter.” Slattery also has Punchestown to look forward to next week and gave an update on his Grade 1 winner Fleur In The Park. “Everything is good with him and Punchestown is the plan on Tuesday week. “The three-mile-one is the only race there for him really. “We’ve run him over two miles but he was always flat out. He’s a lot more comfortable in his jumping, and he has the pace to travel, at three miles. “We’re going to try it and I think he will get it. “Ebony King will run in the Grade 1 novice hurdle over two miles, his owner likes these graded races. The faster the ground, the better he’ll be.”
