Alexander Goldrun has edge

Alexander Goldrun can take the measure of five older fillies in the 1 1/4-mile Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at The Curragh on Saturday. As the only 3-year-old in a race that has been won by 3-year-olds in five of the last six years, she will receive 12 pounds from the likes of the defending champ, Hanami. A daughter of Gold Away trained by Jim Bolger, Alexander Goldrun was second by a length to the undefeated Attraction in the Irish 1000 Guineas before finishing fourth, just two lengths behind the victorious Latice, in the 1 5/16-mile French Oaks. Kevin Manning will take his usual place in the saddle Saturday in search of the $188,000 first prize.

Not only does Alexander Goldrun get a break on the European scale of weights, she will be facing five foes who are hardly Group 1 performers.

Hanami, winless in three starts since last year's Pretty Polly, was nine lengths third behind Soviet Song in the Group 2 Ridgewood Pearl Stakes on May 22. Soldera was 5 1/2 lengths third in her seasonal debut in the new Group 2 Windsor Forest Stakes at Royal Ascot last week.

The consistent Chorist may be the biggest danger. Trained by William Haggas, she is coming off a one-mile listed score at Pontefract, her first start in eight months.