Curragh: Misty for Me turns back Midday in Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes

Misty for Me is proving to be unbeatable in Group 1 races at the Curragh in Ireland.

Saturday, the 3-year-old filly won her third race at that level at the famous racecourse in the Pretty Polly Stakes, leading throughout 1 1/4 miles for fillies and mares and repelling a threat from Midday, the 1-3 favorite, in early stretch.

Ridden by Seamie Heffernan, Misty for Me, the 10-3 second choice in the betting, won by six lengths for her second major win of the year. Misty for Me won the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh on May 22, preceded by an 11th in the English 1000 Guineas on May 1 and followed by a fifth in the English Oaks on June 3.

Her task in the Pretty Polly Stakes was made easier by the scratch of Snow Fairy on Friday following significant rain. Snow Fairy won four Group 1 races in four countries last year and was expected to make her 4-year-old debut in the Pretty Polly Stakes.

Without Snow Fairy, Midday was an even stronger favorite. Ridden by Tom Queally, she was third for the first mile, moved closer to Misty for Me in early stretch, but did not pose a late threat. Midday finished 4 1/2 lengths clear of third-place finisher Chrysanthemum in the field of seven.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien for Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith, Misty for Me won the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at the Curragh last summer, her first stakes win. An Irish-bred filly by Galileo, Misty for Me has won 5 of 9 starts.