Iridessa beats elders in Pretty Polly Stakes

Iridessa, soundly beaten in two Group 1 races for 3-year-old fillies at a mile earlier this year in England and Ireland, won the longest race of her career and first start against older fillies and mares in Friday’s Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh Racecourse in Ireland.

Ridden by Wayne Lordan for Joseph O’Brien, Iridessa (8-1) was third in a field of five for the first mile and took the lead in the final furlong of the $341,550 race at 1 1/4 miles to win by 2 1/4 lengths over 9-2 Magic Wand.

Pink Dogwood, the 11-10 favorite who was third in the English Oaks at Epsom Racecourse on May 31, finished a quiet third in her first start against older fillies and mares, beaten 3 1/4 lengths.

Wild Illusion, who led after the first quarter-mile, faded to finish fourth, followed by Worth Waiting.

Wild Illusion and Magic Wand were second and fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Churchill Downs last November, and first and second in the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp in Paris last October.

Pink Dogwood and Magic Wand are trained by Joseph’s father, Aidan O’Brien.

Iridessa, by Ruler of the World, has won 3 of 8 starts for owner Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez. Last October, Iridessa won the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket in her final start of the year, winning by 1 1/4 lengths over Hermosa.

Earlier this year, Iridessa was eighth behind Hermosa in the Group 1 English 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 5 and fourth behind that rival in the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh on May 26. Aidan O’Brien trains Hermosa, who was second in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Royal Ascot on June 21.

Joseph O’Brien told the press on Friday that Iridessa will be considered for the Group 1 Irish Oaks, a $454,600 race at 1 1/2 miles at the Curragh on July 20.

There is a possibility a few of the runners from the Pretty Polly Stakes could start in the BC Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.

Sunday in Peru, the winner of the Group 1 Gran Premio Pamplona at Monterrico Racecourse will receive a fees-paid berth for the BC Filly and Mare Turf, provided the horse is nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program before the October deadline.

The Gran Premio Pamplona is run at 1 1/4 miles on turf and drew a field of 16 led by the multiple stakes winner Juliana, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2018 in Peru.

The stakes winners Alma Guerrera, First Movie, and La Onda are other contenders.