Plaza Athenee Aims for Victory at Gowran Park’s Maiden Race

Gowran Park is set to host an exciting seven-race card, with the highlight being the sixth race, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden. Plaza Athenee, a three-year-old filly trained by John Murphy, is making her third appearance and is poised to secure her first victory after two promising performances.

On her debut at the Curragh in June, Plaza Athenee showed potential despite finishing sixth, more than 10 lengths behind the winner. Her second outing at Killarney in July saw her as the 3-1 favourite, where she finished second to Drama Queen. This close finish against a competitor now rated 90 signifies a significant improvement, suggesting she is ready to take the next step. The reduction in distance by two furlongs today does not raise concerns, and many expect her to perform well.

Colin Keane’s Strong Contender

The presence of jockey Colin Keane could enhance Plaza Athenee’s chances today. Keane is also expected to perform well aboard Continuite in the feature race, the listed Darley Irish EBF Hurry Harriet Stakes. Continuite, a Juddmonte filly, has shown solid form in her two previous races and returned impressively after a ten-month layoff, winning over a mile at Gowran Park. Given her pedigree as a full sister to Time Lock, a winner of two Group 3 races, she is likely to thrive with the increase in distance to nearly 10 furlongs.

Another horse to watch is Easy Mover, who recently performed admirably in the listed Corrib Fillies’ Stakes at Galway. The increased trip should suit her, and she stands out as a formidable challenger to both Plaza Athenee and Continuite.

Additional Race Insights

In the final race of the day, the Curragh To Curragh Charity Cycle August 30 Handicap, another promising contender is Tickling. After experiencing difficulties in her initial three races, she demonstrated marked improvement in her first attempt at handicap racing. Although starting slowly, she finished fourth behind Galaxy Wonder and is expected to continue her upward trajectory with jockey James Ryan.

While Thegooseiscooked is anticipated to attract considerable betting interest, there is speculation that competitors may outpace her once again.

The race day selections at Gowran Park are as follows:
– 5:05 Harry The Rogue
– 5:35 Morehampton
– 6:05 Midnight Strike
– 6:35 Continuite (Next Best)
– 7:05 Fleetfoot
– 7:35 Plaza Athenee (Nap)
– 8:05 Tickling

Additional noteworthy horses include Shoot To Kill in the 5:05, Carwyn in the 5:35, and Shakazia in the 6:05.

With an exciting lineup on the card, fans and punters alike look forward to an action-packed day at Gowran Park.