The 1m Group 3 Desmond Stakes forms part of an exciting eight-race card at Leopardstown on Thursday evening.
Course and distance winner Villanova Queen currently sits at the top of the betting, following her Royal Ascot success in the Kensington Palace Fillies' Handicap. The four-year-old had experienced a mixed season prior to her Ascot win, beginning with a Tipperary success over seven-and-a-half furlongs in late April before disappointing on soft to heavy ground at Leopardstown subsequently. Although the four-year-old has not been seen at Group level this year, she finished third in the seven furlong Group 3 1000 Guineas Trial Stakes in her three-year-old campaign followed by a midfield finish in the Irish 1000 Guineas. The ground is a positive for the daughter of Mastercraftsman and she must be considered back at this level.
Aidan O'Brien is represented by the improving three-year-old Alfred Munnings, who boasts a blue-blooded pedigree as a half-brother to champion race-mare Snowfall. Cheekpieces have been applied for the first time to the son of Dubawi, following a second in the Group 3 Meld Stakes over nine furlongs where he was comfortably beaten by Self Belief. Although the colt is yet to show the talent as his illustrious sister, he appears to be steadily improving and it is worth noting the same could have been said for Snowfall, who did not achieve any form of Group form until her eighth racecourse start.
The top-rated Goldana has been a good servant for the Joseph O'Brien yard since being bought out of Germany in March 2023. She won the seven furlong Group 3 Gladness Stakes on her stable debut on heavy ground in April and has possibly found nine and ten furlongs too far on her last two outings, despite picking up a commendable third in the Group 3 Rathbride Stakes. It is likely that soft ground is the key to the filly – which she is unlikely to experience at Leopardstown – but a return to a mile could see her to better effect.
Of the longer priced runners, Shayzann steps into Group company for the first time following an impressive one-and-a-half length victory at Naas in a mile maiden. The colt is clearly showing plenty at home to encourage trainer Johnny Murtagh to send him into open Group company on only his third career start, but he does have the pedigree to suggest it will be within his capabilities. A son of Shamardal, Shayzenn is a half-brother to Group 2 Blandford Stakes heroine Shamreen and Grade 3 winner Shahroze. A longer distance may suit the colt in future.
WIN: ALDRED MUNNINGS
