Saffron Beach and Homeless Songs will face off in a mouthwatering clash for the Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.
Homeless Songs produced a sensational performance to win the Irish 1,000 Guineas back in May, but has not been seen in competitive action since that day as trainer Dermot Weld shied away from running her on fast ground during the summer.
After some heavy rainfall, conditions will be anything but quick this weekend and connections are hoping she is fit enough to do herself justice ahead of her highly anticipated return.
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Fiona Craig, representing owners Moyglare Stud Farm, said: “She’s in great order, but it’s been challenging as while the ground is soft now, it wasn’t up until a week ago.
“I think it’s been challenging for everyone to be honest as a lot of the the grass gallops have been closed because we’ve had no rain.
“Thankfully the rain came in time, so we’ll see how we get on.”
The biggest threat to Homeless Songs appears to be Jane Chapple-Hyam’s stable star Saffron Beach, who supplemented success in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot with victory in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville.
Chapple-Hyam said: “Saffron Beach travelled over on Thursday and has settled in very well to Leopardstown – she hasn’t run on soft ground for a while, but did win the Oh So Sharp on that going.
“I’m pleased with her training leading into the race and know she will battle hard up the straight like her previous races.”
Third in the betting is Aidan O’Brien’s Tenebrism, who landed the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville in July before returning to Normandy to fill the runner-up spot behind Saffron Beach.
Tenebrism’s rider, Ryan Moore, said: “It was a good run in France last time and she’d obviously won the Prix Jean Prat before that.
“It might suit her going back to Leopardstown, but it might be hard to turn around the form with Saffron Beach I suppose.”
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