High hopes for Marjalina

5/10/2008 - 9:26:56 AM

Declan McDonogh is hoping Marjalina proves up to standard as she bids to book her ticket for the Juddmonte Oaks in Wednesday’s Blue Wind Stakes at Naas.

Kevin Prendergast’s three-year-old is unbeaten in two career starts and picked up in the style of a smart animal last time when beating Aidan O’Brien’s well-regarded Savethisdanceforme in the Park Express Stakes.

The Marju filly is a general 16-1 shot for Epsom and McDonogh says they will know whether she is a Classic contender after Wednesday.

“I was really impressed with how she picked up last time because it was very testing ground,” said the pilot.

“She’s a big, raw filly but she did it very well because it was only her second start.

“I was very pleased with the way she picked up but she ran around a bit in the last half-furlong so she did well to win, and she beat a well-regarded filly from Ballydoyle.

“We’ll know after Wednesday whether we are going to Epsom or not but she is pleasing us at home.”