Murtagh gets the call up
He is on stand-by to partner the Ballydoyle yard’s second string with stable jockey Kieren Fallon having first choice.
That could be the current 4-1 favourite Rumplestiltskin, who proved herself the champion staying juvenile filly of 2005 with victories in two Group Ones, the Moyglare Stud Stakes and the Prix Marcel Boussac.
“His fillies did nothing wrong last year. Rumplestiltskin was a real champion, her performance in Longchamp was the best seen by a two-year-old and if she comes out of the winter well, which she should, she should be very hard to beat,” Murtagh told At The Races.
Murtagh also has the greatest respect for Race For The Stars, who ended the campaign by taking a Listed race over Newmarket’s seven furlongs.
“Race For The Stars is a lovely, big, scopey filly and I saw her win at Newmarket,” he added.
O’Brien has also left Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial winner Karaminskaya in the £330,000 feature, for which 18 fillies stood their ground at the five-day confirmation stage.
The home challenge is led by Flashy Wings, who will be out to provide Mick Channon with his first victory in a domestic Classic.
On her last racecourse appearance Flashy Wings finished a close third to Donna Blini and Wake Up Maggie in the Cheveley Park Stakes over six furlongs of the Rowley Mile course last September. Her old rivals are reported on course to cross swords once again with Channon’s charge at the weekend.
Newmarket trainer Chris Wall is hopeful his star filly Wake Up Maggie will stay the mile.
The daughter of Xaar has yet to race beyond six furlongs but Wall said: “The indications are that she will stay. She relaxes in her races so she will give herself every chance of staying the mile.
“She might not want it too soft. Although we’ve had some rain here this morning it is due to warm up later in the week and the fast side of good wouldn’t be a problem to her.”
: 4-1 Rumplestiltskin, 5-1 Flashy Wings, 7-1 Nannina, Silca’s Sister, Race For The Stars, 11-1 Speciosa, 12-1 Bar.
