3 minute read

The Racing and Sports Priceline for the 2019 Pretty Polly Stakes from The Curragh.

Irish Derby Weekend kicks off on Friday night at The Curragh with the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes the feature. Aidan O'Brien is typically well represented but the Racing and Sports Pricing Model sees it as a competitive heat with Charlie Appleby's Wild Illusion credible opposition for Ballydoyle.

Assessed Prices: Pink Dogwood $2.80; Wild Illusion $2.80; Magic Wand $7.00. 

First thing to note is that the Model finds 85% in the first three ranked chances which means it leaves the rest at fairly big odds. This is bound to happen when the horses with the best ratings also happen to be with the most prolific trainers and jockeys as is the case here. And that is for a reason - such profiles win a lot of races!  

Pink Dogwood has a great profile - improving off a smart new peak last time for AOB and Ryan Moore while Wild Illusion's latest was underwhelming. But Wild Illusion still runs for a top yard and she has a string of performances that are good enough to ask more of Pink Dogwood than what 'The Dog' has shown in the past. 

Magic Wand has plenty of form that ties in with Wild Illusion and given that her price - edging out towards double figures - looks generous for all that she is the third in line. She may be less likely than Wild Illusion but she is handcuffed to her at the same time and her price can't drift too far away.