Cristal bids for more black type Seven fillies line up for the inaugural running of the Munster Oaks at Cork and no stable comes into the weekend in better form than that of Ger Lyons, who is represented by Cristal Fashion. The three-year-old daughter of Jeremy won a maiden at Navan last year and picked up some valuable black type earlier this season when runner-up to Dazzling, who also takes her chance here, in the Listed Salsabil Stakes at the same track. She did not run up to that form subsequently behind the high-class Tarfasha in the Blue Wind Stakes at Naas, but Lyons is hopeful of a big show in this Group Three event, which was formerly known as the Noblesse Stakes. "A repeat of her run in Navan would see her involved. Things didn't go to plan in Naas, where we didn't make enough use of her, so we've put a line through that. She's got her black type so anything from now on is a bonus," said the Co Meath trainer. "She will love the mile and a half and if she puts her best foot forward she should be in the money. She's a good moving horse and is one of those that's not ground dependent. She handles the soft ground better than others but good ground certainly won't be a hindrance to her." David Wachman saddles recent Fairyhouse maiden winner Circling, and the prospect of valuable black type would be a great asset to this well-bred daughter of Galileo. "Good ground is what we are looking for and the weather looks fine for Sunday," said Wachman. "This is a step up in class but I'd be pretty hopeful she will stay the mile and a half, and obviously we would like to get her some black type." Dazzling's trainer Aidan O'Brien is also represented by last year's Darley Irish Oaks runner-up Venus De Milo. She already has a Group Three course and distance success to her name by virtue of victory last term in the Give Thanks Stakes. Dermot Weld has an interesting contender in Edelmira, an impressive winner of a Tipperary maiden on her only start, while Drifting Mist and Morga complete the seven-runner field.
