Harlequeen© Photo Healy Racing
Trainer Mick Channon is taking nothing for granted as Harlequeen bids to make the most of a drop in class in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Give Thanks Stakes at Cork this evening.
The daughter of Canford Cliffs may be winless this season but she has produced some fine efforts in defeat, finishing fourth in the Musidora Stakes at York and third in both the Investec Oaks at Epsom and the Irish Oaks at the Curragh.
She drops to Group Three level for her latest assignment and Channon is keeping his fingers crossed his star filly can gain what he feels would be a deserved success.
The West Ilsley handler said: "She looks to have a great chance, but it's never easy when you're up against the likes of Aidan O'Brien and Dermot Weld. It's not a gimme, that's for sure.
"She's in very good form and we've been very happy with her since the (Irish) Oaks.
"We want to get her back winning again before hopefully stepping back up for something more sexy later on.
"She's tough enough to go back to Ireland again, so fingers crossed."
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The Ballydoyle maestro's son, Joseph, is represented Arya Tara who steps up in grade after four consecutive victories.
Weld's Munster Oaks runner-up Shamreen also features in a nine-strong field, as does another British raider in Jedd O'Keeffe's More Mischief
