McCreery seeking another Matron win with Jancis and Vespertilio

Willie McCreery is set to saddle two in the Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday week.

The unbeaten Jancis and French Guineas third Vespertilio were the stars on show at a yard visit to promote the Irish Champions Festival at Rathbride Stables this morning.

Jancis has won both her starts around the Dublin track this season and tries her luck in top company now having been an impressive Group 3 winner at the course in mid-July.

Vespertilio has had a short break since a slightly unlucky run in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville in early July and McCreery has the option of trying Group 1 company again with the Night Of Thunder filly.

McCreery's biggest training achievement came when winning the Matron Stakes with Fiesolana 10 years ago and he is looking forward to having another crack at the Group 1 prize.

“It's a great race and Champions Weekend is a great concept, I'm lucky to be a part of it. It's exciting.

“It's strange that the Matron is mostly made up of three-year-olds this year, which is good.

“You'd be worried if there were big stronger older fillies there but I'm not worried when it's our own grade. It's nearly a three-year-old mares Group 1 which is very unusual.

“Porta Fortuna is the standout filly, she's an exceptional filly. Every time she's shown up she's never far away and she tries her heart out.

“In her last race she did it totally the opposite way, from the front, and it made no difference to her. She goes on every type ground and has danced every dance.

“She's going to be the one with a target on her back.

“You get all the best fillies in the race. I don't know if Fallen Angel will come over on that ground, she's a very good filly as well and you'd be worried if she did come over.

“You'd be worried about them all really, it's a Group 1, but you just have to look after you're own. The two girls seem in good form and I'm looking forward to it now.

“We did the major bits of work yesterday and you're always worried then as that's the time something could happen.

“After that it's just about keeping them happy and healthy from now to then.”

Willie McCreery's string canter on the Curragh this morning. Vespertilio in second and Jancis in third. pic.twitter.com/YN3tZKOkwe

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Jancis takes a big step up in class in the mile contest but has shown an electric turn of foot in her two victories at the course and is an exciting prospect for the yard.

“She seems to like Leopardstown anyway. It's hard and a big ask for her.

“She came into her own late, she did nothing as a two-year-old and was very backward early on in the year.

“Whatever she does this season I hope it will be a bonus for next year.

When asked if it was a surprise how well she won first time he added:- “I said on the day that once she went through the stalls I didn't care.

“It was a little bit of a worry for us. She's a very shy filly and she just took a bit of time to come together.

“You are always worried in a big field, especially with her run style as she likes to sit in and then quicken up. Vespertilio has the same run style so we hope there is plenty of pace.

“The quicker the ground the better for the two of them.

“Looking at the forecast there is no rain until next Friday and the long range forecast suggests it's going to be good ground.”

Jancis was a first winner in Ireland for prominent Chilean owner Arturo Cousino.

“The mare boarded in Ballylinch and John O'Connor had a couple of horses here. Self Belief was running at the time and I think that may have been the bonus ball.

“He won a Group 3 and she came up about two weeks after that. I was lucky enough he won.”

Vespertilio was the main hope for McCreery coming into the year after her win in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes last season, and runner-up effort behind Fallen Angel in the Moyglare Stakes.

A cracking placed effort first time up in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp was followed by a slightly disappointing show back on home soil at the Curragh.

She has had a slight break since finishing seventh in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville on July 7th.

“She'll probably run and she seems in great form.

“In the last couple of weeks she has really started to furnish again and I'm very happy with her.

“I'll definitely leave her in until declaration stage anyway. She'll do another piece of work next Tuesday and then we'll make a decision on which way to go.

“If she doesn't run there is a race in the Curragh for her which actually closes today (Group 3 Renaissance Stakes on September 29th).

“She might run in that or we might just leave her for the year.

“All her family improved as four-year-olds so we'll be aiming for next year, bigger and better.

“Having three runs quick enough, and going over to France, probably knocked the stuffing out of her a bit.

“She's had a good break now and seems to be back in good health.”

When asked who stable jockey Billy Lee would be on board he added:-

“I'm not sure what he's going to ride and I'll leave it to him. Declan McDonogh comes in here as well and there are going to be plenty of jockeys available."

McCreery also has Ocean Jewel in the Matron but she looks set to bypass the race in favour of a trip back to France for the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp next month.

“We'll leave Ocean Jewel in until about 11.50am just to see how many are left in it. More than likely she'll go to the Foret.

“She was fourth in a Group 1 in France the last day. That was a straight mile and the round mile might suit her, it could slow it down a bit.

“I don't think she really gets home over a fast run mile.”