Viztoria in good shape ahead of Athasi Eddie Lynam's Classic contender Viztoria kicks off her campaign in the Canford Cliffs EBF Athasi Stakes at the Curragh this afternoon. The daughter of Oratorio was hugely impressive in winning her first two career starts last season and was only narrowly denied the hat-trick when runner-up in the Group Two Criterium De Maisons-Laffitte in November. Lynam is keen to find out whether his filly will stay beyond six furlongs and whether she is up to competing in the Irish 1,000 Guineas later this month. "She's in good shape and ready to start back," said Lynam. "It was question of whether we kept her against her own sex in the Athasi or her own age group in the Tetrarch Stakes, and we decided to go for the Athasi. "It's early days but I'm happy with how she's going at home and Monday will tell us if she's trained on, whether she stays seven furlongs and whether she's good enough for a race like the Irish 1,000 Guineas." Viztoria is the highest rated of eight declared fillies, with perhaps her biggest rival being Ralph Beckett's British raider Moonstone Magic, who has not been seen since finishing down the field in last year's 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. Aidan O'Brien is represented by Infanta Branca, while Jim Bolger saddles the blinkered Bunairgead. The field is completed by Caprella, Bethany Bay, Dubaya and Roseraie.
