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Queen takes aim at Brownstown
Majestic Queen
© Photo Healy Racing
Tracey Collins is hoping Majestic Queen can continue on the upgrade when she goes for a second Group Three triumph in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Brownstown Stakes at Fairyhouse on Wednesday.
The four-year-old filly lowered the colours of Frankel's sister Joyeuse in the Ballyogan Stakes over six furlongs and steps back up a furlong, a distance over which she has also been successful.
"She won well the last time and I think she's improving," said Collins, who is based at the Curragh.
"She's in good form, but it's a competitive race for her to carry her penalty in and it will be the first time she's gone round a bend right-handed."
Another Group Three winner in the eight-runner line-up is the Fozzy Stack-trained Wannabe Better who took the Ballycorus Stakes at Leopardstown two weeks ago. Exactement has been in the first four in Group Three and Listed races and was ninth in the Irish 1000 Guineas behind Just The Judge when trained in Middleham by Elaine Burke.
She was off the track for a year before having her first run for Sabrina Harty in the Glencairn Stakes at Leopardstown.
She put in a pleasing effort for the County Kildare handler by finishing third behind Pearl Of Africa in that Listed contest over a mile.
Harty believes the drop back to seven furlongs will suit Exactement and she is hopeful of a good run.
"It was a smashing run and she hadn't run for a long time so she's going to come on for it, hopefully," said Harty.
"She seems very well in herself so we're looking forward to seeing how she goes tomorrow.
"I think this trip is more ideal for her and we're very happy with her."
There are two three-year-olds in the field from big stables with Aidan O'Brien saddling Sparrow and John Oxx relying on Seas Of Wells but they were beaten by Majestic Queen last time in third and fourth places respectively. Califante was fifth in that Leopardstown Group Three and her trainer Tom Hogan feels there is more to come from the daughter of Kyllachy.
"She's proving very frustrating. She's much better than she has shown and she even manages to finish just out of the money most times," said the County Tipperary trainer.
"She ran well in the Group Three at Leopardstown and hopefully so can pick up a bit of prize money. She might be the type to run better in a better race."