Ed Dunlop believes there is plenty to look forward to for the remainder of Snow Fairy’s campaign following her admirable effort in Saturday’s Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
The four-time Group One-winning filly had been well beaten by So You Think on her belated seasonal reappearance in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, but considerably reduced the gap in Ireland, going down by just half a length.
Dunlop plans to give his star performer one more race in Europe before heading further afield in search of more top-level honours at the end of the year.
“It was a great run by our filly and a great race to watch,” said Dunlop.
“All credit to the winner, who is obviously a very good horse, but it was great to see our filly back to her best.
“I’ve said many times that she was going to improve considerably for her run in the Eclipse and her homework suggested she’d improved again since the run in the Nassau at Goodwood.
“So You Think is a very good horse and we’ve got a very good filly still. I would say arguably it was one of her best performances.
“We’ll get her home and see how she is, but realistically there is a chance to give her one more race in Europe.
“Whether it will be the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the Champion Stakes or the Prix de l’Opera – those are the three options.
“It will probably be ground dependent and it will also depend on how she is.
“After that we plan to take her back to Japan for the race she won last year (Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup), then there is the possibility of the Japan Cup and obviously Hong Kong.
“We’ve known everything has been geared towards the second half of the season and we still have a fresh horse who appears to retain plenty of ability.”
PA AAP TURF
