THE stable has two runners today but while Blaze Of Hearts travels up the M1 to Nottingham in a bid for back-to-back wins following his success at Brighton thirteen days ago, Eirene is already in Paris as she goes for black type in a Group Three at Maisons-Laffitte.
The three times-winning daughter of Declaration Of War is one of twelve runners in this afternoon’s Prix De Seine-Et-Oise, a Group Three for three-year-olds and upwards over six furlongs due off at 1.35pm British time.
She is the second French runner from Harper Lodge Farm this year following Librisa Breeze’s fourth in the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville back in August. Horses need plenty of time to settle in before racing abroad, so Eirene travelled yesterday morning to Paris via Le Shuttle.
The Hippodrome de Maisons-Laffitte is an historic French racecourse situated in the north-western suburb of the French capital of Maisons-Laffitte. Opened in the 19th century, it takes it name from the wealthy banker, Jacques Laffitte who owned the land on which the racecourse lies. Close by is the Château de Maisons-Laffitte, home to the Museum of the Racehorse.
Today’s contest will not be easy for the 103-rated Eirene as seven of the twelve-strong field are rated higher than her including the likely favourite, Inns Of Court representing Godolphin and The Right Man, rated 115 and 116 respectively. However, the drop back to six furlongs should suit as should the Good to Soft conditions and she has the excellent Maxim Guyon in the saddle.
Eirene already has black type to her name, having landed the Listed St Hugh’s Stakes over 5f at Newbury as a juvenile last year but her owner, Michael Yarrow, would love to add further black type to his filly who has won three of her thirteen career starts to date.
Bonne chance!