Moyglare Setting Up as Tantalizing Race

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By Mary Schweitzer
The group I Moyglare Stud Stakes for 2-year-old fillies is shaping up to be quite a tantalizing affair this Sunday at The Curragh. The pro tem leader of the division, undefeated Flashy Wings, is set to meet the Danehill filly, Rumplestiltskin in the seven-furlong race.

The fact that trainer Mick Channon is now leaning toward running Flashy Wings comes as a bit of a surprise. Originally, Channon had planned on keeping the chestnut daughter of Zafonic close to home, with the six-furlong Cheveley Park Stakes (Eng-I) at Newmarket penciled in at the end of September. However, the filly has bounced back quickly since her victory in the group II Lowther Stakes, so the trainer is planning on sending her to Ireland.

Awaiting Flashy Wings is the Aidan O'Brien-trained Rumplestiltskin. The royally bred bay has won three of four starts, with her last being an easy win in the Debutante Stakes (Ire-II) on August 7. Rumplestiltskin boasts a superb pedigree, being out of the mare, Monevassia (Mr. Prospector-Miesque), making her a full sister to Kingmambo and Miesque's Son.

Also set to line up is Modeeroch, from the lone crop of foals by champion Mozart who died in 2002. This gray lass most recently finished second to Rumplestiltskin in the Debutante; prior to that, she had won the listed Tyros Stakes, defeating colts in the process.

Other fillies likely to run include Race for the Stars (Fusaichi Pegasus-La Lorgnette), a half sister to champion Hawk Wing, and Sandie, who already has won at a mile.

In other group I action on Sunday, the Aga Khan's dual group I winning colt, Valixir, appears ready for a crack at the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp. The son of Trempolino returns to the races after a disappointing run at Deauville in the Prix Jacques Le Marois (Fr-I). In that race, he finished third to Dubawi and Whipper. Super filly Divine Proportions finished fourth that day in what would be her last career start.

Valixir could be joined by fellow Andre Fabre trainee Cacique. Cacique, a Khalid Abdullah homebred, makes his first start since winning the group III Prix du Chemin de Fer du Nord at Chantilly in June. The four-year-old bay is a son of the outstanding broodmare Hasili. His full sisters, champion Banks Hill (Danehill-Hasili) and Intercontinental, have both won grade I races in the United States, as has Heat Haze, a half sister by Green Desert. The colt certainly has some big shoes to fill. Long-range plans include a start in the NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) at Belmont Park this fall.

Another top contender is the New Zealand-bred colt, Starcraft. The chestnut son of Soviet Star was champion three-year-old colt in 2004 in Australia, where he won six of 10 starts. He won three group I races, ranging in distance from seven-furlongs to 1 1/2 miles. Starcraft's owners, The Australian Syndicate, sent him to Luca Cumani for a European campaign before he is retired to stud.

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