Jaysella’s Saturday Selections for 28th June 2025

Jaysella’s Saturday Selections from York & The Curragh

York

Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Criterion Stakes (Group 3) 2.25
Formal
I think I’m going to take a chance and side with Andrew Balding’s Formal for the Criterion. Of course, William Haggas’s Lake Forest has been highly touted for this, after a fine fifth place finish behind Docklands in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot, and this is a marked drop in grade from that Group One, but my gut tells me Formal is less exposed than Lake Forest and Ed Bethell’s Paborus, and she’s getting not much short of a stone from that pair. Karl Burke’s Lethal Levi is my each way choice, if that’s your thing, but I fancy Formal to beat the jolly under Oisin Murphy.

The Curragh

Barronstown Stud Irish EBF Maiden (Colts & Geldings) 1.15
Dorset
No surprise here that Ryan Moore chooses Dorset of the Ballydoyle three, and he wouldn’t have to improve much from his first run over course and distance to win this. I think he could be raced closer to the pace this time, as Wayne Lordan used up plenty of energy in the final 3 furlongs to get him close to the winner, Amadeus Mozart, so I’d expect Ryan to get him across early from Stall 5 for decent track position. I spose Dermot Weld’s Hamiyan is an interesting debutante, though has a wide draw, but it’s Dorset for me under the jockey of the moment.

Airlie Stud Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies) 1.45
Lady Iman
Well, the bookies aren’t taking any chances here with Ger Lyons Lady Iman – and I wouldn’t either if it was me taking the bet! This Starman filly is three from three, including on this track, and moving up to a Group 2, she’s nailed on to make it four from four, and the form’s been franked by True Love, behind her here two runs back, winning the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot. No such thing as a racing certainty though, so Aidan O’Brien’s Beautify is the one that can pick up the pieces if it doesn’t go according to plan for Lady Iman. Colin Keane is there to get the job done, and I think the exciting Lady Iman is going to be super hard to beat. COME ON!!

Jebel Ali Racecourse And Stables Anglesey Stakes (Group 3) 2.20
Flushing Meadows (nap)
It’s all a bit boring to be going on yet another favourite here, but Flushing Meadows looked very good here on debut. Ger Lyons’s Suzie Songs also got off to a winning start at Cork, and really these two should be the one-two. You can’t fault Ryan Moore’s strike rate right through Royal Ascot, despite getting the pick of the rides, and he’s going to notch another one up here on Flushing Meadows.

Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai International Stakes In Honour Of Kevin Prendergast (Group 3) 2.55
Deepone
I do get it that there’s been a lot of money going down on Trustyourinstinct this week, but I’m going to do just that and side with Paddy Twomey’s Deepone. He’s gonna find this a shallower pool than the Tattersalls Gold Cup, where he led in snatches, before showing he needed that run, fading in the final 2 furlongs. Trustyourinstinct has to give weight all around, so Elizabeth Jane also comes into the picture, but I’ll stick with Deepone to mark a return to form.

Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares) 3.30
Kalpana (nb)
it’s a bit of a toss up for me, this Pretty Polly. Obviously, Kalapana stands out as the form choice after a length and a half third to Los Angeles in the Tattersalls Gold Cup here five weeks ago. She’s going to want to go further in time, but with some rain about over this week, there’s no questioning her stamina for this. That said, the same is true of Oaks runner-up, Whirl, and she gets a 12lb pull over Kalpana, which is significant. Chuck in the fourth from that Epsom Oaks, Wemightakedlongway, and proven soft ground specialist, Henry de Bromhead’s Higher Leaves, and it’s a real cracker. So it should be too, for a Group One, but my hunch is that Kalpana is back for more at this venue, so she edges it over Whirl.