Igraine & Italy Go For Magic

Time/Date - 14.10hrs local time/Saturday, March 14, 2015
Racecourse/Country - Rosehill Gardens/Australia
Surface/Distance - Turf/6f

Juvenile fillies Italy and Igraine race at Group Two level for the first time in the Magic Night Stakes over six furlongs at Rosehill Gardens, Australia, on Saturday, March 14.

Italy (John O'Shea/James McDonald) ran on well after being hampered to finish fifth in six-furlong Group Two Les Johnson Memorial Sweet Embrace Stakes at Warwick Farm on February 28.

The Domesday filly made virtually all to score by half a length in a Canterbury maiden handicap over five and a half furlongs on February 11, having previously come home second in a five-furlong Randwick conditions race on November 8.

Igraine (John O'Shea/William Buick) faded to eighth behind Haptic in the Listed DX Solutions Lonhro Plate over five and a half furlongs at Royal Randwick on February 14.

The daughter of Denman was a close third in the Group Three Widden Stakes, also over an extended five furlongs, at Rosehill Gardens on January 31, and went down by half a length to Calaverite in the five-furlong Listed Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes at Royal Randwick on October 4.

John O'Shea said: "There wouldn't be a horse in the stable that looks better than Igraine at the moment.

"She is fit, has improved from her trial, had the blinkers and a tongue-tie added to her gear and will get the absolute run of the race from barrier six.

"I am really happy with the way she has progressed and this is the right race for her. She is right at the top of her game and if she is ever going to win a race like this, it will happen here."

"I don't think we have had a two-year-old work as well as Italy did on Tuesday morning. She is really flying, has the addition of winkers and has reacted appropriately.

"I see barrier eight as a positive. James (McDonald) can have her back, balancing up and coming home down the outside of the field with (hopefully) an unimpeded run. She is in great form and I would love to see her pick up this nice Group Two race."

Italy and Igraine face 12 other two-year-old fillies headed by Always Allison and Speak Fondly, who were first and second in the Group Two Sweet Embrace Stakes.