Fairy Closing In On Seasonal Return

Ed Dunlop’s outstanding four-year-old filly Snow Fairy is reported very much on the comeback trail and could be ready to make her seasonal debut at the Curragh on June 25 in the Group 2 Pretty Polly Stakes, writes Elliot Slater.

The rags to riches heroine of four Group 1 races last season has been on the easy list since sustaining a minor injury whilst being prepared for the Dubai World Cup in March, but Dunlop reports that she is fully recovered from the setback, has been building up nicely in her home work and, as long as there are no further hitches, he intends to run her in the big Irish race towards the end of this month, so punters should keep a close eye on the horse racing betting odds.

Snow Fairy, who cost a lowly 1800 euros as a foal, belied her modest beginnings by winning the Oaks at Epsom 12 months ago in brilliant fashion, then cruised to victory in the Irish equivalent a few weeks later when very different underfoot conditions proved no barrier to success. After running a fine second to outstanding older filly Midday in the Yorkshire Oaks, the daughter of Intikhab gave it her best shot but didn’t last home when finishing fourth to Arctic Cosmos in the St Leger.

Two months later Snow Fairy travelled to Japan and stunned the locals when producing a sensational finish to win the hugely valuable Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup, then proved that no fluke whatsoever by journeying to Sha Tin where she did it again, coming from last to first to beat Irian in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup. In total, Snow Fairy’s winnings for last season topped the ¬£2 million barrier, an extraordinary achievement.

Race fans are already looking forward to seeing Dunlop’s latest star in action in the major middle distance contests this term, and if all goes well at the Curragh she looks a likely contender for races such as the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes in July, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October, and the Breeders’ Cup in November.