3 minute read
John Oxx is praying the rain stays away from the Curragh to allow My Titania to get her shot at Classic glory in Sunday's Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas.
The three-year-old is a daughter of the brilliant Sea The Stars and as she also carries the same colours of Oxx's horse of a lifetime, those of owner Christopher Tsui, she has unsurprisingly attracted plenty of attention since day one.
She has done the business on the racecourse so far, winning two of her three juvenile starts including the Group Three CL Weld Park Stakes, but was a late withdrawal from the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier this month following an unsatisfactory scope just days before the race.
Oxx has nursed his filly back to full health in time for this weekend's Group One assignment, but warns she will only line up if there is no deterioration in ground conditions.
Oxx said: "We've declared and we're happy to run on yielding ground, but it isn't ideal. We'd prefer good ground or faster, but having already missed Newmarket we're anxious enough to get her out if we can.
"If she doesn't run on Sunday it will probably leave us having to take on Ascot without having had a run, which wouldn't be ideal.
"I wouldn't advise anybody to back her at this stage as if the ground is soft or even yielding to soft we probably won't run."
Largely based on her reputation and her breeding, My Titania finds herself towards the head of the betting for the mile contest, but Oxx feels she may have her work cut out.
He went on: "You'd have to say the odds are against her even if she does run. She'll be taking on fillies who have had a run on ground that won't be ideal for her.
"She's won a Group Three, but she's unproven a Group One level and she's going to need to step up.
"We're quite happy with her at home. After the problem we had before Newmarket you'd always prefer four weeks rather than three weeks, but unfortunately I don't think they'll put the Guineas back for me!
"She's made a good recovery and she's ready to run, so we'll see what happens."