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Debutante Stakes winner ready to step up to a mile
The Prix Marcel Boussac at ParisLongchamp has emerged as the most likely target for Alpine Star following her thrilling victory in the Debutante Stakes at the Curragh last week.
Having confirmed the promise of her Leopardstown debut by posting an impressive victory on her second start at the Galway Festival, Jessica Harrington's filly successfully graduated to Group Two level with a narrow verdict over Aidan O'Brien's Petite Mustique on Friday.
The half-sister to the brilliant Alpha Centauri is set to test the water in Group One company on her next appearance – and while she holds an entry in the Fillies' Mile at Ascot, connections are currently favouring a trip across the Channel on Arc weekend.
Alan Cooper, racing manager for owner-breeders the Niarchos Family, said: "We were delighted with Alpine Star at the Curragh. She's a tough filly who Jessica has always liked a lot. It was great to see her confirming Jessie's opinion.
"The current plan is to run her in the Marcel Boussac. We think she'll appreciate stepping up to a mile – and that will probably be her next race, all going well."
Alpine Star is one of two high-class juvenile fillies the leading owners have in training with Harrington this term – the other being the unbeaten Albigna.
The daughter of Zoffany has won a maiden and the Group Two Airlie Stud Stakes at the Curragh, and will bid to complete a hat-trick at the home of Irish Flat racing in the Moyglare Stud Stakes on September 15.
Connections are thrilled, of course, to have unearthed two such promising fillies just a year after the retirement of four-time Group One winner Alpha Centauri.
Cooper added: "Albigna is fine ,and her objective remains the Moyglare in just over two weeks' time. Both she and Alpine Star are only two-year-olds – and even though Alpine Star is a half-sister to Alpha Centauri, I'm loth to compare horses from different generations.
"Alpine Star might be more of a staying filly than Albigna – Jessica thinks Alpine Star could be one for middle-distance races next year, but let's wait and see.
"I prefer to take things step by step."