Rioja hoping for renaissance in Ireland

La Rioja (pictured right) has crossed the Irish Sea to tackle today's Gr.3 Renaissance Stakes (14.50) at the Curragh.

The Henry Candy-trained filly is one of nine runners in the six-furlongs test, which includes triple Group One winner Gordon Lord Byron and the Ryan Moore-ridden The Happy Prince. His stablemate, Brave Anna, sprang a shock when winning yesterday's Gr.1 Cheveley Park Stakes in which Qatar Racing's Holy Cat finished unplaced the winner paid a compliment to Bletchley, who only just failed to beat her in Royal Ascot's Albany Stakes back in June.

La Rioja won the Gr.3 Dick Poole Stakes as a two-year-old, but has failed to score this year, despite some very good efforts in defeat the pick of those came in Royal Ascot's Gr.1 Commonwealth Cup, when she was fourth and only two and a half lengths behind the winner, Quiet Reflection, who has since won the Gr.1 Sprint Cup.

More recently she was fourth over seven furlongs at Doncaster, so drops back in trip today, and Candy reports she is in good form. Oisin Murphy has flown to Ireland to ride the filly.

Photo: Laurence Squire