Marvellous Minding ready to make return at Naas

Minding carried all before her last summer and is back for more in 2017. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Minding makes her return in the Group 3 Camelot Irish EBF Mooresbridge Stakes at Naas on Monday.

The outstanding filly broke new ground last year when becoming the first of her sex to win four races in the QIPCO Champions Series.

The daughter of Galileo won the QIPCO 1000 Guineas, Investec Oaks and Qatar Nassau Stakes before capping a memorable campaign with victory against the colts in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot in October.

Since the 35-race Champions Series started in 2011, only the mighty Frankel has scooped more Series prizes in one season. He managed five in 2012.

Minding has won seven Group 1 races in total, between 7f and 1m 4f, and will be fancied by many to add to her haul this term. The Naas contest, in which she will face four rivals, is very much a starting point and she will not be fully wound up.

“She’s in good form. We’ve been happy with her since last year but she’s just ready to start,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien.

Chief among her rivals in the 10-furlong contest looks to be the Jim Bolger-trained Godolphin colt Moonlight Magic.

The consistent Brendan Brackan has already been in winning action this term, while Johannes Vermeer, stablemate of Minding, and the Joseph O’Brien-trained Jaqen H’Ghar complete the field.