Peace Force has been included in the 2015 Lough Neagh Stakes field and trainer Gerald Ryan believes that it is the right race for the consistent mare.
Peace Force has the chance to return to winning form in the 2015 Lough Neagh Stakes at Doomben this weekend. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Peace Force returned to the races with a very close second behind Nayeli in the Group 3 The Nivison (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 17, but she was unable to replicate that performance when ninth behind Scarlet Billows in the Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
The Bernardini mare retuned to a semblance of her best form with a third place finish behind Mighty Lucky and It’s Somewhat in the Listed Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on November 28 and she was expected to press on to the Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick this weekend, but Ryan has elected to send her to Brisbane for the Lough Neagh Stakes because he does not believe that she is at her best over a mile.
“Peace Force has had three goes at 1600 metres and been beaten every time,” Ryan told AAP.
“She did run second in the Belle Of The Turf at Gosford but at 1600 metres in good company the last little bit probably finds her out.
“She has won at 1350 metres at Doomben in stakes company.
“She is a half-sister to Eremein and is already a valuable mare so another black-type win will obviously be good for her.”
Peace Force made her racing debut in October of 2012 under the care of John O’Shea, but she went to another when she was transferred to the Ryan stable and she recorded four wins in her first eight starts for her new trainer before she finished a close second behind Mamwaazel in the Group 3 Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Gosford on January 9.
She started her winter campaign with a close second in the Group 3 Darley Crown (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens on May 9 and she scored a maiden black-type win in the Group 3 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on May 23, but she was ruled out of the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) due to an eye injury.
The 2015 Lough Neagh Stakes field was released this afternoon and Peace Force is set to take on the likes of Temple Of Boom, Fontelina, Steel Zip, Miss Cover Girl, Weinholt and Abu Ben Adam.
