Shane Foley optimistic over Cayenne Pepper's claims in Irish Oaks

Shane Foley has told Racing TV's On The Wire podcast that Cayenne Pepper has improved again ahead of the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday.

Foley believed the three-year-old was one of Jessica Harrington’s best juvenile fillies last year having won her first three starts before finishing fourth in the Fillies’s Mile at Newmarket, and Foley was pleased with her seasonal debut effort behind Magical in the Pretty Polly.

The daughter of English and Irish Derby winner Australia is the general 2-1 favourite to provide Foley with his first Irish Oaks success, and their chances must be enhanced now impressive Investec Oaks winner Love is not in the line-up.

Foley said: "She had a great comeback run - bearing in mind Magical never came off the bridle - but she stepped up on what we thought, and she was only ready to have a run.

"We would have been happy if she finished fourth or fifth, but she showed plenty and she's improved a bit again.

"There's no Love, Fancy Blue or Peaceful so it just opens up the whole race.

"Any Classic anywhere would be good, but to win a Classic for Jessie would be unbelievable. The filly's in good shape and the owner, Jon Kelly, a really nice man, is in a bit of ill health too so it would be good for him. It looks an open contest and you never know on the day but she's really well."

Foley also provided an update on last year’s Prix Marcel Boussac winner Albigna who looked a future star during her two-year-old campaign, but disappointed when sent off the short-priced favourite for the Irish 1,000 Guineas on her return in June.

However, Foley believes Cayenne Pepper’s stablemate will be seen to better effect with give in the ground and is happy to forgive her effort in the Curragh Classic. He said:

"I just think wherever she goes next the ground just needs to be on the easy side. She was quite sore after the Guineas, so we wouldn't chance her on that good ground again.

"I think Jessie was saying there could be a race in France, but she'll be one more for the second half of the season and you won’t see her yet for a while, I'd say.

"She's very quirky but she's very, very good. I think she's a bit more talented than Alpine Star, but that one has the heart of a lion and she gives her all."

Foley has been forced to miss a number of high-profile rides this year, including the winning ride aboard Alpine Star in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot due to the Covid-19 restrictions and 14-day quarantine rule.

The dual Classic-winning rider has still enjoyed a highly-productive season so far and is at the top of the Irish jockeys’ championship with 37 winners, 12 ahead of nearest pursuer, Colin Keane.

No less than 27 of those winners have been for Jessica Harrington and Foley paid tribute to the leading Irish trainer for whom he is number one jockey after his partnership with Michael Halford ended at the end of 2017.

"She's just a legend really and an absolutely great woman to work for,” Foley said.

"She's tough - if something has to be said she'll say it and vice-versa. She'll take everything on board and listen to what you have to say which is great and it's a massive team effort. Jessie is the driver and everyone respects her.

"I definitely think my confidence has improved and Jessie has instilled that in me. She just says 'I'll train them, you ride them'. Nine times out of 10, things don't go the way you want in a race, but that's where the jockeyship comes in and it's great having a free hand, being able to do what you want."

Reflecting upon how he came to move yards, Foley said: "I rode for Michael at Leopardstown (on Thursday) and there was no fall-out, as such. I suppose things had just run their course. I'd been there since I was a kid and it's like anything, when the time is up the time is up.

"Look, it's been a turning point in my career. I went freelance for a year which was daunting enough at the time because you're leaving a yard you know and starting back.

"But I got the bit between the teeth, knuckled down and things kept going and snowballed.

"I'd be at Jessie's a morning a week when I started freelancing and it just went from there. I was in the right place at the right time, thank God.

"I'd have never thought we would be where we are now with all the good horses. Even since Alpha Centauri, Jessie has stepped up another level.

"(I remember) I hadn't gone away for the winter, I was riding work, in there maybe two mornings a week and I'd just left and I was driving away one morning and thinking 'Jeez, I'd love to ride these horses'.

"It was just two-year-old lot after two-year-old lot after two-year-old lot. Albigna and Alpine Star and Cayenne Pepper were all only hacking and cantering at the time but them good ones give you that feel early doors.

"Lo and behold, she sat me down a couple of weeks later and said 'What are your plans?'. I said yes there and then."