Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece I conclude my look back at Irish Champions Weekend. Plus, there's a look at the Galway feature race.
Irish Champions Weekend
It was good to firm on times at Leopardstown on Saturday. However, the rain that fell on Saturday night turned the going to good to soft at the Curragh on Sunday. Whilst I thought the racing at Leopardstown was top notch. Small fields for two of the Group 1’s on the Sunday meant the Day 2 action was a little underwhelming.
Before looking at Sunday’s Curragh card a quick look back Diego Velazquez’s win the Group 2 (1m) on Saturday.
Aidan O'Brien saddled Auguste Rodin to win the Champions Juvenile Stakes 12 months ago and he had the first two home this year.
Diego Velazquez so impressive when winning at the Curragh on his racecourse debut was more workmanlike this time around. That said he still looked in need of the experience and is the sort who will do better as 3-year-old over middle distances.
The Futurity Trophy at Doncaster which Auguste Rodin won last year will likely be the colts next race.
The race produced some controversy. Some punters feeling that Seamie Heffernan would have prevailed on front running runner-up Capulet if he had been harder on the horse. I think that’s harsh. Capulet is a nice prospect for next season, and it would be unfair to expect him to be given an unduly hard race on just his second career start. He’s a nice coly and hopefully that kindness will be repaid in the future.
The front two pulled nicely clear of the third and I think this race will prove strong form. The race underlined once again the strong hand of juvenile colts that Aidan O’Brien possesses and its possible his best has yet to see the racecourse.
There were four Group 1’s on the concluding day of Irish Champions Weekend.
Tucker springs Flying Five surprise
Highfield Princess, Bradsell & Art Power were expected to fight at the finish of the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes. However, all three ran well below par as a rejuvenated Moss Tucker followed up his recent Group 3 success here.
Some ease in the ground really suits the winner who stayed on to strongly for his nine rivals and showed on his day that he’s genuine Group 1 sprinter. He’ll now head for the Abbaye at Longchamp A race he finished fifth in last year after a slow start and won’t be far away this time around.
Highfield Princess was said to have coughed after this race and may have been in season. Either of those could explain her lacklustre effort.
The ease in the ground probably wasn’t in Bradsell’s favour. He’s a top of the ground sprinter and that probably accounts for his underwhelming performance. You could see him going well in the Abbaye if he got quick ground or at the Breeders Cup.
Art Power’s poor performance is less easy to explain. He ticked the boxes of course, distance and going but was in trouble at halfway.
Fallen Angel
Fallen Angel landed the first of the two juvenile Group 1’s on Sunday’s card. Always in a prominent position the filly was very game in victory and there was plenty to like about her attitude as she held of Vespertilio inside the final furlong.
The further they went the better the daughter of Too Darn Hot looked which didn’t surprise me. After her impressive success in the Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket I was expecting to see her over a mile in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster. Instead, Karl Burke kept her at 7f, and he was handsomely rewarded with a Group 1 success.
Runner-up Vespertilio improved on her recent Group 2 success over C&D and just came up against a stronger stayer. There’s no reason why she can’t do well as 3-year-old.
My selection Red Viburnum found this coming a bit to quick in her career, but she’s clearly highly regarded and on pedigree she could improve significantly from two to three.
The disappointment of the race was 6/5 favourite Ylang Ylang. The Aidan O’Brien trained filly made the running, but she was beaten once headed 2f out. Something was surely amiss with her given how well she had beaten the runner-up on her last start.
The winner is a serious 1,000 Guineas contender after this success but surely Ylang Ylang didn’t give her true running.
Henry Longfellow
Just four went to post for the Group 1 National Stakes. The late defection of City Of Troy, on account of the ground meant we saw a disappointing renewal of the race.
It was a messy race with just the four runners, but we saw a good winner in City Of Troy’s stablemate Henry Longfellow. He travelled beautifully through the race and remain an exciting prospect for next season.
Second favourite Bucanero Fuerte disappointed on his step up to 7f which clearly helped the winner.
Henry Longfellow was cut in price for the 2,000 Guineas but given he likes a bit of ease in the ground he’s more likely to go to France for their version. He should get 1m 2f on pedigree as a 3-year-old, but the Derby distance might be beyond him, a race he’s a best priced 8/1 for.
Eldar Eldarov’s back to winning ways in Irish St Leger.
Eldar Eldarov hadn’t won since successful in last year’s St Leger at Doncaster. Well, the 4-year-old returned to winning ways in the Irish version.
He only faced three rivals, but they included 4/6 favourite and last years’ winner Kyprios. The 5-year-old was returning for the first time since a joint infection. He’s gone well fresh in the past so this could rate as a disappointing effort. However, he did look rusty after his long layoff and this run will have blown away the cobwebs away.
Eldar Eldarov had race fitness on his side and took advantage of it on Sunday.
Provided injury hasn’t taken the edge off him I would be surprised if Kyprios finished behind the winner when they face each other again.
Kyprios will probably head to Longchamp for the Prix Du Cadran, a race he won with ease last year, but I would love to see him in the Arc. It’s possible that he will never come back to last year’s form after his injury which would be a great shame.
Future Winners:
There were plenty of horses to catch they eye last weekend. Here’s two from Haydock’s Saturday card. The first of them won on Saturday and is one to follow next season.
Haydock
Naqeeb didn’t look thrown in off a 100 on handicap debut in Saturday’s 1m 6f handicaps. However, he showed he’s classy colt in victory on Saturday. A half-brother to Baaeed and Huku. He's more about stamina than his two siblings and could be a force in staying races as a 4-year-old. He might not run this season but there is a 1m 6f handicap at York next month which trainer William Haggas won 2019 & 2022.
Tees Spirit a quick ground Listed winner at Tipperary (5f) last summer bounced back to form when a ¾ length 2nd of 12 Raasel in the 5f handicap on Saturday. It was a seasonal best by the 5-year-old who is well treated on the best form of last season. The problem he’s at his best over a sharp 5f on good or quicker ground and he might not get his underfoot conditions again this season.
Sunday
Curragh
The opening 5f handicap on Sunday card was won by course specialist Big Gossey. However, two previous eyecatchers once again caught my eye,
Summerghand didn’t get the clearest of runs 1f out and had to be switched to make his effort on the unfavoured far side. He remains in fine form and another tilt at the Ayr Gold Cup a race he won last year beckons.
Fresh caught my eye when a 2 ½ length behind Summerghand at York last time. He did so again on Sunday. He was another not to get the clearest of runs 1f but once in the clear he ran on well to finish 4 length 6th of 22 to Big Gossey. He’s a bit of an Ascot specialist, all three turf wins have come at that venue with the last two of them coming over 7f. He’s down to a winnable handicap mark.
Tuesday Preview
Laytown's annual racing on the beach takes place with a six-race card. It’s a unique concept that only happens once a year and sees a racecourse built from scratch. On a nice day it provides a superb spectacle for racegoers.
Galway
The best of today’s action is at Galway where there’s a flat card. The feature race of an eight race card is the Listed Oyster Stakes (6:25). Grade 1 winning hurdler Echoes In Rain, trained by Willie Mullins, heads the betting for the race at 6/4. She will be tough to beat, and those odds reflect her chance. One of her biggest rivals looks to be stablemate Lots Of Joy who has each way claims at her best.
The 3-year-old Amusement gets the first time cheekpieces and she’s joint top on RPR’s with Echoes in Rain. Any rain will suit her, and she should be bang there.
Another 3-year-old Azazat also gets the addition of the first time cheekpieces. She’s already proven in this class having finished a ½ length runner-up to Rosscarbery in a Group 3 at Cork in June and 2nd of 14 in a Listed race (1m 2f) at the Curragh last month. The return to 1m 4f will suit her and if the headgear has the desired effect, I can see her going close.
Galway
6:25 – Azazat – 4/1.
Good luck with your Tuesday bets.
John