Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece I am looking back at Irish Guineas weekend.
Curragh Guineas Weekend: Field Of Gold Shines Bright
It was all eyes on the Curragh for Guineas Weekend. After his unlucky second in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, Field Of Gold got the ride he should have received there.
In a steadily run Irish 2,000 Guineas, new jockey Colin Keane committed early down the outside. The move paid off handsomely. Field Of Gold hit the front 1f out and powered clear to win by 3¾ lengths.
It was a Juddmonte 1-2, with Cosmic Year back in second. He wasn’t as well positioned when the winner kicked for home. Trainer Harry Charlton blamed the lack of pace in the race, It will be interesting if they dropped him back to 6f.
Field Of Gold now looks the standout 3-year-old miler. He’s already running to a serious level and could easily be a 130-rated colt by season’s end. His main rival might be French 2,000 Guineas winner Henri Matisse. Fingers crossed they clash in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Porta Fortuna Returns with a Bang
Sunday brought an even stronger card. Porta Fortuna made a winning return in the Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes.
The multiple Group 1 winner was given a no-nonsense ride by Ryan Moore. He had her in the perfect spot and let her class do the rest. The Queen Anne Stakes now beckons, and she’s sure to take her chance against the boys and this uncomplicated filly would have a good chance.
Los Angeles Wins a Cracking Tattersalls Gold Cup
The Tattersalls Gold Cup was a proper race and proved a fascinating watch. Los Angeles hit the front 2f out but soon faced a big challenge from Anmaat, who cruised up on the outside.
For a moment, Anmaat looked the likely winner, even edging ahead briefly inside the final furlong. But Los Angeles showed real grit to battle back and take the prize in the final strides.
Anmaat was conceding race fitness, so his camp may fancy turning the tables next time in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. But Los Angeles is tough. When it gets tight, he digs deep.
Kalpana ran well in third on seasonal return and looks set for a big year back over 1m4f. White Birch didn’t get the run of the race. He lacked the instant change of gear on this ground and got caught out tactically. After Keane’s smart ride on Saturday, this was a poor effort in the saddle. Soft ground will help White Birch—and he remains a Prince of Wales’s player if he gets his underfoot conditions.
Lake Victoria Cruises to Classic Glory
Lake Victoria bounced back from a poor 1,000 Guineas run to land the Irish equivalent in style. Again, Ryan Moore was in the right place at the right time. He tracked the pace and kicked on smartly to seal the race. She’s clearly the best of these, but the ride she got made it even easier.
Long-time leader California Dreamer held on for second, but there was daylight behind the winner.
Of those behind the one to take out of the race might be City Of Memphis. Just her second start, she had a wide trip and tried to come from off the pace in a steadily run race. She finished fifth and she remains a prospect. By the end of the season, she could be the second best of this bunch.
The market’s got it right as Sunday turned out to be a benefit for the O’Brien’s. Aidan saddled three winners including the two Group 1’s and son Donnacha chipped in with another three including Porta Fortuna. Who can beat them at their local tracks?
Haydock Temple Stakes Day Recap
The action this side of the Irish Sea wasn’t of the quality on offer at the Curragh but was enjoyable enough.
Diamond Rain bounced back to winning ways in the Listed Hedge Of Oak Stakes. She appreciated the return to a sound surface and now has three wins from five starts. By Shamardal and trained by Charlie Appleby, she should hold her own in Group races against her own sex. Runner-up Running Lion travelled best two out but found little when asked. Her head carriage under pressure remains a concern — she looks a tricky ride.
Symbol Of Honour made it back-to-back wins with a gutsy success in the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes. He wasn’t as dominant as at Newbury last Saturday but showed a good attitude. He’s on the up, though gelding status rules him out of the Commonwealth Cup. The unlucky one was Big Mojo — denied a run two out, he ran on for fourth. He’s still Group race standard and should be a player at Royal Ascot.
French Import Delivers in Temple Stakes
The feature Temple Stakes went the way of Mgheera, who overcame a slow start to collar She’s Quality late on. She’d shaped well when winning Longchamp Group 3 last month and made a seamless transition to UK racing. Perhaps the market overlooked her due to her French form — she returned 10/1. Now with Ed Walker, she’s clearly Group race standard and Ascot’s stiff five furlongs should suit her given her strong finish here.
American Affair justified the step up from handicaps. He was short of room inside the final two furlongs but still ran on well for fourth. This was a big step up, but he proved himself a pattern level performer and remains one to keep onside.
Rumstar, a smart winner of the Palace House last time, was sent off 11/4 favourite. He never looked happy and faded into sixth. Perhaps Haydock doesn’t play to his strengths. Starlust, meanwhile, was giving away a 5lb Group 1 penalty and looked in need of the run. He’ll be sharper next time.
William Buick had a day to remember with four winners, including Mgheera. He judged how the track was riding and was at the top of his game.
Goodwood Listed Winners Keep Classic History Alive
Goodwood hosted a pair of Listed races on Saturday—both of which have produced Classic winners in the past.
The Cocked Hat Stakes, formerly the Predominate Stakes, was once seen as a serious Derby trial. Troy won it in 1979 before taking the Derby. Other past winners include Pentire, Dubai Millennium, and Masked Marvel, who later landed the St Leger.
This year’s winner, Amiloc, probably isn’t a future Classic winner, but he’s now 4 from 4 and looks an above-average recent winner of the race. A step into Group company should be well within his range.
The Height Of Fashion Stakes, won by Snow Fairy in 2010 before her Oaks triumph, produced a likeable winner in Victoria Harbour. She might not follow in Snow Fairy’s footsteps, but the Frankel filly showed plenty of heart to dig in and hold off her rivals. She’s now 2 from 2 on turf and could have more to offer.
Bank Holiday Monday Racing
It’s Bank Holiday Monday and there’s plenty of racing to enjoy.
Ireland’s feature is the McHale Mayo National Handicap Chase (6:30) at Ballinrobe, with €59,000 on offer to the winner.
This side of the Irish Sea, the focus is on Redcar, where the Racing TV Zetland Gold Cup Handicap (4:35) takes centre stage with £40,000 in guaranteed prize money.
Redcar – 4:35 Zetland Gold Cup Handicap (Class 2, 1m2f)
It looks a typically competitive renewal.
Sir Lowry's Pass returned better than ever when scoring at Goodwood 23 days ago. He’s up 7lb but had plenty in hand at the finish and is firmly on the upgrade.
Approval was a good winner over the distance at Goodwood last summer. He likely needed the run at Newmarket on return and is one to note as a 4-year-old. His yard won this in 2019.
See That Storm made it 3 from 3 over C&D when landing a handicap here 25 days ago. A 3lb rise looks fair, and this improving sort should go well again. His stable took this in 2023.
Born Ruler shaped well on his return from a long break in the Suffolk Stakes Handicap at Newmarket (5th of 13). He’ll be sharper now and looks more at home over 1m2f. On the shortlist.
Verdict: See That Storm has appealing claims and could be capable of better. However, I have gone with Born Ruler but I may regret the choice.
If you want my Bank Holiday Monday selections — plus Derby Festival and Royal Ascot previews and picks — you can get them here.
Good luck with your Bank Holiday Monday bets.
John