By Sean Cronin
Firing an early cannon across the bows of the opposition to Ballydoyle in 2017, Orderofthegarter dominated this Classic trial much as he had when winning by 11 lengths on his 3-year-old bow over a mile at Naas Mar. 26. Runner-up to two talented stablemates as a juvenile in the subsequent G2 Vintage S. winner War Decree (War Front) and TDN Rising Star Cliffs of Moher (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the bay had obviously gleaned much from those encounters over seven furlongs at this track despite the lengthy break between them from June to October. Sent straight to the lead by Seamie Heffernan bidding to exploit race-fitness, he had already applied enough pressure to crack much of his rivals by the home turn and began to open up soon after. Despite the progress of his slow-starting stablemate Taj Mahal, it was all about Orderofthegarter as some Guineas hopes were dashed in behind. “He was impressive at Naas and has improved again,” his rider said. “I never felt I was going to get beaten at any stage.” Aidan O'Brien is pointing at the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh May 27, with the Newmarket Classic on the first Saturday of that month firmly set for Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). “He's a very smart, progressive horse who was always mature and he's done well,” he said. “He might be an Irish Guineas horse, while Taj Mahal might stay further. He took a long time to come to hand last year and ran very well there.” Kitty Kiernan, who was campaigned by Jim Bolger, beat none other than Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) on debut eight years ago before finishing runner-up to that rival in the G3 Coolmore Stud Fillies' Sprint S. She is out of Alstemeria, a full-sister to the G1 Phoenix S. and G1 Gran Criterium-winning sire Spartacus (Ire) and fellow sires Johan Cruyff (GB) and Meteor Shower (Ire) and a half to the dams of the Hong Kong champion stayer Blazing Speed (GB) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) and Hong Kong Derby hero and G1SP Super Satin (NZ) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
LEOPARDSTOWN 2000 GUINEAS TRIAL S.-Listed, €47,500, LEO, 4-8, 3yo, c/g, 8fT, 1:41.06, gd/yl.
1–#ORDEROFTHEGARTER (IRE), 129, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Kitty Kiernan (GB) (MGSP-Ire), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Alstemeria (Ire), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Teslemi, by Ogygian
O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Seamus Heffernan. €28,025. Lifetime Record: 4-2-2-0, $47,259.
2–Taj Mahal (Ire), 129, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–You'resothrilling, by Storm Cat. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor. €9,500.
3–Zorion (GB), 129, c, 3, Smart Strike–Zofzig, by Danzig. O-Godolphin€4,750.
Margins: 3 3/4, 5, NK. Odds: 1.25, 5.00, 7.00.
Also Ran: Firey Speech, Glastonbury Song (Ire), Spanish Tenor (Ire), Maximus Daia (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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