Devonshire Added to Irish 1000 Guineas

Trainer Willie McCreery feels Devonshire (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) deserves her place in the line up after she was supplemented by Godolphin for Sunday’s G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh. The Fast Company filly has been second on both her outings in Group 3 company this season and in an open year connections felt it was worth taking the plunge. Having chased home Dermot Weld’s Stormfly (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) over seven furlongs in the G3 Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial S. April 12, she turned that form around but was beaten by Kissed By Angels (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) a month later in the G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial S. May 10.

“The owners have been very sporting,” said McCreery. “She seems in good form and the conditions won’t bother her. I don’t particularly think she needs soft ground to be seen at her best, but she seems to handle it a lot better than others. It could be very tacky by the weekend and we know she goes through it. She was staying on strongly the other day, though, and later in the season she might get a bit further than that. We’ll see how she gets on this weekend and then take it from there.”

David Wachman’s Legatissimo (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and Jim Bolger’s Lucida (Ire) (Shamardal), first and second in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, were among the fillies taken out at the forfeit stage.

A total of 21 fillies are still in contention, including Aidan O’Brien’s Kissed By Angels. O’Brien could also run Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Outstanding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Wedding Vow (Ire)(Galileo {Ire}). 

Jessica Harrington has two strong candidates in Jack Naylor (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and Bocca Baciata (Ire) (Big Bad Bob {Ire}) while Jim Bolger has left in Pleascach (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), Mainicin (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Steip Amach (Ire) (Vocalised). 

Mick Channon’s Malabar (GB) (Raven’s Pass) ran well to finish fourth at Newmarket while Mick Halford’s Raydara (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) was one of the best juveniles last season. 

Dermot Weld has a couple of interesting contenders in Joailliere (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Stormfly. 

James Given’s pair of Pastoral Girl (GB) (Pastoral Pursuits {GB}) and Russian Punch (GB) (Archipenko) and the Clive Brittain-trained Teosroyal (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) are others still engaged.