Back Out Again

Saturday’s G2 GAIN Railway S. at The Curragh sees Log Out Island (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) return just nine days after his defeat in Royal Ascot’s G2 Norfolk S., with trainer Richard Hannon hoping he has read the colt’s signals right. Second to Ballydoyle’s Waterloo Bridge (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in that five-furlong contest, Godolphin’s acquisition–who had been impressive on his winning debut over that course and distance Apr. 29–steps up in trip here. “It looks a good opportunity for him at Group 2 level, so we decided we’d let him take his chance,” his trainer said. “It does come up quite quick, but he’s only really had the one race in his life and I really want to see him run over six furlongs. We are taking a chance with him slightly and hopefully it doesn’t come too quick, but if it does we can give him a break and bring him back for the [Listed] Winkfield S. at Ascot at the end of July.” Aidan O’Brien has a total of 11 winners to his tally so far and relies on June 18 Leopardstown maiden winner Painted Cliffs (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}), who had finished eighth on debut in a hot race won by stable companion and subsequent G2 Coventry S. runner-up Air Force Blue (War Front) over this track and trip May 24. In that contest, Mill House LLC’s Rockaway Valley (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) was a neck second, and he has since won impressively over the same course and distance June 7. “We knew he was pretty smart the first day but the penny just didn’t drop, but the second day he was really professional,” trainer Jessica Harrington commented. “Saturday’s race is a really good renewal and they are all hard to win, but I hope he has improved a bit. He is a very laid-back horse which is brilliant, because he only does what he has to do at home.” 

“I’m not too worried about the ground,” Harrington added. “It was pretty quick when he won there the last day and he’s a good-moving horse.” Sean Jones’s Argentero (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}) has been beaten only by the smart Round Two (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in three starts at Naas and comes into this on the back of an authoritative win in the Listed Rochestown S. there at the start of the month.