A Ballydoyle Benefit?

So far, Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has done everything in her power to ensure that she is worthy of such a significant title, and heads to Sunday’s G1 Moyglare Stud S. at The Curragh in pole position. Having taken the stepping stone to this race, the G2 Debutante S. over the same course and distance Aug. 22, with a degree of comfort, Michael Tabor’s bay holds her stable companion and the runner-up Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) on that form. The Debutante has already received a major boost after the fourth-placed Turret Rocks (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) won Friday’s G2 May Hill S. at Doncaster, and Ballydoyle is a straightforward ride, which will stand her in good stead.

Despite the considerable domestic presence, Brian Meehan is happy to bring the July 10 G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. third and Aug. 8 G3 Sweet Solera S. scorer Blue Bayou (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}) to bear on the home team. “Her form is good and this certainly looks the obvious race to step her up to Group 1 company in,” he said. “The Moyglare seemed to tie in quite well. She has the perfect temperament and a hell of a pedigree. I think she’s a really classy filly. We were very disappointed to be beaten such a narrow margin the time before last, but she’d only had a maiden win. It will be a hell of a tough race, but I’m going with a serious filly.” Second to the G1 National S. contender Herald the Dawn (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in the G2 Futurity S. over this track and trip Aug. 23, Now Or Never (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}) reverts to taking on the fillies again and is a leading contender with that experience under her belt. “She wouldn’t be there if we didn’t think she was up to it,” trainer Michael O’Callaghan commented. “It was a tough ask against the colts the last day, but she acquitted herself very well and we’re looking forward to running her back against her own sex. The ground is on the quick side, but it looks like the weather is breaking and we wouldn’t mind a bit of rain just to take the sting out of it. Genuine good ground would be perfect.”

Dermot Weld saddles His Highness The Aga Khan’s unbeaten Tanaza (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who beat the subsequent Debutante fifth Alice Springs (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G3 Silver Flash S. over this trip at Leopardstown July 23 and who has been minded with this race in mind since. She remains unexposed and open to a large amount of improvement but lacks experience, which cannot be leveled at Richard Hannon’s representative Great Page (Ire) (Roderic O’Connor {Ire}), who is having her eighth start here. Having beaten the subsequent May Hill runner-up Marenko (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in Deauville’s G3 Prix du Calvados over this trip Aug. 22, Middleham Park Racing’s bay is an admirable type, and racing manager Tim Palin is hopeful she can hold her own. “She’s going there in very good shape and her last two runs have been her best two runs, as she has been stepped up in trip,” he explained. “The highest-rated filly in the race is Ballydoyle on 108 and we’re only three pounds behind her, so we’re definitely entitled to be there. I think the big thing is we’re proven on soft ground, whereas Ballydoyle, Blue Bayou and Tanaza have never run on it. There’s no guarantee they’ll run up to their best if the ground does go soft, so I’m going there far more hopeful than her market position suggests.”