Choisir Colt Causes Upset In Style At The Curragh

1st-CUR, €18,000, Mdn, 6-26, 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:27.21, yl.
+ALEXIOS KOMNENOS (IRE) (c, 2, Choisir {Aus}–Alexiade {Ire}, by Montjeu {Ire}), ignored at 50-1, was tardy from the stalls but made a quick recovery to race just worse than mid-division throughout the early stages. Progressing up the centre of the track to take over approaching the furlong pole, the bay powered away late to register a convincing three-length success from Inca Gold (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who edged out the long-time leader Sebastian Bach (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) by a half length. Taj Mahal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Ballydoyle's full-brother to Gleneagles (Ire) and Marvellous (Ire), was hopelessly green and after missing the break needed encouragement throughout from Ryan Moore to make any kind of show before winding up a non-threatening seventh. “I was a bit worried about the ground, as he's such a good mover,” trainer Tommy Stack's son and assistant Fozzy said. “It was slower than ideal and Wayne [Lordan] said it was a bit slower than yesterday. He's nicely bred from a Moyglare family and is out of a Montjeu mare, so he should get a mile no problem. He's still a bit weak, so we'll take our time. He's always worked well and I expected him to run a nice race.” As Fozzy stated, the winner's pedigree includes the high-class Moyglare Stud homebred Irresistible Jewel (Ire) (Danehill), whose career featuredwins in the G2 Ribblesdale S. and G3 Blandford S. and a second in the G1 Prix de l'Opera. Like her, Alexios Komnenos boasts the GI Acorn S. heroine Aptostar (Fappiano) as his second dam and she in turn is a half-sister to the GSW sire Man Alright. Sales history: 16,000gns RNA Wlg '14 TATFOA; €28,000 Ylg '15 GOFORB. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $12,307. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Next Pension Fund Syndicate; B-P Motherway (IRE); T-Tommy Stack.