Classic Spell
It was in the 1997 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas that Aidan O’Brien first served notice that the second empire had been built at Ballydoyle as Classic Park (GB) (Robellino) struck at 20-1 in the Curragh contest. By now, a winner of the now Tattersalls-sponsored Classic from that establishment has come to be almost expected with a regularity few trainers have been able to dream of. On Sunday, the assault is led by ‘TDN Rising Star’ Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who bids to extend the already admirable record in this year’s European Classics for Coolmore’s new retained rider Ryan Moore. Still green when third in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. over seven furlongs here in September, Michael Tabor’s daughter of the accomplished miler Red Evie (Ire) (Intikhab) struck gold in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp in October, where she powered away from Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). While that G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches heroine may have been compromised by the way the race panned out, the form has a solid look with the next four fillies home all looking above-average. Second in the seven-furlong G3 Athasi S. on her return–in the heavy conditions in which most of the stable’s horses seem to under-perform–here 20 days ago, she has been wound tight in the interim.
“We were hoping the ground wouldn’t be as bad as it was for her last time, and she got stuck in the mud after traveling well,” explained O’Brien, who is seeking a seventh edition. “It was good for her and for Ryan to get a feel of her and the petrol ran out near the end. She came out of it well and this is the race we were looking to get her really started in. Hopefully, she’ll travel well and have a nice run and we will be looking forward to seeing what she does after that.”
Ballydoyle is also represented by the fascinating Kissed By Angels (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is herself a daughter of another high-class miler in Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), and last year’s G3 C L & MF Weld S. winnerQualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). The former looked a class act when putting Devonshire (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) and Stormfly (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in their place to break her maiden in the G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial over this trip at Leopardstown May 10, a week after Qualify had suffered a contrasting fate when last of 13 in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. “Kissed By Angels won her trial in Leopardstown very easily and Qualify had a disappointing run in the Guineas, but we think she’ll leave that well behind,” O’Brien added.
Jim Bolger had spoken of heading towards the Irish Oaks with Pleascach (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) after the homebred’s highly impressive win in the May 13 G3 Blue Wind S. over 10 furlongs at Naas with the proviso that this would be a target if she showed him the right signals in the interim. Her inclusion has to be proof that she is in prime condition, and she appears one of the versatile performers her trainer excels with. “I’m not so sure about the mile, but she’s a talented filly and we are going to be there and hope for the best,” he said.
His Highness The Aga Khan has yet to win this Classic, but in Raydara (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) he has a live contender with solid formlines. Beating the subsequent G2 Rockfel S. winner and 1000 Guineas runner-up Lucida (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G2 Debutante S. over seven furlongs here when last seen in August, the homebred was forced to skip Newmarket three weeks ago and trainer Mick Halford’s patience could be rewarded on home soil. “The plan was to go to Newmarket for the 1000 Guineas, but she just wasn’t sparking at the time and we said we would just wait for this weekend,” he told PA Sport. “She has been to the racecourse for a gallop and I’m happy with her. Her form from the Debutante S. looks rock-solid and was well advertised in the English Guineas, so you’d be hopeful she could run a nice race, but a Classic is a Classic.”
Dermot Weld has some serious ammunition this term, and as well as the Apr. 12 G3 Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial scorer Stormfly, he has the untapped potential of Joailliere (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) to call upon. The latter, who sports the Moyglare silks carried to glory by Trusted Partner in 1988, was off the mark by seven lengths on debut over seven furlongs at Gowran Park Apr. 11 and has earned her ticket here with some solid homework.
Third in the Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial on unsuitably soft ground on only her second outing, Military Angel (Big Brown) remains an unknown quantity and at least has a faster surface to aid her. “She’ll really appreciate better ground and I’m looking forward to running her,” trainer Michael O’Callaghan told PA Sport. “I thought her run in the trial was very good. It was only her second ever start and she’d never encountered that sort of ground. The first few pulled a long way clear and she had Legatissimo in behind her that day, so the form is exceptional.”