If proof was needed of what Irish Champions weekend means to Coolmore and Ballydoyle, checking the list of runners in Sunday's G1 Moyglare Stud S., a “Win And You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar in November, at The Curragh provides little doubt that it takes very high rank. It is hard to think of another stable who would pitch five black-type winning fillies against each other, even allowing for it being a top-level contest and it is up to the punters to decide which they believe is best, for Aidan O'Brien probably doesn't know himself at present. Each of the G2 Debutante S. first, second and fourth Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Happily (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and 'TDN Rising Star' September (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and the G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. scorer Clemmie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) can lay valid claim to being the head hen at Rosegreen, while even the fifth-string Ballet Shoes (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) had looked a potential class act when taking Tipperary's Listed Coolmore Ivawood S. over 7 1/2 furlongs Aug. 11. “They are all kind of owned by different people and that's why they are all running,” O'Brien explained. “Clemmie is in good form and the better the ground the better it will suit her. The fillies that ran in the Debutante all seem to be fine and came out of their races well. They haven't done much as it hasn't been that long since then, but they all seem to be in good form. Ballet Shoes came out of her race [when second in the Aug. 27 G3 Flame of Tara S.] well and seems to be in good form also.”
Like the Listed Chesham S. winner September, The Niarchos Family's Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) enjoys 'TDN Rising Star' status and looked every bit that quality when beating Ballydoyle's classy Actress (Ire) (Declaration of War) by five lengths in the Listed Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies' Sprint S. over six furlongs at Naas May 21. Beaten a neck by Different League (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) when second in Royal Ascot's G3 Albany S. at that trip when last seen June 23, the imposing grey has strengthened throughout her break and jockey Colm O'Donoghue is looking forward to renewing his partnership over a trip more likely to suit on pedigree. “She ran a terrific race in the Albany. She did nothing wrong, she was just beaten by another very good filly,” he commented. “The winner has franked the form by running well against colts in the Prix Morny, so you couldn't say it was a bad run. Our filly is in great form at home and it will be a fantastic race.” Two unexposed fillies who add further strength to one of the best renewals of recent times are the Eddie Lynam-trained Aug. 13 Loder Irish EBF Fillies Race scorer Muirin (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}) and the Aug. 17 six-furlong Leopardstown maiden winner Chiara Luna (War Front) who represents the Moyglare-Weld axis.
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