By Tom Frary
Just as Phoenix of Spain (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) had on Saturday, Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) took Sunday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas by the scruff of the neck and led at every step to bring up the Guineas double that eluded her stablemate Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Sent off the 5-2 favourite, the May 5 G1 1000 Guineas heroine was sent forward with Ryan Moore in unflinching mood accompanied by Martin Schwartz's Foxtrot Liv (GB) (Foxwedge {Aus}) and the returning Pretty Pollyanna (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Nothing else was able to get into the contest and when Moore asked for extra two out Hermosa was soon beyond recall en route to a four-length success from Pretty Pollyanna, with Foxtrot Liv 1 1/2 lengths away in third. “She was always in control and I never felt I was going to get beaten at any stage,” Moore said of Hermosa, who was collecting an eighth renewal for Aidan O'Brien. “She's a very strong filly who has done exceptionally well from two to three and gave me the feel of a top-class filly. She's very effective at a mile, but will probably get further and all being well she should have a very good year.”
Hermosa scored over seven furlongs in an often-informative maiden at the Galway festival in July before running sixth in the G2 Debutante S. here in August. Third in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. the following month, the bay beat Foxtrot Liv in a precursor of what was to come in the G3 Weld Park S. at Naas later in September before running second to Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler of a the World {Ire}) in the G1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket in mid-October. Again second to Godolphin's Royal Meeting (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the seven-furlong G1 Criterium International 16 days later at Chantilly, she gave the impression here that she could prove more than a match for the colts in 2019.
“The plan was changed to come here rather than go to the Oaks and then go from here to the [G1] Prix de Diane [at Chantilly] in three weeks and I'm so delighted that we did,” Aidan O'Brien commented. “We thought she had physically come forward from Newmarket and Donnacha who rides her at home was full of her. She could go further and her sister [Hydrangea] got a mile and a half. We'll see how she gets on in France before thinking about that. After her next race, she could have a little break and come back for the autumn and she has the scope to be a filly for next year. All the things say she could progress on as a four-year-old.”
Hermosa's dam Beauty Is Truth (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) has been a revelation, with the G2 Prix du Gros-Chene and G3 Prix d'Arenberg-winning sprinter responsible for three group 1 winners by Galileo in this filly, Hydrangea (Ire) and The United States (Ire). She is a daughter of the G3 Prix du Bois winner Zelding (Ire) (Warning {GB}), who also produced the Listed Prix Finlande winner and G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches runner-up Glorious Sight (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}). Zelding's half-brother Zipping (Ire) (Zafonic) took the G2 Prix Robert Papin and is connected to the GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero and leading sire Last Tycoon (Ire) (Try My Best), the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois and G1 Coronation S. heroine Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Valentine Waltz (Ire) (Be My Guest). Beauty Is Truth's Galileo 2-year-old full-sister to the winner is named Salsa (Ire), while she also has a yearling full-sister to them.
Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
TATTERSALLS IRISH 1000 GUINEAS-G1, €400,000, Curragh, 5-26, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:35.07, g/f.
1–HERMOSA (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Beauty Is Truth (Ire) (MGSW-Fr, $226,426), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Zelding (Ire), by Warning (GB)
3rd Dam: Zelda (Ire), by Caerleon
O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Beauty Is Truth Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €232,000. Lifetime Record: GS1W-Eng & G1SP-Fr, 9-4-2-1, $938,614. *Full to Hydrangea (Ire), G1SW-Eng & Ire, G1SP-Fr, $1,313,667; and The United States (Ire), G1SW-Aus & GSW-Ire, $1,684,244; and 1/2 to Fire Lily (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), Hwt. 3yo-Ire at 5-7f, MGSW & G1SP-Ire, G1SP-Fr & GSP-Eng, $412,541. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Pretty Pollyanna (GB), 126, f, 3, Oasis Dream (GB)–Unex Mona Lisa (GB), by Shamardal. (50,000gns RNA Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-W J & T C O Gredley; B-Stetchworth & Middle Park Studs Ltd (GB); T-Michael Bell. €80,000.
3–Foxtrot Liv (GB), 126, f, 3, Foxwedge (Aus)–Bestfootforward (GB), by Motivator (GB). (6,000gns Wlg '16 TATFOA; €0 RNA Ylg '17 GOFSPT). O-Martin Schwartz; B-Northmore Stud (GB); T-Paddy Twomey. €40,000.
Margins: 4, 1HF, 3/4. Odds: 2.50, 9.00, 25.00.
Also Ran: Iridessa (Ire), Dean Street Doll (Ire), Fairyland (Ire), Just Wonderful, Coral Beach (Ire), Qabala, East (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
