Over To You, Jack
Second only to his peerless stable companion Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) so far, Godolphin’s color-bearer Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) gets his chance to shine away from that barnmate in Saturday’s 150th renewal of the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh. Making great strides since his Wolverhampton debut win six months ago, the bay has form that stands up to the closest inspection, having won a decent 10-furlong handicap at Sandown by 12 lengths Apr. 24 and chased home Golden Horn in both the May 14 G2 Dante S. at York and G1 Epsom Derby June 6. Trainer John Gosden has always made public that the handsome bay is a long-term project, but he is keen to go again while his homework remains of the highest order. “He’s a tall, rangy horse and he’ll be having a nice break after this until the autumn, as I wouldn’t want to race him on through the summer,” he explained. “I think a galloping track like The Curragh should suit him well. He worked last Saturday and I was very happy. He worked with a lead horse and Robert Havlin rode him; he was nicely clear on the bridle at the end.”
Aidan O’Brien has a remarkable record in this, with a record 11 editions going his way including eight of the last nine. Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) takes the route used by the 2010 hero Cape Blanco (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by coming in off the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly May 31. Second to New Bay (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Derrick Smith’s representative looked as if this step up to a mile and a half would suit, and he remains largely unexposed. Like the stable’s past winners Soldier of Fortune (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Frozen Fire (Ger) (Montjeu {Ire}), Giovanni Canaletto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Kilimanjaro (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) bid to turn around out-of-the-frame efforts in the Derby, where they finished fourth and sixth, respectively. The former had previously been second to Curvy (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G3 Gallinule S. over 10 furlongs here May 24 and that form looks stronger now that the winner has upstaged Pleascach (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) at Royal Ascot. Along with the June 5 G1 Epsom Oaks winner Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), they form a potent team for Ballydoyle and their conditioner said, “Highland Reel will step up another quarter of a mile, but we were happy with him in France last time and we’ve been happy with him since. We always thought [Qualify] was a really nice filly and we always knew the minute she went beyond a mile, there was the possibility she would really step up and Epsom was the first time she went beyond a mile. We were obviously delighted with that and look forward to Saturday.”
“Giovanni Canaletto is in good form,” O’Brien continued. “We felt Epsom was maybe coming a little too quick for him, but he came out of the race well and we look forward to seeing him run again on Saturday. Kilimanjaro ran a nice race at Epsom and the Curragh might suit him better than Epsom.”
His Highness The Aga Khan’s unbeaten June 5 Listed King George V Cup scorer Radanpour (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) is the unknown quantity of the race, and jockey Pat Smullen is under no illusions as to his task. “He’d probably want a drop of rain and hopefully they’ll keep plenty of water on, as he just wants a bit of ease in the ground,” he commented. “It’s definitely a big step up for him, but he’s been very consistent and deserves to take his chance. We’re all hoping for a good run, but on the figures Radanpour has to improve a lot.”
Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum’s Storm the Stars (Sea the Stars {Ire}) has 4 1/2 lengths to find with Jack Hobbs on his Epsom running, but the May 22 Listed Cocked Hat S. winner is another who looks set to progress as the season wears on. “The horse is very well and we came to the conclusion if we didn’t run, he couldn’t win,” trainer William Haggas said. “John’s horse looked marvelous before the Derby at Epsom and ran a pretty good race, so he’ll be hard to beat. Then you have an Oaks winner, a few more of Aidan’s and an unbeaten horse of Dermot Weld’s, so it’s not going to be straightforward, but then it is an Irish Derby.”