A glance at the recent honour roll of The Curragh's G2 Galileo Irish EBF Futurity S. suggests that Aidan O'Brien regards it as an important learning process for his budding Group 1 stars, and he has a trio on Sunday who follow in the footsteps of the likes of Giant's Causeway, Hawk Wing, Gleneagles (Ire) and Churchill (Ire). Ryan Moore is on Rostropovich (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who needs to take a step forward on what he has shown so far but is probably capable of doing so in a less-than-exacting renewal. Having opened his account in a seven-furlong Gowran Park maiden on June 25, he finished last of three when favourite behind Camelback (Exchange Rate) in a conditions event also over that trip at Naas on July 8. “Rostropovich was disappointing the last day but we think he might improve,” the Ballydoyle trainer commented.
Camelback also had Rostropovich behind when winning his maiden at Leopardstown on May 26, but despite his honourable progress has yet to convince Ger Lyons he is top-drawer material. “He'll have to behave himself. He's a nice horse, but mentally he's not there yet,” his trainer said. “He's short of that class, but he's there and it will be another step in his education.”
Jim Bolger is represented by Theobald (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who followed a second to the subsequent G1 Phoenix S. third Actress (Ire) (Declaration of War) in the G3 Anglesey S. here on July 15 with another runner-up finish behind 'TDN Rising Star' The Pentagon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G3 Tyros S. at Leopardstown on July 27.
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