Pat Smullen was prepping himself for a mental battle at The Curragh on Saturday, with his mount Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) taking on a quintet from Ballydoyle in the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby headed by his G1 Epsom Derby conqueror Wings Of Eagles (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}). With only Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) considered a similar threat to the contingent from Rosegreen, Cracksman faces a tall order to get in the way of a 12th edition heading the way of Aidan O'Brien. Seemingly unsuited by the undulations when third in the June 3 Epsom Classic, Anthony Oppenheimer's colourbearer has given connections all the right indications as he heads to Kildare for the rematch. “You have to have your wits about you. That goes without saying,” Smullen told Racing Post. “You have to do your homework and you have to expect the unexpected. This will be tactical. That's a given. Cracksman is a great spare ride to get. He's a very smart colt. I don't think there were too many hard-luck stories on the day for him at Epsom, but even if he reproduces that run it makes him one of the principal horses and it should leave him very competitive. You can't take away from Wings Of Eagles the fact he won the Derby, but this will be a new day on a new track.”
Saturday's contest looks increasingly like a three-way go between the best of Ireland, England and France with the Derby runner-up Cliffs of Moher (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) heading to Sandown a week later. 'TDN Rising Star' Waldgeist, who was edged out by Brametot (Ire) (Rajsaman {Fr}) in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on June 4, earns Smullen's respect. “I'm very hopeful of a huge run, although I do think the French horse has been overlooked a little,” he said. “His form is strong. He was just beaten a short-head in the Jockey Club. Not for one minute would I be putting a line through him. There is more than one horse to beat and it's going to be a competitive race. That said, I wouldn't swap the ride I've got and I'm really looking forward to riding Cracksman.”
Cracksman's trainer John Gosden reports the homebred to be in rude health and said, “Cracksman is in great form. The Curragh is a lovely track and I think it will suit him. I thought Wings Of Eagles was impressive in the Derby. I'm very clear in my mind he would have been an unlucky loser, as he was stopped twice in running and still won it at the finish. I don't think it was a fluke, but the pair of them are nice horses and it will be great to see them meet up at The Curragh.” Aidan O'Brien took out a trio on Thursday, with the most notable being the G3 Chester Vase winner Venice Beach (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
