The Color Is Blue

Impressive when inflicting a 4 3/4-length defeat on Tribal Beat (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}) in a seven-furlong maiden at Naas Sept. 23, Blue de Vega (Ger) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) bids to prove he has genuine Classic potential in the G3 Killavullan S. at Leopardstown on Saturday. Qatar Racing, Sheikh Khalifa, Sheikh Suhaim and Mohammed Al Kuba’s highly regarded bay is under the care of burgeoning trainer Michael O’Callaghan, and he is eager to see where he stands against representatives of some of the bigger yards. “He won well the last day and came out of that well,” he said. “It’s a step up, but we’re hoping for a big run.”

Aidan O’Brien has a record 10 editions to his name and his Oct. 11 Curragh maiden winner Black Sea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) appears the leading hope, while the aforementioned Jim Bolger hope Tribal Beat looked to be moving forward when winning a six-furlong Cork maiden by five lengths six days ago after his second to Blue de Vega.