Agartha (Ire) | Horse Racing Free Tips

Caravaggio’s Agartha Back To Winning Ways In The Fairy Bridge

Bouncing back from a disappointing effort when last in the July 9 GI Belmont Oaks Invitational, Scott Heider's G2 Debutante S. and G3 Silver Flash S. winner Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio) was at her dynamic best as she made all under Declan McDonogh to capture Friday's G3 Coolmore Stud No Nay Never Fairy Bridge S. at Tipperary. Dropping back from a mile and a quarter to 7 1/2 furlongs here, the Joseph O'Brien-trained 6-4 favourite had only stablemate Night Of Romance (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) to worry about in the straight but stayed on in typically tenacious fashion to score by a length.

“They thought the style of training in America didn't suit her and when she came home Pat McCabe, who rides her out, and I thought she was back working really well and we were proved right,” McDonagh said. “She was lugging out off the fence and was pulling up a bit in the straight, but it is a good confidence-booster. She loves Leopardstown and maybe she'll go to the Matron or something like that now.”

Agartha, who had the misfortune to encounter Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) when second to that star performer in Leopardstown's G3 Ballylinch Stud 1000 Guineas Trial Apr. 2 and when fifth behind her in the May 22 Irish 1000 Guineas itself, was also runner-up in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. at two. From the O'Briens' Whisperview operation, she is the first foal out of the strong-staying Listed Stanerra S. winner and G3 Irish St Leger Trial third Arya Tara (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) from the Aga Khan family of the G1 Prix Ganay hero Astarabad (Alleged), the high-class Azamour (Ire) (Night Shift) and the six-times group 1-winning The Autumn Sun (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}). Arya Tara's 2-year-old son of Churchill (Ire) named Agathon (Ire) was a €360,000 purchase by Justin Casse at Goffs Orby, while her 2021 and 2022 colts are by Ten Sovereigns (Ire).

Friday, Tipperary, Ireland
COOLMORE STUD NO NAY NEVER FAIRY BRIDGE S.-G3, €55,000, Tipperary, 8-26, 3yo/up, f/m, 7 1/2fT, 1:34.62, gd.
1–AGARTHA (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Caravaggio
1st Dam: Arya Tara (Ire) (SW & GSP-Ire), by Dylan Thomas (Ire)
2nd Dam: Anadiyla (Ire), by Barathea (Ire)
3rd Dam: Anaza (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
O-Scott C Heider; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Declan McDonogh. €33,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Ire, 13-3-5-2, $273,516. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Night Of Romance (GB), 133, f, 4, Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Shohrah (Ire), by Giant's Causeway.
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (45,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT; 50,000gns HRA '21 TATTJU; 30,000gns RNA HRA '21 TATMA). O-E & S Racing; B-Llety Farms (GB); T-Joseph O'Brien. €11,000.
3–Spring Feeling (Fr), 128, f, 3, Buratino (Ire)–Royal Memory (GB), by Invincible Spirit (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Robert Ng (FR); T-Ken Condon. €5,500.
Margins: 1, 2 1/4, HF. Odds: 1.50, 8.50, 6.00.
Also Ran: Sh Boom (GB), Galleria Borghese (Ire), Honey Girl (GB), Prettiest, Improvised (Ire), West Coast (Ire), Illuminazione (Ire). Scratched: Statement (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Euro Invaders Converge for Triple Turf Series

Wielding great might in Europe, the Aidan O'Brien arsenal has also proven one to be respected in many of the nation's top turf contests. That influence will once again be in evidence this weekend with the appearance of Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Concert Hall (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who arrived in New York Wednesday and are slated to contest Saturday's 10-furlong first legs of NYRA's Caesars Turf Triple series. The former, bred and co-owned by Peter Brant with Coolmore partners Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg, is set for the GI Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational, while Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith's Concert Hall takes on nine other fillies in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational. Runner up in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud at two, Stone Age was a prominent winner of the 10-furlong G3 Derby Trial in May at Leopardstown before finishing sixth last time out in the 12-furlong G1 Cazoo Derby June 4.

“He showed plenty of pace [in the Derby Trial],” explained O'Brien. “He traveled very strongly and galloped through the line very well. There's a chance that going back to 10 furlongs might suit him better. We thought he would have no problem with the mile and a half [last out], but there might be a chance that it was too far for him. He seems to have come out of the Derby well.”

Ryan Moore, who is slated to ride both O'Brien runners this weekend, was also on board for last season's Belmont Derby and Belmont Oaks with Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), respectively. O'Brien also captured the 2016 renewal of the Belmont Derby with Deauville (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), courtesy of Jamie Spencer.

Also considered for last weekend's G1 Coral-Eclipse S. won by Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), Stone Age gets the opportunity to face fellow sophomores in New York.

“We had the choice of going here [to New York] or going to the Eclipse and we decided to come to [the New York] race, which is a race we thought would suit him well,” O'Brien explained. “Your race suits perfectly to give him another chance against his own age and then we can step up again against older horses after if we want.”

Also facing fellow 3-year-olds, Concert Hall will be attempting to give O'Brien his third victory in the race. In her two most recent races, she finished fourth in the 12-furlong Epsom Oaks June 3 and was elevated from fifth in the 10-furlong G1 Pretty Polly S. June 26 at The Curragh.

“She didn't have much luck inside the last couple of furlongs,” O'Brien said of her latest start. “She got a bad enough bump and squeeze and had to stop and go back to last and come around them again. She was staying on well at the line.”

At two, Concert Hall won The Curragh's G3 Weld Park S. going seven furlongs and returned this April to capture the 10-furlong Listed Salsabil S. at Navan. She subsequently finished third in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas in May at The Curragh.

Further underscoring the influence of the O'Brien name this weekend, Aidan O'Brien's son, Joseph, will be represented in the Belmont Oaks by multiple group winning Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio), who finished fifth last time in the G1 Irish Guineas May 22. The junior O'Brien, who recently confirmed he will keep a small string of horses in Saratoga this summer, took last season's Saratoga Derby with State of Rest (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), who is possible for either the July 27 G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood or Deauville's G1 Jacques le Marois next month.

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Will It Be Galileo Again?

There is something about Galileo (Ire) and the Curragh's hallowed strip of running ground that made such a perfect fit as his star rose inexorably throughout the last two decade or so and, while several of the track's signature races bear his name as sire, the G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas does so markedly. Six of the last 11 and the last three winners of the fillies' Classic all carried his stamp and, of course, they all hailed from the colony of class assembled at Rosegreen. Aidan O'Brien and Coolmore's great debt of gratitude for his gift can never be overstated and it is sure to keep giving for the immediate future. Now the world record-holder for delivering stakes winners, the matchless stallion of recent times continues to posthumously churn them out like days of the week. That brings us to the plainly-titled May 1 G1 1000 Guineas third Tuesday (Ire), who along with the more weightily-named May 8 G3 Cornelscourt S. winner History (Ire) on Sunday represent racing's supreme triangle of power as eager as ever to extend an already-astonishing Classic tally.

From The Same Hymnsheet

If there is one sire that can take up the baton from Galileo it is his own son Frankel (GB), who has already crowbarred his way into his sire's realm with a stellar 2021 that serves as an early threat to his dominion. In the Juddmonte colossus's 'TDN Rising Star' Homeless Songs (Ire), he has a filly that seems to be on the verge of something special and she has all the right connections in her corner. While her dynamic display in the seven-furlong G3 Ballylinch Stud 1000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown Apr. 2 would have tempted most into a crack at the Newmarket Classic on ground that may have set back her progression, Moyglare and Dermot Weld's deep pool of combined wisdom opted to keep her powder dry for this test.

“Her mother didn't go on firm ground, so we didn't go to Newmarket and France wasn't the right race either,” Moyglare's bloodstock advisor Fiona Craig explained. “It'll be interesting. If you look at the pedigree, we're hoping the Frankel influence will get her home over the mile. We won't know if she gets the mile until we run over it. I'd have no question about a mile around a turn, it's just that Curragh is a long mile, but this is where we are and at least we've had a bit of rain. She doesn't need soft ground, she just doesn't want it like a road.”

Strength In Depth

This is an excellent renewal with potentially more clout than the 1000 Guineas, with Aidan O'Brien also saddling the far-from-forlorn hope Concert Hall (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}); the outrageously in-form William Haggas stable flying in Lael Stable's Purplepay (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}); the similarly buoyant Joseph O'Brien yard represented by Scott Heider's indefatigable Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio); and Paul Smith's unknown quantity Hermana Estrella (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). The latter, whose sole start came when the 50-1 winner of Naas's G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. last May, brings a bizarre but compelling profile into this baptism of fire under Jamie Spencer, whose career truly took off with the Irish 1000 Guineas victory of Tarascon (Ire) (Tirol {Ire}) when he was a 17-year-old apprentice in 1998.

Now You See Him

Assuming its natural position as chief supporting act to the Guineas is the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, which features the perennial bloomer Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), prone to popping up now and again to do something notable before disappearing from view once more. Flowering in the desert for the last two renewals of the G1 Dubai Turf, the Gosdens' 6-year-old has a spartan but impressive race record and Thady Gosden is hoping he can extend it here.

“It was a great performance to run as well as he did in Dubai. He has taken that well and had a little bit of time off after the journey,” the junior partner of the new Clarehaven training arrangement said. “He's been training well at home, it's obviously a tough race with State of Rest coming off the back of winning the Ganay. He's race-fit, whereas we've had a little bit of a break but the track should suit him and so will the ground at the moment. He's still very much enjoying his training and his racing and behaving as he ever did.”

In No Mood To Rest

Lord North's biggest problem is the presence of State of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), the son of this week's headline-making broodmare Repose who is on a winning streak that has taken in the exotic and varying tests of the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational, G1 Cox Plate and G1 Prix Ganay. The fact that Joseph O'Brien's proverbial globetrotter never wins by far makes him hard to pin down for now and this will tell us more. “All being well, he seems to have come through France in good shape and we are looking forward to the weekend,” his trainer said. “I was lucky enough to win the Tattersalls Gold Cup as a jockey on So You Think and it would very satisfying if we could win it with State of Rest. Ideal conditions are probably good or better, there is a bit of rain forecast but hopefully the ground doesn't get too soft.”

Girls Galore

Fillies and mares dominate the rest of Sunday's pattern-race action, with The Curragh's card also boasting the G2 Lanwades Stud S. where Haras de Saint Pair's G1 Matron S. and G1 Prix de la Foret runner-up Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) sets the standard threatened by the G3 Athasi S. winner Twilight Spinner (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}), another Scott Heider-Joseph O'Brien project. At Cologne, in the G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen, or German 2000 Guineas, Markus Klug takes the unusual step of pitching Gestut Karlshof's unbeaten filly Mylady (Ger) (The Grey Gatsby {Ire}) against the colts but as she has already bettered them in Krefeld's 8 1/2-furlong G3 Dr Busch-Memorial Apr. 24, why not again? Her biggest issue is the arrival of a William Haggas runner, with Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's similarly-unbeaten Maljoom (Ire) (Caravaggio) boasting smart form having beaten the useful yardstick Saga (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in a Kempton conditions event over this trip Apr. 18. Haggas won this in 2002 and 2004 and the insatiable form of the stable at present suggests he will be given due deference by the domestic contenders.

Click here for the group fields.

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Ballydoyle And Galileo Streak Continues At Leopardstown

The week's narrative had involved Aidan O'Brien, Ryan Moore and the ground-breaking Galileo (Ire) and that ran into Sunday's G3 Cornelscourt S. at Leopardstown as the aptly-named History (Ire) swooped in the last of the trials for the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas. At 2.8million gns the second-highest-priced lot at the 2020 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, the daughter of the multiple graded-stakes winner Prize Exhibit (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) was last seen breaking her maiden at this trip at Gowran Park in September. Soon manoeuvred to mid-division from her wide draw, the 3-1 second favourite overcome a less-than-ideal trip to challenge hard in the straight and overhaul the painfully honest Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio) passing the furlong marker. Drawing on that ethereal extra which has blessed the stable's Classic crop this week, she dug in to score by 3/4 of a length with the runner-up again wearing her heart on her sleeve under her three-pound penalty. “We were running her to see whether we go to an Irish Guineas or an Oaks and Ryan said to go to the Irish Guineas and do the Oaks after,” Aidan O'Brien explained.

History, who had run into two smart compatriots when runner-up on her first two starts in August behind Cairde Go Deo (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) at The Curragh and Panama Red (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) at Tipperary, is the first foal out of the aforementioned Prize Exhibit whose career tally included wins in the GII Monrovia S. and GII San Clemente H. Also third in the GI Del Mar Oaks, she is a full-sister to the G1 Sussex S. and G2 Summer Mile hero Mohaather (GB) and a half to the dam of the G1 Queen Anne S. hero Accidental Agent (GB) (Delegator {GB}). The listed-placed third dam Roo (GB) (Rudimentatry) produced five black-type performers including Prize Exhibit's listed-placed dam Roodeye (GB) (Inchinor {GB}) and the G1 Prix Morny runner-up Gallagher (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}). Also connected to the G2 Gimcrack S. winner Bannister (GB) by Inchinor and the G1 Middle Park S. hero Astaire (Ire) (Intense Focus), Prize Exhibit also has the 2-year-old full-brother to History named Joaquin Sorolla (Ire).

Sunday, Leopardstown, Ireland
CORNELSCOURT S.-G3, €50,000, Leopardstown, 5-8, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:41.74, gd.
1–HISTORY (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Prize Exhibit (GB) (MGSW & GISP-US, GSP-Eng, $697,375), by Showcasing (GB)
2nd Dam: Roodeye (GB), by Inchinor (GB)
3rd Dam: Roo (GB), by Rudimentary
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (2,800,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-M Tabor/D Smith/Mrs.J Magnier/Westerberg; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-2-0, $51,761. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Agartha (Ire), 131, f, 3, Caravaggio–Arya Tara (Ire), by Dylan Thomas (Ire). O-Scott C Heider; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €10,000.
3–Honey Girl (GB), 128, f, 3, Mayson (GB)–Fleeting Image (GB), by Sir Percy (GB).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (3,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; 4,500gns Ylg '20 TAOCT). O-David M Fitzgerald; B-P T Tellwright (GB); T-Henry De Bromhead. €5,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1 1/4, NO. Odds: 3.00, 1.50, 28.00.
Also Ran: Show of Stars (GB), Panama Red (Ire), Lady of Inishfree (Ire), Princess Olly (Ire), Lullaby (Ire), Nectaris (GB), Suwappu (GB), Beautiful Sunshine (GB). Scratched: Suwayra (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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