Justify and O’Brien Dominate Guineas Entries

The entries for the first two Classics of the season have been released, with 49 horses entered in each of the Qipco 2,000 Guineas and Qipco 1,000 Guineas.

The colts will line up at Newmarket on Saturday, May 4 when it is likely that much of the attention will focus on the unbeaten City Of Troy (Justify), who at this stage is the ante-post favourite for the 2,000 Guineas. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, he has left Ireland for two of his three starts to win the G2 Superlative S. at Newmarket's July Course followed by the G1 Dewhurst S. on the Rowley Mile.

City Of Troy's stable-mate Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a son of the 1,000 Guineas winner Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), is currently second-favourite and is one of eight entries in the race for the Ballydoyle stable. The other two Irish-trained entries are the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. winner Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), trained by Adrian Murray, and Jim Bolger's unraced Clean Energy (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}).

The G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Rosallion (Ire) could become an important first Classic runner for his sire Blue Point (Ire) and represents Richard Hannon Jr., who won the race 10 years ago with Night Of Thunder (Ire) and also has Son (GB) entered this year. He too is by a second-season sire in Too Darn Hot (GB). In that same category is Sons And Lovers (GB), by Study Of Man (Ire), who is one of four entries for Jane Chapple-Hyam, two of which are owned by former trainer Peter Harris.

Charlie Appleby has three colts entered led by the G1 Kameko Futurity Trophy winner Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Saaeed Bin Suroor, who won last year's 1,000 Guineas with Mawj (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), has one of the Godophin quartet, Olympic Candle (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}).

Eve Johnson Houghton has entered Mister Sketch (GB) (Territories {Ire}) for Wathnan Racing and the G3 Acomb S. winner Indian Run (Ire) (Sioux Nation) for the Bronte Collection, while David Menuisier has three colts entered including the G1 Criterium International winner Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}).

Aidan O'Brien is also the trainer of the favourite for the following day's 1,000 Guineas, Opera Singer. Like City Of Troy, she is by Coolmore's American-based sire and Triple Crown winner Justify, and she won last season's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac. 

Opera Singer is one of 16 Irish-trained fillies engaged in the race, including eight from her own stable, while Paddy Twomey could have two runners, Purple Lily (Ire) (Calyx {Ire}) and One Look (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), and Natalia Lupini has her first Classic entrant in Kitty Rose (Ire) (Invincible Army {Ire}). 

Ollie Sangster is another young trainer with a frost Classic hope in Shuwari (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), along with Amy Murphy, the trainer of Needlepoint (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}).

The G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Fallen Angel (GB) is currently the leading British-trained hope and is one of two entries for her trainer Karl Burke along with Darnation (Ire). Both fillies are by Too Darn Hot. Fallen Angel represents Steve Parkin's Clipper Logistics, which also has the William Haggas-trained Love Dynasty (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) engaged in the 1,000 Guineas.

Among the four fillies entered from the John and Thady Gosden stable is Cheveley Park Stud's Listed winner Regal Jubilee (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

Christopher Head is the sole French trainer with an entry and she is another daughter of Justify, Ramatuelle, who was only narrowly beaten by Vandeek (GB) in the G1 Prix Morny. 

 

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TDN Rising Stars to Follow: Part II

In Europe, the TDN Rising Stars are awarded by Sean Cronin and Tom Frary, and no amount of begging, bleating or bribery from other members of the editorial team or external forces can persuade this duo to award one if they are not in agreement. Their decisions are based on performance, pedigree and, as the award title suggests, the likelihood of that individual becoming a stakes winner. Following the first five selections published yesterday, Tom Frary selects his five to keep an eye on in 2024.

This could prove a very big year for the TDN Rising Stars, with a headlining colt who could emerge as one of the very finest in more than two decades of its existence.

CITY OF TROY, c, 2, by Justify
1st Dam: Together Forever (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Green Room, by Theatrical (Ire)
3rd Dam: Chain Fern, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
Owner: Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
Breeder: Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY)
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

Introduced in the Curragh's seven-furlong Barronstown Stud Irish EBF Maiden in July which Aidan O'Brien used for the Galileo stars Rip Van Winkle (Ire), Gleneagles (Ire), Roderic O'Connor (Ire) and Australia (GB), as well as for Danehill's high-class Duke Of Marmalade (Ire) and Horatio Nelson (Ire), City Of Troy had immediate star appeal and one start later had already put himself in that bracket. With his highly advantageous stride and innate turbo, this is a colt with serious upside, and that is understating his potential. It will be disappointing if he doesn't win the Guineas and there is no reason he won't add a Derby to that. He's not far off Frankel already and he doesn't have the headstrong tendencies of that great at the same stage of their careers, so a mile and a half is easily within his range. Then we can dream of the St Leger! Early signs are that Justify could become very big news very soon, with his other TDN Rising Star last term being the high-class Ramatuelle.

HENRY LONGFELLOW (IRE), c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Minding (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Lillie Langtry (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
3rd Dam: Hoity Toity (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
Owner: Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier
Breeder: Coolmore (IRE)
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

There are no apologies for including another from the Aidan O'Brien squad here, such is the power of their 2023 juvenile crop, and this second foal out of the brilliant Minding, closely related to Galileo's Tuesday (Ire) and Empress Josephine (Ire), could be an able deputy for City Of Troy if the ground gets too soft. His G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. win was reminiscent of his sire's in 2004 and were it not for his stablemate the noise around him would be much louder.

AZADA, f, 2, by Siyouni (Fr)
1st Dam: Azmiyna, by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Asmara, by Lear Fan
3rd Dam: Anaza (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
Owner: H H Aga Khan
Breeder: His Highness The Aga Khan's Studs SC (IRE)
Trainer: Dermot Weld

Siyouni's 10th TDN Rising Star was able to overcome deep ground on her Leopardstown debut in October and as a half-sister to The Autumn Sun (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), the Dermot Weld project, who is from the same cross as Sottsass (Fr) and St Mark's Basilica (Fr), has plenty to come. The sire was responsible for the same connections' Tahiyra (Ire) and while this one hasn't the same level of precocity she has all the potential.

TASK FORCE (GB), c, 2, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Special Duty (GB), by Hennessy
2nd Dam: Quest to Peak, by Distant View
3rd Dam: Viviana, by Nureyev
Owner: Juddmonte
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett

At last, Special Duty seems to have a good one. Juddmonte's mare, who holds the rare distinction of having been promoted from second to first in two Classics, had so far failed to channel her precocity and star quality into her progeny but this exciting colt is a case of better late than never. Second in a high-class renewal of the Middle Park despite being the least experienced in the line-up, he should stay further than six furlongs given that his dam's previous best Elegant Verse (GB), by Frankel's sire Galileo (Ire), won over a mile and a half. As the family features Sightseek (Distant View) and Tates Creek (Rahy), it could be that Task Force is one who could shine in the States one day.

MATRIKA (IRE), f, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Muravka (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire)
2nd Dam: Tabdea, by Topsider
3rd Dam: Madame Secretary, by Empire Maker
Owner: Mrs John Magnier/Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith/Westerberg
Breeder: Barronstown Stud
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

Another Ballydoyle special, although Matrika wasn't seen after winning the Airlie Stud S. in July having been second in Royal Ascot's Albany days earlier. A full-sister to the dual Group 3-winning and G1 Takarazuka Kinen runner-up Unicorn Lion (Ire) and a half to The Wow Signal (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), the Barronstown-bred was described after her debut by Aidan O'Brien as being “totally asleep all the time” and that is always a good thing where this stable is concerned. Related to the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Ta Rib (Mr. Prospector), Matrika could be one for that Classic if her lengthy absence has nothing serious behind it.

 

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Seven Days: Ireland’s Perfect Pick-Me-Up

The Devil's Dyke stretches in pretty much a straight line for more than seven miles through parts of Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. The best part, according to this scribbler anyway, is the section roughly a mile and half long which cleaves Newmarket's July Course from the Rowley Mile, with a break in the dyke allowing the two courses to join briefly just beyond the ten-furlong mark on the latter.

A Dutch author, Iman Jacob Wilkens, once claimed that Cambridge's Gog Magog Hills was the true location of the City of Troy, with a suggestion that the imposing dyke may have formed part of its protection, though his theory appears to have been largely ignored. Had he lived to see it, Wilkens may have been tempted to have a flutter on Coolmore's City Of Troy (Justify) as he stormed the July Course, to land the G2 Superlative S. in emphatic fashion alongside the Devil's Dyke. Perhaps, after his defection from Sunday's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S., City Of Troy will be back to conquer the other side of this historic landmark in the Dewhurst S. At least the Rowley Mile offers a longer pull-up zone for this ebullient colt, though he could still end up in the car park.

From the top of the dyke one has the benefit of seeing the breeding and racing world in microcosm. In the distance are the paddocks of the National Stud, dotted at various times of the year with mares and foals or cavorting yearlings. The stallions are there, too, with Stradivarius (Ire) having brought with him renewed interest and a constant stream of visitors. The spring, summer and autumn seasons see the switching from the Rowley Mile to July Course and back again until we wait, those cold and at times seemingly endless months, from early November until Craven time swings back around. 

It is the habit in this sport to constantly be looking forward to the next race, even when the winner is still blowing from the travails of his latest effort. September and October are pretty special months of action and while they may bring with them various departures as the season draws to a close, the action in the two-year-old sphere is all about next year. 

Following a period in which injury and retirement has claimed a number of the big equine names, Ireland's Champions Festival and France's Arc Trials needed to deliver a bit of a pick-me-up as we embark on the autumn programme, and it is fair to say that both did just that. 

The aforementioned City Of Troy remains ante-post favourite for the 2,000 Guineas, with his stable-mate and National S. winner Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) just behind him in the market. Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), another to have triumphed on the July Course in the Sweet Solera, now heads the market for the 1,000 Guineas following her gutsy victory in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. 

Dubawi Dominates

In a quiet season for Britain's champion trainer Charlie Appleby, there were no runners for Godolphin in either Ireland or France over the weekend, but Appleby's key sparring partner Dubawi still managed to steal the show on Champions Weekend. Darley's flagship sire was represented by a Group 1 double on Sunday, notably through the Coolmore-bred Henry Longfellow, whose dam is the brilliant Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a star of this weekend herself eight years ago when she took the Moyglare. 

That win was backed up later by Eldar Eldarov (GB), bred at Lanwades by Kirsten Rausing from the same family as her Arc heroine Alpinista (GB), and completing the St Leger double in England and Ireland for Roger Varian and KHK Racing. The Bahraini owners were celebrating their second Group 1 victory of the season after the Prix Morny win of Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}).

Dubawi's growing influence was also felt in a first Group 1 winner for his freshman son, Too Darn Hot, the sire of the Karl Burke-trained Fallen Angel, while another son, Night Of Thunder (Ire), provided her runner-up, Vespertilio (Fr). Night Of Thunder is also the sire of Flight Plan (GB), who won the G2 Dullingham Park S. at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Double Parkin

It is likely that we are about to hear plenty more of Dullingham Park Stud, the farm on the outskirts of Newmarket that was bought earlier this year by Steve Parkin and is being managed on his behalf by Ollie Fowlston. 

Parkin has invested plenty in racing in Britain and Ireland over recent years, and that financial commitment appears to be matched by his enthusiasm. British owner-breeders are becoming a scarce commodity so it is heartening to see Parkin's operation, which also includes Branton Court Stud in Yorkshire, being rewarded, in particular with some homebred success.

We have already touched on Fallen Angel and, as a Group 1-winning juvenile, she is the stand-out in this regard, closely rivalled by Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), last year's G2 Queen Mary S. winner who landed the G2 Temple S. in May. Dorothy Lawrence (GB), by Parkin's young Ballyhane Stud-based sire Soldier's Call (GB), has been knocking on the door, too, and she was second last week in the G3 Dick Poole Fillies' S.

Among the horses purchased for Parkin by Ballyhane's Joe Foley are Flight Plan, who gave his connections a huge double and an extra boost by winning their own race, the Dullingham Park S., in a career-best performance. 

This wasn't the first time the team has pulled off this particular feat, either, as Space Traveller (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) won the same race when it was run under Parkin's better-known banner of the Clipper Logistics Boomerang S.

To complete the good run, the Branton Court Stud graduate Starlust (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), who was sold to Jim and Fitri Hay last October, won the G3 Sirenia S. at Kempton on Saturday. And, lest the Kempton action be overlooked amid the bigger days of last weekend, it was heartening to see Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}) return triumphant to the winner's enclosure after the G3 September S. Hopefully a fruitful autumn campaign beckons for him in his preferred softer conditions. 

Bottom Up

A clever person (Joseph Burke) pointed out over the weekend that to make any sense of this year's 2,000 Guineas one has to view the form of that race upside down. Only the last three home–Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Flight Plan and Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never)–have won a race since running at Newmarket in May, with the best of those of course being the enigmatic Auguste Rodin.

The way he came home in the Derby remains one of the most visually impressive performances of the season. He was then workmanlike when winning the Irish Derby before flopping in the King George, followed by redemption in the Irish Champion S. on Saturday. 

He rivals stable-mate Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) as the leading three-year-old colt of the season, with Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) having failed, so far, to build on his 2,000 Guineas success. 

Among the fillies, Tahiyra (Ire) is continuing to ensure that her sire Siyouni has two of the best three-year-olds of the season, if not the two best. The Aga Khan's half-sister to fellow Group 1 winner Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) has only been bettered once when the subsequently absent Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) prevailed by half a length in the 1,000 Guineas, and Tahiyra has been imperious in her three Group 1 victories since that seasonal debut.

A cap should also be doffed to Warm Heart (Ire), who is giving her sire Galileo (Ire) something of a last hurrah at the top table. She has barely put a foot wrong all season apart from appearing not to enjoy the soft conditions at the Curragh for the Irish Oaks, in which she was fifth. This was the only time she was asked to contest a Classic, but prior to that she had been the smart winner of the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot and has subsequently annexed the G1 Yorkshire Oaks and G1 Prix Vermeille. Those two latest successes have come in the hands of James Doyle, who has made the most of his rare Coolmore call-ups.

Warm Heart is bred on similar lines to the ill-fated Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck (Ire). Both are by Galileo out of mares by a son of Danehill. In Warm Heart's case, that is Fastnet Rock (Aus), who has often blended well with Galileo on the reverse of this cross. They are both also out of fast Australian-bred mares. Warm Heart's dam Sea Siren (Aus) won three Group 1 races in Australia for John O'Shea over six and seven furlongs before heading north to join Ballydoyle and adding the Listed Belgrave S. to her record along with a pair of Group 3 placings.

Top Sprints Delivering Diversity

The top-class sprint division continues to provide some delightful results this season, giving an airing to some usually lesser-heralded sires and deserved success for some smaller stables.

To the twin Group 1 triumphs in June and July for Julie Camacho's Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), we can add the victory in the Nunthorpe of the Adam West-trained Live In The Dream (Ire), a son of Prince Of Lir (Ire), while last weekend saw Group 1 victories for Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}) in the Haydock Sprint Cup and Moss Tucker (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) in the Flying Five.

Regional became the first Group 1 winner for his trainer Ed Bethell, who, with agent Tom Biggs, managed to pick him up at the July Sale two years ago for just 3,5000gns. The five-year-old also provided another major group success in Britain for the Italian breeding industry this season. Francesca Franchini of Scuderia La Tesa has already been successful with Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who defeated Eldar Eldarov in the G2 Yorkshire Cup, and Isabella Bezzera of Razza del Sole bred Regional from the Listed winner Favulusa (GB) (Dansili {GB}).

Moss Tucker, bred by Donal Spring, proved yet again what Ken Condon is capable of when he gets a good one in his stable, and the five-year-old follows Barney Roy (GB) in becoming a Group 1 winner for Excelebration who was last listed as standing at the Moroccan National Stud.

Though on the face of it, with Moss Tucker's dam Rare Symphony (Ire) being by the July Cup winner Pastoral Pursuits (GB), it is perhaps no surprise that she has produced a good sprinter, the mare herself rather defied her speedier sireline and won twice over hurdles, in Britain then Ireland. Rare Symphony's stamina was perhaps gathered from her dam Rubileo (GB), an unremarkable member of Galileo's first crop on the track, who went on to produce two useful horses by Sir Percy (GB) in the Swedish Derby winner Bomar (Ire) and Pantsonfire (Ire), whose Grade III victory at Santa Anita came over 1m4f.

Hot Take

Though most of the best two-year-old races are still to come, Darley looks to have this year's freshman sires' title sewn up, with Blue Point (Ire) way out in front numerically on 32 winners, and Too Darn Hot being the only stallion in the group to have been represented by three group winners, including a Group 1 winner. 

There was a breakthrough for Yeomanstown Stud's Invincible Army (Ire) over the weekend, when Kitty Rose (GB) became his first black-type winner in the Ingabelle Stakes. Like Flight Plan, who won the Group 2 on the same day, her fourth dam was John Greetham's Much Too Risky (GB) (Machiavellian).

The half-sister to two excellent stayers in Sydney Cup winner Marooned (GB) and Irish St Leger winner Arctic Owl (GB), Much Too Risky produced the Yorkshire Oaks runner-up and Musidora winner Short Skirt (GB) as well as Group 2 winners Little Rock (GB) and Whitewater Affair (GB). The latter went on to have particular success as a broodmare in Japan as the dam of Group 1 winners Victoire Pisa (Jpn) and Asakusa Den'en (GB).

When it comes to stallion tables, it is always wise to pay close attention to the percentage of winners to runners. In this regard, Blue Point and his nearest pursuer, Soldier's Call, measure up well on 40% and 35% respectively. The nine winners for Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) have come from just 22 runners to put him on 41%, while Study Of Man (Ire), who had two new winners this week, is now on five from 14 runners (36%). 

In France, Haras d'Etreham's City Light (Fr) has now been represented by 10 winners from his 26 runners (38%).

Acclaim for Pyledriver

It is the time of year when plenty of rumours abound as to which colts have been snapped up for stallion duties. There is at least one announcement imminent this week, and we already know that Native Trail (GB) is off to Kildangan Stud, Little Big Bear (Ire) to Coolmore, and Bouttemont (Fr) is joining his sire Acclamation (GB) at Rathbarry Stud. 

There is one horse from the much-vaunted Acclamation line that it would be particularly gratifying to see granted a place at a good Flat stud, and that is Pyledriver (GB). Just as it is easy to forget that the high-flying sprinter Havana Grey (GB) has those noted middle-distance influences of Teofilo (GB) and Galileo as his grandsire and great-grandsire, so it is to overlook that Pyledriver is by Acclamation's son Harbour Watch (Ire). A six-furlong Group 2 winner whose racing and stud career were both cut short, the late Harbour Watch pops up in the pedigrees of good horses with some frequency.

The neat and good-looking Pyledriver, who, on 122, is the second-highest rated of any colt from this sireline to retire to stud, also has some nice influences in the bottom half of his pedigree. Furthermore, he proved over five seasons that he has that vital durability to accompany the class that drove him to win a King George and a Coronation Cup. He wasn't a late developer, either, as he won on debut in the July of his juvenile season before winning the Listed Ascendant S. two months later.

As already pointed out in this column, there is as much delight to be taken from the big sprints as from the Classics, and stallions can sometimes buck expectations. But the programme in any serious racing nation must remain balanced.

This is no new concern, but it remains troubling that it is becoming harder still for horses of Pyledriver's ilk to be given a proper chance at stud. It would be a crying shame if he is overlooked in the blinkered rush towards stallions who offer little prospect of siring a horse who will see out the Guineas trip, never mind a Derby or an Arc winner. When breeding, it is wise to remember where the greater prestige and rewards remain.

 

 

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The Curragh: All Eyes on City Of Troy in the National

While the G1 Irish St Leger is officially the feature race on The Curragh's second part of the Irish Champions Festival, Sunday's fixture is really first and foremost about Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star City Of Troy (Justify) who graces the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. Of all the stable's 2-year-old stars over the past 25 years, he already looks at home accompanying the same metaphoric space as the likes of Johannesburg, Fasliyev, Air Force Blue, Hawk Wing, Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) and Little Big Bear (Ire) which is an astonishing statement based on just two runs.

The second of City Of Troy's outings in a renewal of the G2 Superlative S. which contained some smart types including the subsequent G2 Vintage S. winner Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) marked him out in terms of stride pattern and sectionals as a rare jewel. Extremely rare. It will be a shock if he is overturned so early with conditions likely to suit and there is every chance we will witness another Hawk Wing or Pinatubo moment in this esteemed race despite the trainer's reservations as to his condition.

“He's a good bit heavier than he was at Newmarket, as he's done very well so that's a little bit of a worry but he's ready for his start-back run of the autumn and everyone is very happy with him,” Aidan O'Brien said. “I'd imagine he'll come forward for the run.”

Whatever happens here, we will find out just how good City Of Troy is with Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in attendance. While he could not match Ballydoyle's River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry S., Amo Racing and Giselle De Aguiar's kingpin has gone from strength-to-strength in the meantime and improved off a narrow G2 Railway S. win to inflict a four-length defeat on the G3 Albany S. scorer Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) in the G1 Phoenix S. last month. Whether seven furlongs is his bag remains to be seen and the long-striding favourite will be testing that premise for sure.

Bucanero Fuerte's trainer Adrian Murray is living the dream. “He seems to be getting better and better–it's hard to believe,” he said. “He looks like a horse that's going to train on, he's a big, long scopey horse and has a beautiful mind. He's thriving with racing and hopefully he keeps it going.”

Aidan O'Brien is suggesting at present that he is also going to run fellow TDN Rising Star Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), with the son of Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) there also as ample back-up should the rains come. Reportedly underwhelming compared to his homework when taking the course-and-distance G2 Futurity S. last month, this experience will do him no harm based on the workrate of his dam, who first showed her raw material when winning this card's G1 Moyglare Stud S. back in 2015.

Kyprios | Scoop Dyga

Welcome Back Kyprios…

The Irish St Leger is short on numbers and depth in terms of group 1 talent, but it does at least see the near-miraculous comeback of the badly-stricken Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). While he has a 344-day absence to overcome, such was his dominion in 2022 that it is possible he could pick up the thread where he left off with that remarkable performance in the G1 Prix du Cadran. It is hard to say whether that errant 20-length romp rates higher than his defeat of Hamish (GB) (Motivator {GB}) in this or his thrilling denial of Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Goodwood Cup, but all three victories along with his first G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot place him alongside Ballydoyle's great stayers. Only stablemate Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the G1 St Leger hero Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) can get anywhere in the same vicinity in terms of class, so a 90% Kyprios might still be good enough.

Aidan O'Brien spoke earnestly on Saturday of the ordeal of getting Kyprios back to the track. “I can't believe he's here,” he said. “It's not that long ago that I didn't think he was going to make it, so all credit to the team–he had to be taught to walk, trot and canter again his injury was that bad. The intensity of his training has got stronger and stronger and it is testament to his constitution that he is going to run. You'd be afraid of your life watching him and I don't know if it is possible to win a race like this from where he is. Emily Dickinson needs rain, even though we have run her on faster ground and there are showers around. It's just whether they come or not.”

Moyglare Stud's Fiona Craig added of Kyprios, “He's just a bigger horse than he was before and I think they've gone steadily with him because of the injury, but I don't think Aidan would be running him if he didn't think he was going to run well. It will just be great to see him back at the races because he's a very popular horse, there's more people ask me about Kyprios than anything else we own! He's the horse that wherever you are in the world, people ask you about the big chestnut horse.”

Ylang Ylang Poised For Moyglare Test…

Saturday's action confirmed that Ballydoyle's juvenile team seem even more formidable than usual in 2023 and it is up to the unbeaten TDN Rising Star Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to uphold the fillies' end in the G1 Moyglare Stud S., a qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Juveniel Fillies. The 1.5 million Tatts Book 1 sensation could do no more than beat Al Shira'aa Farms' subsequent G2 Debutante S. winner Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in the G3 Silver Flash S. at Leopardstown in July, but she might need to raise her level again here judged on the runner-up's rate of progression in the interim.

Vespertilio's trainer Willie McCreery is happy to re-engage. “The going is down as good for Sunday and it may well quicken up a bit before her race, but it was similar ground last month,” he said. “Ylang Ylang is the obvious one we've got to beat, but if you're not in it, you can't win it. We'll just let Billy see how the race pans out before he decides how to take things, but we're looking forward to it, that's for sure.”

There is also the aforementioned G3 Albany S. winner and G1 Phoenix S. runner-up Porta Fortuna and Clipper Logistics' impressive G3 Sweet Solera S. scorer Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) to contend with, along with the sponsors' dark horse Red Viburnum (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to consider. She showed up well when third on debut in a decent course-and-distance conditions race last month and it is significant that Dermot Weld is pitching her in at this level so soon in the race he would so love to win for the owner-breeders.

“She's come on for her first run, when she ran very well,” Moyglare's Fiona Craig commented. “To give Chris Hayes his due, he dropped her in behind and taught her and I've seen her work since and she worked much sharper. I think it was more greenness than anything and it took a few strides for the penny to drop, but she galloped out way beyond the others at the end. She'll have moved on a bit since then, whether she's moved on enough to win this race is another matter, but all you can do is compete and see.”

Highfield Princess | Scoop Dyga

Highfield Princess Flying…

Despite the obvious kudos that Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) carries around with her, The Curragh's G1 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Flying Five S. is no penalty kick for last year's winner with her G1 King's Stand S. conqueror Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) in action along with another compatriot in Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). This ground is quick enough for John Quinn's star mare and Art Power's quirky yet formidable 100% record in Ireland really is something to behold. Just witness his emphatic latest win in the course-and-distance G2 Sapphire S. for the evidence of what he can do when in the zone.

Quinn is aware of the challenge in this “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. “It's a tough race and Bradsell is in it and Tim Easterby's horse who is absolutely dynamite at the Curragh and then there are a few others as well, but we're happy with our filly,” he said. “The Curragh suited her last year, so I hope it suits her again on Sunday. Everything has been fine since York and it's great to have an animal like her. She wears it on her sleeve and we're looking forward to Sunday.”

Alastair Donald, racing manager for Art Power's owners King Power Racing, said, “He seems to have a bit of a love affair with Ireland and seems to find a key couple of lengths over there. He has often been a length short in group ones over here and we're looking forward to seeing him. The ground should be fine and he has a good draw, but obviously Bradsell and Highfield Princess make it a very strong renewal. Without being rude to the others, it looks to be between the three of them and if he can show his previous Irish form, he has to be a live contender.”

Blue Rose Cen Back In The Vermeille…

Away from the Irish Champions Festival, ParisLongchamp's Arc Trials card sees the return of Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille as she moves up to a mile and a half for the first time. Looking as if it would suit when a close-up fourth in a tactically-compromising running of the G1 Nassau S. at Goodwood last time, Yeguada Centurion's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane heroine has the pedigree to last and the heart for it also. Whether she can cope with the G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is another matter given that Ballydoyle raider's effectiveness on a fast surface and their clash is eagerly-anticipated.

Christopher Head said of Blue Rose Cen, “We are trying her over a distance that is very different from the beginning just to see what we will do in the future. We need to see what she can do over 2400 metres to be sure about what we do over the next year. There is still the possibility she will get supplemented for the Arc. That will all depend on the result of the Vermeille and her aptitude over that kind of distance.”

Aidan O'Brien said of Warm Heart, “She's in good form and her last run at York was very good. She likes nice, fast ground and she's very comfortable at a mile and a half so we're looking forward to seeing her run again. She probably won't run get to run in this part of the world after Sunday, as the ground might get soft so she might head for the Breeders' Cup, if everything went well.”

Arc Picture To Become Clearer…

It is hard to imagine at present with the sun so intense and the temperatures so high, but ParisLongchamp's autumn showcase is just around the corner and Sunday's card will start to set the tone. The G2 Qatar Prix Foy, which has produced just the one Arc winner this century, sees a fascinating clash between two lively outsiders for the main event in Iresine (Fr) (Manduro {Ger})–successful in this 12 months ago before adding an eclectic mix of the G1 Prix Royal-Oak and G1 Prix Ganay to his tally–and last year's G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). The G2 Qatar Prix Niel looks hotter, with Jean-Louis Bouchard's G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Feed The Flame (GB) (Kingman {GB}) at the moment a genuine frontline contender for the big one. He will be compromised if this gets as tactical as it often does, with the G1 Deutsches Derby winner Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) adding intrigue.

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