Egypt is top of the pyramid
DESPITE slight reservations about the step-up in trip, Monarch Of Egypt should outclass his five rivals in the Group 3 Woodford Reserve Ballysax Stakes, traditionally run at Leopardstown in May, when racing returns to Dundalk tomorrow following a relaying of the track.
Realistically, the Ballysax appears to be at the mercy of Aidan O’brien’s 111-rated colt, a son of American Pharoah which went down by a half-length to
Molatham in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes (seven furlongs) at Royal Ascot last time.
That effort followed a seventh behind Siskin in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas on his seasonal debut. And, as a juvenile, the Ballydoyle colt filled the runner-up berth behind
Siskin in both the Railway and Phoenix (Group 1) at the Curragh.
Mick Hussey will be on board the Monarch and if he stays the trip (almost a mile and three furlongs) he should register his second success.
Earlier, the Dermot Weld-trained Dark Pine should open his account, from a favourable low draw, in the seven-furlong median auction maiden.
A son of Dandy Man, he ran a cracker on his seasonal bow and handicap debut at Leopardstown last month, when getting within a neck of Confidence High.
The winner, scoring off 74 (including a 6lb mandatory penalty) progressed to finish second to Sinawann in the Group 3 Amethyst at Leopardstown and has shot up to a current mark of 101.
A reproduction of that Leopardstown run should be enough to see Dark Pine open his account.