Churchill can thwart Eminent danger
Disappointing renewal can go the way of dual Guineas winner
THERE is a photo of him in the centre of what seems hundreds of people at Pearse Stadium this week, the hordes pining for his signature: ‘G McInerney’.
One wonders what son Gearoid made of it all as Gerry, an icon of Galway hurling from the ‘80s, gave autographs at the charity match midweek. It brought to mind that Frankel may be the prince but Galileo, his dad, is still king.
Today, in the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes, Churchill – son of Galileo – and Eminent – son of Frankel – dominate the discourse. Aidan O’Brien could have gone some way further to ensuring a win for Galileo in the race by declaring Winter, but instead relies chiefly on Cliffs Of Moher – yet another son of the great sire – as Churchill’s back-up.
Seven successes this century for O’Brien can become eight, as Churchill, the dual Guineas winner, should have just enough to hold off Eminent.
There was no getting away from the trainer’s comments on Thursday that the horse would improve from the Juddmonte International at York, when he was a game if well-held second to Ulysses. It is the absence of Ulysses, Barney Roy and the first three from last year’s race (all retired) that makes this event seem a tad underwhelming, but it does have the Derby runner-up in Cliffs Of Moher. Eminent, perhaps best at today’s trip, was a close fourth in the Derby and is a major player here under Frankie Dettori. O’Brien’s comments about
Winter – that she will come on for the outing today with a late-season campaign in mind – should be taken on board by those going heavy in the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes.
Even so, this brilliant grey should have a little too much class to take care of Qemah, a hot favourite in this 12 months ago.
Winter has three stablemates among the dozen runners, the teaktough Roly Poly set to give another good account. Rhododendron likely needs the outing now under Padraig Beggy. Sir John Lavery, a third selection sired by Galileo, makes plenty of appeal in the Clipper Logistics Boomerang Stakes. He was a revelation back over a mile at Cork, showing a superb turn of pace, and he looks ready to take care of the raider Suedois, which has a rating of 112 and solid handicap form.
Perhaps Frankel can kick off the day in triumph, as Lightening Quick is notable on pedigree, also being out of Lightening Pearl, which remains Ger Lyons’s only Group One winner. This is a precocious filly on paper.
The step-up to a mile should suit Theobald in the Willis Towers Watson Champions Juvenile Stakes, but preference is for course winner Delano Roosevelt, the mount of Ryan Moore. The O’Brien team may struggle to cope with Dermot Weld’s Eziyra in the KPMG Enterprise Stakes.
Ruby Walsh’s return to Flat riding aboard top weight Renneti in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF ‘Petingo’ Handicap adds further intrigue to one of the great racing days of the year. Emmet Mullins’s St
Stephens Green is preferred and is better than the form he showed in winning at Tramore.
Combat concludes with the Irish Stallion Farms EBF ‘Sovereign Path’ Handicap. The class of Glastonbury
Song may be key here and Lyons’s runner has a nice draw for Colin Keane.