irish racing
Karl Hedley with the latest action from the Emerald Isle
Irish racing returned on Monday, June 8 at Naas and accumulated with a sparkling weekend of action at The Curragh in what were the first Irish Classics of 2020.
Aidan O’Brien struck in the opening maiden as More Beautiful made a bright start to her career at Ballydoyle. She was always prominent under Seamie Heffernan and was disputing the lead two from home.
Having moved into a clear lead just after, she stayed on strongly to withstand a late surge from the Jessica Harrington trained Roses Blue. Three and a half lengths separated the pair at the line so this was a notable effort and she will obviously improve for that experience. She will likely move up in class throughout the summer and the daughter of War Front looks very much a star in the making based on this scintillating display. She holds an entry for a £300,000 sales race at Doncaster later in the calendar, and if lining up there she ought to have every chance.
The Harringtons didn’t have to wait too long to get a first winner of the restarted campaign. Lucky Vega was sent off as a well backed second favourite to the Aidan O’Brien trained Lipizzaner. Despite coming under sustained pressure from Shane Foley, the pair stayed on well to get on top just at the right time. While he was a little green in the closing stages as things tightened between the front pair, he stuck to his task gamely. He rates as an exciting prospect for a yard that enjoyed an excellent season with their juveniles last year.
Assistant trainer Kate Harrington said: “He never came off the bridle at home. Shane (Foley) just said that he was very green throughout the race. He’s a nice horse, we thought he was., and it’s nice to see him do it on the track.
“He showed a great attitude towards the end and there’s plenty more to come. Mum (Jessica) will talk to (owners)Michael (Donohoe) and Mr Zhang and see what they want to do next. He’s a big horse and I’d say he’s only 80 per cent there.”
A 17 runner handicap came next over six furlongs and it certainly helped to be drawn high. Formerly trained in the UK by John Gosden, Nordic Passage was slow to break from the stalls, and soon came under a drive from promising young apprentice Donagh O’Connor.
The three-pound claimer was able to let his mount find his stride in his own time and the pair came through to lead well inside the final furlong. The young jockey said afterwards: “He carried me through the race beautifully. I didn’t want to hit the front too soon, but I nearly got carried there and he pricked his ears. He’s a horse with loads of ability, but has had his fair share of problems. He’s still unexposed on the turf and we are really looking forward to a summer campaign with him now.”
The handicap attracted so many entries that the race had to be split in two. Leanne Breen is a name to keep an eye on over the coming months. The fledgling trainer has only had a handful of runners to date, so the fact that she trained the winner of this race could well prove significant. Based at Warrenpoint in Northern Ireland, she sent her four-year-old Parkers Hill into battle. Held up in the mid division, he made significant headway from two furlongs out. Shane Foley was in full flow on board the son of No Nay
Never, and the pair powered away to
record a near three length win over Fit For Function and Powersille.
He won races up to a mile when formerly trained by Johnny Murtagh, so the style of his win augurs well for further steps up in trip. Breen said: “He’s a nice horse and has been gelded since his last run, he put on 20kg straight away. He’s been working really well and we were expecting a big run. He could be anything for the lads (Galway Horse Racing Syndicate). They backed me before I even trained a winner. I value them as owners and I’m delighted he’s done that today for them. He really likes rattling ground.”
Sceptical has proved something of a revelation since being purchased by owner James McAuley from the Godolphin stables as an unraced three-year-old. He showed promise on his first run to finish third at Dundalk at unfancied odds of 25/1. Since then, there has been no looking back as he rattled up three wins in as many races over trips between five and six furlongs at the same venue. This was his turf debut and it would be interesting to see if he would be able to transfer that clear ability onto the grass. He was prominent from the outset under Joey Sheridan and seemed to be travelling too well as they approached the final stages. He quickened readily when asked, though, and recorded a comfortable three length win over useful types including Buffer Zone and Chessman.
Trainer Denis Hogan said: “He’s so easy to train. I’m delighted for the owner and Jim Gough who picked him out at the sales. He’s the best horse I have ever had.”
He looks to be a sprinting star to follow this year and is likely to be targeted at various Group races in the domestic and international calendar.
The following day at Leopardstown, Aidan O'Brien landed a near 907/1 four-timer. Ennistyman, Tiger Moth, Cormorant and Love Locket all obliged for the master trainer. The yard is clearly in scintillating form. Ennistyman looked promising and has plenty of lofty entries including the Irish Oaks and the Kilboy Estate Stakes (Group 2) at the Curragh in late July. She caught the eye of many on debut at The Curragh last season despite only finishing seventh to Windracer over seven furlongs.
She had clearly learned plenty from that run and gave chase to the leaders from the off. She led over a furlong from home and was pressed strongly by the likes of Shamiyna and Astadash in the closing stages, but rallied well to repel them. Seamie Heffernan said: “She’d had a lovely run at the Curragh last year. Ideally I’d have got a bit of cover but she won well at the line. She idled a little when she hit the front, but she could well make into a lovely filly.”
Love Locket holds an entry in the Minstrel Stakes at The Curragh in midJuly. She was fit and raring to go at the first time of asking this year. Always up with the pace, she led narrowly into the straight. She was ridden and extended her advantage further under Seamie Heffernan, with the pair