Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Big guns Long for victory
THREE-YEAR-OLD superstars Alpha Centauri and Roaring Lion should deliver in today’s Group 1 action in Leopardstown, the opening stage of Longines Champions Weekend.
The Jessica Harringtontrained Alpha Centauri, imperious in four Group 1 victories this season, will be virtually unbackable but impossible to oppose in the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes while John Gosden’s Roaring Lion should account for Saxon Warrior, for the fifth time this season, in the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes.
The Lion has outpointed the Ballydoyle colt three times this season, in the Investec Derby, Coraleclipse Stakes and Juddmonte International, landing the latter prizes, although the tables were turned in last year’s Racing Post Trophy and the Qipco 2,000 Guineas last May.
And Oisin Murphy’s mount was particularly impressive in York where he beat Poets Voice convincingly and had five lengths to spare over the Warrior. And he appears to be maturing and improving with every run.
Today’s field also includes French derby victor Study Of Man, beaten in a Group 2 last time, and the progressive, William Haggas-trained Addeybb, which found the going tough on his debut in Group 1 company in the Lockinge in Newbury, a race won by another of today’s contenders from Ballydoyle, Rhododendron.
On this season’s form, I see no reason why Roaring Lion should be beaten.
A similar comment applies to the mighty Alpha Centauri.
Since last spring, she has bagged the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Royal Ascot’s Coronation Stakes, the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket and, last time, the Prix Jacques le Marois in Deauville.
The exceptional filly is rated upwards of 13lb superior to today’s rival. And she should treat her legion of fans to another impressive victory.