Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
O’brien’s Cape can be a hero
FRESH from his breakthrough classic success with Fancy Blue on Sunday, Donnacha O’brien should strike with Southern Cape in today’s opening Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Maiden in Gowran Park.
A son of Galileo and the speedy Tiggy Wiggy, this colt was sent off 11/4 favourite for his debut at Leopardstown last month and did little wrong, being collared late and beaten a half-length by Ides Of August.
That experience will stand to him today when he’ll encounter easier underfoot conditions. But that form looks rock solid and, with improvement expected, Southern Cape should open his account – it will take a smart newcomer to deny him in this even-furlong maiden.
Michael Halford’s tram is beginning to hit form. And, making his turf debut, I like the chance of his Aga Khan-owned Balmari in the seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms Maiden.
This Mukhadram colt has done all his racing on Dundalk’s polytrack, earning himself a rating of 81 on the strength of three solid placed efforts.
He filled the runner-up berth behind Prince Of Naples and Duke Of Pilat in his most recent starts. And, if he can translate that form to the grass or, perhaps step-up, he should prove a force here.
Bang-in-form Chris Hayes might provide trainer Harry Rogers with a welcome boost when he teams up with Clifftop in a division of the one-mile 45-65 handicap.
With a clear run and, with some ‘juice’ in the ground, Clifftop should have rock-solid each-way claims.