Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FERNANDEZ BACK FOR HERITAGE TILT
PROVEN at the highest level last season, Lope Y Fernandez will be expected to make a successful return to action in the listed Heritage Stakes at Leopardstown.
Aidan O’brien’s charge, a dual-winner as a juvenile, performed creditably on a consistent basis last year, although failing to get his head in front.
Some observers believe the Lope De Vega colt is at his best at distances short of today’s trip, a mile.
But it’s hard to knock his Irish 2,000 Guineas third to Siskin or his third behind stablemates Order Of Australia and Circus Maximus in the Breeders Cup Mile at Keeneland in November.
In between he disappointed a couple of times in England, but ran two crackers in France, a solid second to Pinatubo in the Jean Prat and a third to Space Blues in the Maurice de Gheest, both at Deauville.
Suited by today’s race conditions, receiving weight from chief rival and last year’s winner Ancient Spirit and Saltonstall, Lope Y Fernandez should be up to the task.
If he lacks fitness and is vulnerable, Ancient Spirit is the most likely to take advantage.
Apart from the Heritage, the three maidens on the card are particularly fascinating with a number of contenders boasting solid form, plus some intriguing newcomers.
Joseph O’brien’s Southern Lights, a strapping son of Sea The Stars, appeals in the Leopardstown Annual Members Maiden over a mile and a quarter.
Sent off favourite for his debut at Naas last September, this colt did little wrong in going down by a neck to Deputy Sandy, with subsequent winner Khartoum third.
Southern Lights looks the type to relish middle distances and should be tough to beat here.
Jessica Harrington’s Cycladic, fifth to Fantasy Lady in the listed Staffordstown Stud Stakes at the Curragh last October, might improve enough to reverse form with 95-rated Ballydoyle filly La Joconde, who finished a length in front of the Harrington filly in third spot, in the opening mile and a quarter fillies maiden.
The later one mile event for fillies is likely to be dominated by debutantes and a tentative vote goes to Harrington’s Climate, an Australia half-sister to Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Power.