Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Treble top likely for Broome
FRESH from his seventh Qipco 1,000 Guineas win with Mother Earth, Aidan O’brien should take today’s Curragh feature, the Group 2 Coolmore Mooresbridge Stakes with hat-trickseeking Broome.
Fourth in the Investec Derby, Broome’s fouryear-old campaign was truncated last year. But he has shown in two recent wins that he retains plenty of his ability. And he should be capable of success at this level.
The son of Australia bolted-up in the listed Plusvital Devoy Stakes at Naas on his seasonal debut before landing the ‘Alleged’ (Group 3) over this course and distance last time, when he took time to hit top gear before swooping late to master Thundering Nights.
Broome will need a strong pace to aim at today, as he’s probably more effective at a mile and a half.
But he should be up to the task in a field which includes Melbourne Cup victor Twilight Payment on his seasonal return.
Following the victory of his Leopardstown Guineas Trial conqueror Poetic Flare in Saturday’s Qipco 2,000 Guineas, the Jessica Harrington-trained Ace Aussie, winner of Cork maiden last year, sets the standard in the listed Dick Mc Cormick Tetrarch Stakes.
And Ballydoyle filly Queen’s Speech, impressive on her only juvenile start, in a heavy-ground maiden at this venue last November, might take full advantage of the 17lb. she received from Johnny Murtagh’s Group 1-winning stable star Champers Elysees in the Group 3 Coolmore Circus Maximus Athasi Stakes.
The 2021-2022 National Hunt season kicks off in Down Royal today.
And, although off the track since finishing fourth to Cask Mate at Punchestown last October, Cullentra hope Tullybeg should be tough to beat in the Extra Places On The Boylesports App Hurdle.