A GOOD ONE
O’brien’s Heavens looks a cut above his opening day rivals
THE Joseph O’brien-trained Good Heavens sets a decent standard in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Race on the opening day of Killarney’s July meeting.
Five days of lakeside action are ahead of us, three flat cards followed by jumps fare on Thursday and Friday.
And today, after the football buzz of the weekend, Good Heavens, a J P Mcmanus-owned Zoffany gelding, appeals as the best bet on a seven-race card.
This fellow won a Leopardstown maiden by five lengths in October, on his fourth start, beating Impero, before contesting the Group 3 Eyrefield Stakes on the same track, where he finished eighth – beaten less than four lengths behind Duke De Sessa.
And there was a lot to like about his seasonal debut in Roscommon in early May, when he made eye-catching late progress to fill third spot behind better-fancied stable-companion Swan Bay.
Given time to develop and helped by a step-up in trip, Good Heavens has an official rating of 96, which gives him a bit in hand on four of his five rivals.
The exception and his biggest threat is Spasiba, representing Paddy Twomey, who won this race with stable star and recent Pretty Polly winner La Petite Coco.
Third to another of today’s rivals Shark Bay on debut in Cork, this Ultra colt impressed when beating Hallowed Star and Impero in a Roscommon maiden on his second start and is difficult to assess.
But, if he progresses along the same lines as most of his stable-companions, he’ll prove a big threat to Good Heavens.
Two-year-old maidens in Killarney have produced plenty of Group 1 performers in recent seasons and today’s opener is arguably the most interesting contest on the card, with four of the eight runners trained by members of the O’brien family.
Subsequent Vertem Futurity winner and Qipco 2,000 Guineas third
Luxembourg won on debut here last August. And Aidan O’brien is set to introduce his full-brother, Hiawatha, today.
Seamus Heffernan’s mount could be anything while Donnacha O’brien’s runner Alder should improve from his debut fourth to stable-companion Proud And Regal at the Curragh.
But I’ll take a chance with one of the Carriganog runners, Mister Mister who attracted plenty of market support on the morning of his intended debut at the Curragh on Derby weekend, only to be withdrawn late when ground conditions eased.