Bears can get better of Fozzy
DAVID Loughnane’s Go Bears Go will seek further Group success in the Rathasker Stud Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh today.
The three-year-old was last seen finishing second in the Group Three Hackwood
Stakes at Newbury in July, coming home a length and a quarter behind Owen Burrows’ Minzaal.
Prior to that he was disappointing when 10th in Royal Ascot’s Commonwealth Cup, a run that looks an anomaly this season as he won the trial for that race and was placed in the Sandy Lane earlier in the term.
The colt has run twice at the Curragh previously, winning the Railway Stakes ahead of Castle Star last year before finishing third in the Group One Phoenix Stakes when beaten only a length by Ebro River.
“He’s been rocksolid all year, apart from Royal Ascot, where he just didn’t turn up on the day for whatever reason,” said Loughnane.
“But he was very good in the Commonwealth Cup Trial prior to that and arguably the best race he has run in was the Hackwood last time, when he produced a very good run.”
The son of Kodi Bear will cross paths with Fozzy Stack’s Castle Star again, who has been seen once this term when fifth in the Sapphire Stakes, with fellow Tipperary trainer Joseph Murphy also represented as he runs Gustavus Weston.
The seasoned six-yearold won the race as a 16-1 shot in 2019 and returned last season to take the title again when beating Ger Lyons’ Power Under Me by two and a quarter lengths.
On both occasions the going was softer than the good conditions expected today and Murphy is hoping the ground gets no quicker before the race.
“He’s very well, he could do with just a drop of rain as he wouldn’t want firm in the main, good is fine for him,” he said.
“We hope he’ll come back to him himself, he’s drawn 12 and we’ll hope he’ll run a good race.
“You can’t judge it too much on that (his two past wins) but I’d be hoping for a good run from him.”
Power Under Me is in action again for Lyons after finishing third to Ken Condon’s Teresa Mendoza on his most recent outing in the Listed Dash Stakes at the Curragh in June.
Meet
The two horses will meet again at the same track at the weekend as Teresa Mendoza is one of a trio of entrants from Condon’s Kildare stable alongside Moss Tucker and Quarantine Dreams.
“Teresa Mendoza likes the Curragh and has a good record there,” he said.
“She’s been in good form this year, she ran a good race in York last time (fourth in the Summer Stakes) and does enjoy the Curragh.
“She’s a Listed winner now and she’ll be running in Group races for the rest of the season, so hopefully, she can run well.
“Moss Tucker is very much an improving horse and has got quicker and stronger with maturity.
“He has a rating of 100, hasn’t run in a stakes race before but he’s hopefully one that can step up.” (right)