September debut shows she can be a summer jewel
THOSE who arrived early enough to see the opening maiden at Leopardstown last night bore witness to a potential superstar in newcomer September.
Her pedigree may be to die for, yet punters sent her off an easy-to-back 9/2 joint-favourite, perhaps conscious that Ballydoyle newcomers tend to improve a great deal for a run nowadays.
However, the daughter of the brilliant Japanese horse Deep Impact out of the outstanding Peeping Fawn won like an odds-on shot for Seamus Heffernan. Settled off the speed, she burst clear to win by five-and-a-half lengths.
Aidan O’Brien, who also trained the dam, told the Irish Independent: “I’m delighted. Obviously her mum was a great mare, and we were just running September to get her started off.
“It’s early days but she could be a Chesham or Albany filly at Royal Ascot – we’ll see how she is. She’s always shown plenty of pace in her work and you’d have to be very happy with that.”
September got quotes of 25/1 for the 1,000 Guineas next year.
Ger Lyons enjoyed a terrific 1-2 in the Listed Glencairn Stakes, Brendan Bracken (7/2) beating Elusive Heights under Gary Carroll. Grandee at 7/2 also made all, in the King George V Cup, for Jessica Harrington and Colm O’Donoghue.
Meanwhile, Willie Mullins’ pair, Wicklow Brave and Clondaw Warrior, are ready for action in this evening’s Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Stakes.
Ireland’s champion jumps trainer is bidding to break new ground by winning a Flat race Stateside, and he has booked two of the top riders to steer his steeds in a staying heat with a purse of $400,000.
Javier Castellano steers Wicklow Brave; John Velazquez, who rode Always Dreaming to Kentucky Derby glory last month, rides Clondaw Warrior.
Patrick Mullins, his father’s son and assistant, said: “Both travelled over well. Clondaw Warrior has been to America before and Wicklow Brave has been to Australia so we were confident they’d take it in their stride. They adapted to the surroundings well and have been eating and drinking.
“Clondaw Warrior was second at Arlington last year. The horse who won that won this race before that, so we know his level of form equates well out there. He’s a light weight and a top-class jockey in John Velazquez.
“Wicklow Brave has been a fantastic horse and has taken his owner Nick Peacock all over the world.
“He’s a Group One penalty for his Irish St Leger win and a wide draw in stall 12, so it won’t be easy.
“If he can reproduce that Irish Leger form, though, then you’d have to fancy his chance.
“It’s fantastic prize-money but very expensive getting the horses out there. Willie does keep an eye out for suitable races, though.”
Meanwhile, BoyleSports will continue to lay Irish racing prices in its shops overnight, despite Paddy Power recently deciding to curtail the same service. Paddy Power now only lay selected races in the shops the night before, as few as one. BoyleSports does not plan to go down that same route.
Spokesperson Leon Blanche said: “We will continue to lay prices overnight as we have total confidence in our product. We have no problems laying our prices overnight for both retail and online customers.”