ALL’S WELD FOR JAEGA
Dermot eyes up Oaks success in Cork with filly
This filly looked a cracking prospect when she bolted up on her debut at Leopardstown two months ago.
She did meet with defeat next time but she probably enhanced her reputation in going down by two lengths to Bye Bye Baby in the Group 3 Blue Wind Stakes.
Bye Bye Baby has upheld the form by running third in the Epsom Oaks and several of the other beaten horses that day have since run well in good company.
Jaega definitely has more to offer after just two runs and if coping with the switch to quick ground she will take beating.
She has most to fear from Flattering who is dropping down in class after contesting the Epsom Oaks earlier this month.
Flattering ran quite well to finish fifth that day and prior to that she also showed well in the Lingfield Oaks Trial.
Those two runs would suggest that she can hold her own at this level and she looks a likely contender.
Another to keep in mind is Bloomfield who has already enjoyed an excellent season by notching up Listed victories at this track and Gowran.
If the ground were to ease from its current description she can be expected to play a leading role.
In the valuable Cork Derby a hopeful vote goes to St Lawrence Gap who clearly wasn’t at his best when finishing down the field in a Clonmel handicap last month.
He was reported to be blowing hard after that race so something was amiss and it was an out of character effort from this reliable gelding.
He had previously bolted up at Limerick on his return to action and he has long looked like a horse that could pick up a premier handicap.
Aidan O’brien should at least leave Cork with a double and his Mohawk is the choice in the opener.
He was very green on his debut at the Curragh last week but still showed promise to finish fifth.
He will be a good deal sharper for that run and his rivals will do well to lower his colours on this occasion.
Later on the card the O’brien-trained Victory Salute should take plenty of beating in the three-year-old maiden.
Kindly caught the eye at Navan a couple of weeks ago and Colin Keane is a notable booking for the filly in the sprint handicap. Her chances shouldn’t be ignored.