After multiple weekends of Classic racing in England, France, and the United States, this month the action moves to Ireland for their G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas on Saturday and G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas on Sunday at The Curragh.
Saturday’s action starts with a juvenile maiden with multiple Australian connections at 10.45pm AEST with the first stakes race half an hour later. The Irish 2000 Guineas is the third stakes and fourth race overall on the card, taking place at 12.20am AEST and includes Yulong’s new 2021 stallion addition Lucky Vega (Ire).
Lucky Vega among 2000 Guineas entries
Making one of his final starts before starting Australian stud duties later this year, Lucky Vega lines up in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas. The Zhang Yuesheng-owned colt ran third by just 0.5l in the British version of this race three weeks ago. A juvenile Group 1 winner, Lucky Vega is a grandson of Group 1 winner Satwa Queen (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}), who herself is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Spadoun (Fr) (Kaldoun {Fr}).
Lucky Vega (Ire) | Image courtesy of Yulong
Australian millionaire Johannes Vermeer (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) sees full brother Wembley (Ire) try for a Classic win here. The colt is one of five stakes winners from five runners – all by Galileo (Ire) - out of Inca Princess (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). The colt is also a full sister to Group 2 winner Elizabeth Browning (Ire) and Goodwood’s TDN Australia H. winner Sapa Inca (Ire). The extended family also includes G1 Victoria Derby winner Johnny Get Angry (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and G1 South Australian Derby winner Markham (Salieri {USA}).
Out of a full sister to G2 Chairman’s H. winner Permit (GB) (Dansili {GB}), Agrimony (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) looks to become the first stakes winner for Adjudicate (GB). It would be the latest feather in the mare’s cap with all three of her runners winning at least one race.
Monaasib (GB) (Bobby’s Kitten {USA}) was second in a Group 2 as a juvenile and this year tries to add a Group win to his record to become the second stakes winner for his stakes-winning dam Mullein (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Mullein is one of two stakes winners for her own dam, who also produced Australian runner and former stallion Illustrious Blue (GB). That horse stood in Australia from 2012 until his death in early 2020.
The experienced Rebel Step (USA) (Tamarkuz {USA}) is searching for his first stakes win in this spot. The colt is out of a half-sister to Hong Kong runner Arch Rebel (USA) (Arch {USA}) and to the dam of Australian runner Amade (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}), who was imported to the country last October. In training with Phillip Stokes, Amade won at Flemington in late April by 1.8l.
It’s another family affair with La Barrosa (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), whose Group 3-placed dam Bikini Babe (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) also saw a sibling race in Australia. In that case, it was just a visit with Bikini Babe a half-sister to G1 Caulfield Cup second Scottish (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).
American Pharoah (USA) looks for his first Classic winner when Group 1 winner Van Gogh (USA) lines up in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas. One of five Group winners for his dual Classic-winning dam Imagine (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}), he’ll be trying to put an eighth place finish in the British version of this race behind him.
From the family of Group 1 winner Sholokhov (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}) comes Starspangledbanner’s The Rosstafarian (Ire). One of three winners from three to race out of his Teofilo (Ire) dam, The Rosstafarian makes the trip from England for this affair. Raced only three times, the colt earned a stakes placing last year.
Former Australian runner lines up in Greenlands
Racing over 1200 metres in the G2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands S., former Peter and Paul Snowden runner Indigo Balance (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) (known as Yulong Yuheng in Australia) represents Zhang Yuesheng. Starting his career in Ireland before his move to Australia, the 5-year-old has adapted well on his return to his home country with a 6l victory in a handicap two starts ago. Indigo Balance is a half-brother to Australian stakes runner Mister Sea Wolf (Ire) (Amadeus Wolf {GB}) and a full brother to Australian shuttler Cable Bay (Ire). Trained by Chris Waller, Mister Sea Wolf last ran two weeks ago in the G2 TAB A.D. Hollindale S. where he finished seventh.
Royal Commando (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) could make it a top weekend for his fourth dam Miss Cindy (GB) (Mansingh {GB}), who is also the third dam of last weekend’s G3 Proud Miss S. winner Brooklyn Hustle (Starspangledbanner). Brooklyn Hustle’s dam Joint Aspiration (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) was imported in 2012 and has had four foals during her time in Australia. Joint Aspiration visited Exceed And Excel last year for her 2021 foal.
Stakes winner and Group 1-placed Sonaiyla (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) lines up here while looking for her first Group victory. Out of a half-sister to a Hong Kong runner, Sonaiyla’s grandam is also a half-sister to the dam of Australian stakes winner and Group 1-placed Sikandarabad (Ire) (Dr Fong {USA}).
Elzaam runner concludes stakes in Lanwades
A Group 1 winner by the Australian-bred Elzaam, Champers Elysees (Ire) makes her second start of the year in the G2 Lanwades Stud S. over 1600 metres. The filly is also from the family of multiple Group winner California Zimbol (I Am Invincible) and her two stakes-winning half-siblings with their grandam Borely (GB) (Reprimand {GB}) imported to Australia in 1997.
Starspangledbanner colt looks for first Group win in Marble Hill
The first stakes race of the day is the G3 Marble Hill S. for juveniles over 1200 metres, led by Starspangledbanner’s stakes winner Castle Star (Ire). Winning the First Flier S. by 1.75l three weeks ago, the colt looks for his first Group win in this spot. He is out of the two-time winning Iffraaj (GB) mare Awohaam (Ire), who is a half-sister to multiple stakes performers. This has proven to be a strong stakes-producing family with eight stakes horses under Castle Star’s Grade 3-winning grandam Horatia (USA) (Machiavellian {USA}).
Darley Kelvinside shuttler Territories (Ire) is represented by debut winner Masseto (GB). Out of a winning New Approach (Ire) mare, his dam is a half-sister to the stakes-winning Ginmann (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) and to the dam of another stakes-placed runner. The colt’s third dam is the matriarch of a family that also includes Group 1 winner Chorist (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Group 2 winners Sacrament (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}) and Gospel Choir (GB) (Galileo {Ire}).
A week after breaking his maiden on debut, Caravaggio’s (USA) The Entertainer (Ire) is back to try and become his sire’s first stakes winner. He is one of two winners out of Cape Joy (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), with that mare a half-sister to the stakes-winning Hymn Of Love (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}).
A half-sister to Sepoy’s stakes-winning Punita Arora (Ire), Sangria (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) is taking on the boys while searching for her first career win in this spot. Out of a half-sister to Group 3 winner Muthabara (Ire) (Red Ransom {USA}), the filly comes from the family of the Brett Bunfield-trained Murillo (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}).
Churchill runner among debuters in opening 2-year-old race
Saturday’s card at The Curragh kicks off with a 2-year-old maiden full of interesting prospects. Among those making their debut is the Shadwell-owned colt Barud (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), who they purchased for 165,000 gns (AU$329,175) during Book 2 of last year’s Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. That colt’s dam is a half-sister to stakes winner and Stayers’ Cup-third Ivy League (Ire) (Doyoun {Ire}). Imported to Australia in 2003, Ivy League had six Australian foals with the group led by stakes winner Cornell (Elusive Quality {USA}). Ivy League was retired from broodmare duties in 2013.
Coolmore Australia’s Churchill (Ire) sends out the Coolmore-owned The Acropolis (Ire) in this spot. A €140,000 (AU$220,835) Goffs Ireland November Foal Sale buy, the Aidan O’Brien trainee is out of G2 Queen Mary-third Hairy Rocket (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). Hairy Rocket’s dam is a half-sister to the dam of stakes winner and Australian runner Vaniloquio (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who ran in Hong Kong before coming to Australia. Also in the family is G1 Ranvet S. second Carlton House (USA).
Coolmore’s shuttle stallion Caravaggio sees first-crop runner Canters Well (Ire) making his first career start in this race. A half-brother to stakes winner and multiple Group 1-placed Salouen (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) and stakes-placed Madernia (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), the gelding sees another stakes winner as his dam’s half-brother.
