1000 Guineas: Today’s big race is the Irish 1000 Guineas. The front page photo is of Masarika, who will probably start favourite. But the front page today also includes a small picture of a detail of last Saturday’s front page. Dave Baker selected Sadler’s Wells to win last Saturday’s Irish 2000 Guineas, and his followers were rewarded with a 10/1 win. For today’s classic, Baker tips Desirable.
Also on today’s front page, there is a short filler piece of news that a mare in Kentucky has given birth to a zebra foal! This is the first known successful equine embryo transplant. The zebra embryo was placed in the mare’s womb about a month ago. This piece of news is accompanied by a Bob Fannin cartoon showing mare with zebra foal standing alongside, with two men watching. One man says: “No apartheid here.”
Valentine Lamb also has space on the front page today, and he writes about equine research into projects such as embryo transplantation; or to be more specific, lack of financial aid thereof. There is work being carried out by UCD at Lyons estate. As there is little or no Government support, Lamb thinks that joining forces with the Irish Equine Centre is the best idea.
Sadler’s Wells: Racing action on Saturday is at the Curragh, and the going is good to firm. The big race is number four on the card, the Airlie/Coolmore Irish 2000 Guineas, a Group 1 race over a mile, worth £83,000 to the winner. Ten go down to the start, headed by 6/4 favourite Secreto. Robert Sangster has two runners. Pat Eddery gets first pick, and chooses to ride Capture Him, so he starts at 6/1, whereas Sadler’s Wells has George McGrath on board, and he starts at 10/1.
It takes a while for them to be loaded in, and Lak Lustre decides to come out under the gate, dislodge his jockey, jump the rails, and run. He is withdrawn.
When the stalls open, McGrath sends Sadler’s Wells into the lead. About two furlongs out, Procida sticks his head in front, but Sadler’s Wells rallies and takes the lead again. Secreto and Capture Him are closing, but at the line Sadler’s Wells is a neck in front of Procida, with Secreto half a length back in third, and another half length to Capture Him.
Reporter Dave Baker analyses the race: “As the first six were divided by less than three lengths there is a distinct possibility that this was a sub-standard Classic – I don’t subscribe to that view, however.”
Trained by Vincent O’Brien, Sadler’s Wells is by Northern Dancer, out of Fairy Bridge.
The Group 3 race is the Curragh Bloodstock Agency Greenland Stakes, over six furlongs, and this prize is exported to the Newmarket stable of Bill O’Gorman when Reesh wins by half a length from Committed. Tony Ives is on board Reesh.
Although picking the wrong one for the Guineas, Pat Eddery does ride two winners today. He wins the Listed Marble Hill Stakes on Muffitys, and later takes the May Race on Solar City for Robert Sangster and Vincent O’Brien.
Amateur riders: Roscommon stages a Monday evening National Hunt card on firm ground. Over the seven races, there are 25 non-runners. The feature is the Frank Hannon Memorial Handicap Hurdle, worth £1,362, and this is won by the 4/6 favourite Stormy Fellow, trained by Pat Hughes and ridden by Frank Berry.
Four of the seven races are won by amateur riders. Mr Brian Mortell and Gambling Lord win division one of the maiden hurdle; then five runners turn out for the Elphin Chase, which is won by Annick, ridden by Mr Tony Brindley.
There is a hunter chase, and this goes to Sliabh Arda and Enda Bolger; the night concludes with New Gent winning the bumper, a red letter evening for the McCreery family of Clane. New Gent is trained by Peter McCreery for his wife, and ridden by their son Tom, having his first winner.
Navan: Firm ground is still the going report at Navan on Wednesday evening. The feature race this evening is the Nevinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle, over two miles, worth £1,244. The Dawn Run colours of Mrs Charmian Hill are victorious this evening as Boro Quarter, a five-year-old mare, wins by 10 lengths. A 6/4 favourite, she is trained by Paddy Mullins, and this is a first winner for rider Pat Cooney.
Arguably the star performer this evening is Jazz Me Blues. After a weight-carrying performance at Mallow on Monday, the four-year-old son of Jaazeiro tonight has “only” 10st 2lb to carry in the Wilkinstown Handicap of a mile and a quarter. He and Declan Gillespie hit the front in the final furlong, and win by a length. Jazz Me Blues is trained by Jim Bolger.
Point-to-point news: The 1994 season ends last Sunday at Ballindenisk. With a lead of seven in the riders’ championship, Enda Bolger has just one ride on Uncle Bobs in the winners of two. They start 1/2 favourites, but are beaten a neck by Blockwich and Roland Gleeson.
Bolger finishes top of The Irish Field Riders’ Championship with 33 winners. In second is To Costello with 26, followed by Tony Martin on 16.
France: This week, Desmond Stoneham writes about Dawn Run. The Champion Hurdle victor is being aimed at the French Champion Hurdle, which takes place on June 22nd, and will have a prep run next Monday at Auteuil.
Stoneham also looks at Masarika, winner recently of the French 1000 Guineas, who runs at the Curragh today. Just next door is where she was bred, at Ballymany Stud. Stoneham tips Masarika to win.
America: Correspondent “Nearctic” writes about the 109th Preakness Stakes. Last Saturday, at Pimlico, near Baltimore, Maryland, Gate Dancer wins the Preakness. Trained by Jack Van Berg, Gate Dancer is ridden to victory by Angel Cordero. Swale, winner of the Kentucky Derby, finishes only seventh of the 10 starters. Gate Dancer is a son of Sovereign Dancer. But “Nearctic” notices that Sovereign Dancer has one up on his own notable sire, Northern Dancer. Despite his 104 individual stakes race winners, no progeny of Northern Dancer has even been placed (let alone won) the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, or the Belmont Stakes!
New Zealand: Correspondent “Balmerino” writes from the Antipodes. Two new sires are coming to the country: Terreno, a son of Vaguely Noble, is a Group 1 winner in Italy; and Khairpour, a son of Arctic Tern, was placed in the Irish St Leger, and a Group 2 winner in Britain.
But “Balmerino” adds: “I have a long held, and oft-repeated belief, in the potential of the New Zealand-bred colt at stud. All things being equal, a top-class locally bred horse is a better stallion prospect than a moderate northern hemisphere-bred animal every time.”
Morgan: The death has taken place this week of former jockey and trainer Danny Morgan, aged 72. Among his achievements are winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup as both jockey and trainer. He rode Morse Code to win the 1938 race, and later, as a trainer, won the 1959 Gold Cup with Roddy Owen.
Olympics: The main news in today’s Irish Horse World is about the Olympics in Los Angeles later this year. While it has already been announced that Ireland will not be sending a show-jumping team, a three-day-event team is still likely to travel. This week, after the conclusion of the major three-day-event at Punchestown, the Irish Horse Trials Society announces a short list of six riders.
They are: Captain David Foster (Aughatore); Fiona Wentges (Ballylusky); Margaret Tolerton (Ipi Tombi); Jessica Harrington (Paddywhack); Hylda Buller (Pop Joy); and Sarah Gordon (Rathkenny).
The Punchestown competition is won by Lucinda Green, riding Shannagh. In second is Michael Pettersson riding Up To Date, with Emma de Haan third on The Apostle. Best of the Irish in fourth is Captain David Foster on Aughatore.
Airlie sires: Airlie Stud, of Lucan, Co Dublin, buys all of page three to advertise their stallions. Their roster for this year is: Artaius, Ballad Rock, Cut Above, Dara Monarch, Ela-Mana-Mou, Habitat, Henbit, Prince Bee, Tumble Wind.