EVERY horse race is tactical, but some are more tactical than others, and it seemed like everyone was expecting a peak tactics moment in last Saturday’s Irish Champion Stakes.

In the run-up to the race, discussion was as much about how the race would unfold as the abilities of the different runners, with the visiting Economics drawn on the outside of four Ballydoyle horses.

In the end, a straightforward horserace broke out with minimal excuses needed, the final order as it should be.

Three lengths covered the first seven home, so it is hard to go overboard with form ratings, but the time was good and Economics left the strong impression that he would beat the rest further if they met again, with the possible exception of the third.

Auguste Rodin travelled smoothly here, as he had in last year’s race and had every chance, perhaps even heading the winner inside the final furlong, but Economics showed a terrific attitude, despite making his move sooner than ideal out wide, the trip on decent ground likely sharp enough for him too.

Making his first Group 1 start, he has more scope than most to improve, whereas this race – and 2024 more generally – confirmed the ceiling of Auguste Rodin’s ability; whereas, last year, he showed a remarkably OXO profile, being totally hit or miss, this season has revealed him to be a very good horse, but vulnerable against the best.

Troy is the best

The proximity of the likes of Los Angeles and Ghostwriter in behind seemed to confirm that City Of Troy is the best middle-distance horse around, with Los Angeles running a decent Arc trial in fourth, albeit he will need to travel better early, if he is to be competitive at Longchamp.

Perhaps the better Arc trial came from the third Shin Emperor, who was not only off a break, but having just his seventh start, only making his debut last November.

He was unsurprisingly keen off his absence and his jockey lost position half a mile from home, likely aware he didn’t want to go forward too soon, before he met bother in the straight.

Few finished better than him when he did get into the clear, however, and, having looked a strong stayer at 12 furlongs on his last start in Japan, he shaped as if needing further here, so the Arc looks like it should suit ideally, that race having been the main aim all along.

THE five other Group 1 races across the rest of Irish Champions Festival fell into one of two groups: either coronations for the established older horses, or new world orders among the two-year-olds.

Kyprios won an ordinary Irish St. Leger, though his season has been anything but ordinary, mirroring his flawless 2022 campaign thus far, while Bradsell was a comfortable winner of the Flying Five, always travelling best, albeit having the draw in his favour.

Porta Fortuna added a third Group 1 of the season in the Matron and it is interesting to note how she has progressed past her contemporaries since this time last year; she had got her turn in 2023, just as her rivals here Fallen Angel, Ylang Ylang and Vespertilio had, but she has passed them all out, her consistency and attitude excellent.

Ylang Ylang has perhaps been the most disappointing of that group, sent off a short price for the Oaks after all, but this was a better run as she had no chance with how the race went, held up too far back off a steady pace before keeping on reasonably after her rider accepted defeat.

She may be able to gain some redemption up in trip.

Juvenile shake up

The Irish juveniles saw quite the shake-up on Sunday, with odds-on shots beaten on both seven-furlong Group 1s at the Curragh. The Moyglare Stud Stakes looked the stronger of the two beforehand, the field seeming to have more potential, despite there only being five runners, and the comparative times back that up, the race for fillies run 1.35 seconds quicker.

Bedtime Story was too keen from the outset and gave herself little chance of getting home, while she was also found to be lame post-race. Those are valid excuses, but it is not certain she will bounce back from this straight away.

This sort of performance can leave a mark in terms of how she might race next time, and Aidan O’Brien pointed out afterwards that settling her on her next starts would be vital, just as had been needed around this time last year with her half-sister Content. Her effort left the room for Lake Victoria, though there is nothing to say she might not have won anyway, the winner finishing off strongly up the middle of the track to maintain an unbeaten record.

Stop me

She had beaten Red Letter on debut, but the Lyons runner had looked the better filly on that day and was sent off a shorter price here, but – stop me if you’ve seen this movie before – Aidan O’Brien got more improvement out of her, though it was a little surprising to hear him talk about the Cheveley Park for her afterwards.

In the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, Scorthy Champ built on the promise of his close third in the Futurity to reverse form with Henri Matisse, who looked to have a few kinks in the finish, Ryan Moore riding a fine race to arrive late only for his mount to jink this way and that.

He had done similar in the Futurity and still be able to win, but those frailties tend to be exposed at the highest level and, after four starts, we are past the stage where they can be put down to greenness.

THE draw played a part in the races on the sprint track at the Curragh on Sunday, the near side looking at distinct advantage, and two sets of connections were left cursing their luck in this area again this season; indeed, Believing and Greek Flower could hardly have been dealt a worse set of stall numbers in big races this year.

Believing ran an excellent second from stall one in the Flying Five, but, just as in the King’s Stand and the Nunthorpe, she left the impression that she should probably be a Group 1 winner by now with fortune on her side.

At least she has won twice in 2024, albeit below the top level, whereas poor Greek Flower has had the ignominy of terrible draws in the Rockingham, the Scurry and now the Bold Lad, finishing seventh here, but not hard to make a case she was best on the day.

A bit slowly away and taken back at the start from stall four, she was last at halfway, but made a big move into the race on the wrong part of the track, fastest of all per Course Track sectionals in each of the last two furlongs.

If there is any justice in the world, she will make amends in the Joe McGrath, but unfortunately it doesn’t work like that, and John Feane, having had her in great order all season, will be hopeful he can keep her in form for at least another start.

Shape well

Another horse to shape well from a poor draw on the far side was Canto Della Terra in the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes.

Drawn two, she got badly squeezed out at the stalls and was a long way back, making a big move from the three furlong point with nothing to bring her into the race, all of this happening in the wrong part of the track.

A maiden win, perhaps back at the bare six furlongs with the speed she showed here, should be manageable.