Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas (Group 1)

A RACE that offered a genuine opportunity to crown the three-year-old star miler of 2019 duly produced an utterly dominant winner but it was Phoenix Of Spain who stepped out of the shadows with a brilliant display from the front.

The build-up to what looked a vintage edition of this race centred around Magna Grecia’s bid to become the 10th colt to do complete the Guineas double and Too Darn Hot’s switch back to a mile following his defeat in the Dante Stakes.

Last autumn both colts had accounted for Phoenix Of Spain but the latter’s trainer Charlie Hills believed that the best was yet to come from his dashing charge and that view was borne out in resounding fashion.

First classic

At the track that provided Hills with his first classic triumph when Just The Judge won the Irish 1000 Guineas, Phoenix Of Spain was turned out in rare order to become the first horse in 45 years to win this race on his seasonal debut. That he was able to produce a performance of this quality speaks volumes about both his abilities and the team around him who produced him in such fine shape after a somewhat interrupted preparation. Furthermore, the son of Lope De Vega benefitted from a front-running masterclass from Jamie Spencer whose powers in the saddle burn as brightly as they did when he won his first classic in the 1998 Irish 1000 Guineas.

The race itself it made for decidedly exciting viewing for the connections of the winner whose starting price of 16/1 totally underestimated the level of form that he brought into the race.

Phoenix Of Spain broke alertly from a stall one draw to show in front from the outset and always looked to be travelling well within himself.

In behind, Too Darn Hot and Magna Grecia were nicely placed but the latter came under a strong drive with around three furlongs to run and it was apparent at this stage that he was toiling.

Up front Phoenix Of Spain continued to pour on the pressure and soon Too Darn Hot cracked. The leader approached the last furlong with the race in safe keeping and he galloped on relentlessly to carry the day by three lengths from Too Darn Hot.

Paddy Twomey’s Decrypt ran a huge race to take third, a further half-length back, with Skardu having to settle for fourth. Magna Grecia could only manage fifth. This result means that the Irish 2000 Guineas has now been won by English-trained horses on 30 occasions.

Impressive

“That was impressive. It wasn’t actually the plan to make the running but we were a little concerned by his draw and when he broke as well as he did Jamie didn’t want to break his stride,” said Hills. “He was a good two-year-old but we always felt that anything he did at two would be a bonus given his physique. We were training him for the English 2000 Guineas but he had a setback in January which cost him three or four weeks. He actually got back on track for Newmarket but then scoped dirty the week before so we had to miss that. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise.

“It’s very, very special to win another classic, particularly at this great track and we’ll look towards Ascot now and the St James’s Palace Stakes and I’m really looking forward to going a mile and a quarter with him so the Eclipse Stakes is very much a possibility,” added Hills.

William Haggas confirmed that the St James’s Palace is the plan for Skardu, while John Gosden has that race in mind for Too Darn Hot who ran honourably just nine days after contesting the Dante Stakes.

“He ran a good race and I’m very happy with him. Full marks to the winner, he put up a great performance and dusted them off quite tidily. We’ll head to the St James’s Palace next,” reported Gosden.

Aidan O’Brien reported Magna Grecia could also head for the Ascot race despite his defeat.

“For whatever reason he wasn’t the same horse that he was at Newmarket but at the same time I don’t want to take away from the winner in any way. Sometimes these things happen and it’s very possible he will go on to Ascot but we will just see if anything comes to light with him,” commented the Ballydoyle trainer.

Greenlands goes for export to Britain

TEN years after he won the race with Utmost Respect, Richard Fahey notched up another victory in the Group 2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes with the returning Mr Lupton.

Surprisingly this race, which has gone to English raiders eight times in the last 20 years, attracted just one contestant from across the Irish Sea but Mr Lupton (5/1) proved more than equal to the task at hand.

After looking on from the rear, Jamie Spencer produced the six-year-old with a relentless charge over the last furlong and a half which enabled the pair to get home by three-quarters of a length from the favourite Speak In Colours. The ageless Gordon Lord Byron was third as he made it 97 career outings.

“He likes to go to sleep through the first half of his races but he picks up well from halfway and I probably got there a bit soon on him. It was his first start of the season and he was a bit fresh but he’ll relax with more racing through the season,” reported Spencer, who won this race on The Kiddykid back in 2004.

Beshaayir thrills in Lanwades Stud Stakes

A MEMORABLE day for the English raiders was rounded off by Beshaayir who overcame official ratings and an absence stretching back to September to record by far her most significant victory to date.

Frankie Dettori was on board this William Haggas-trained four-year-old whose rating of 101 appeared to leave her with work to do at this level.

However, nothing was able to match this daughter of Iffraaj who bossed the race from the front. Beshaayir (8/1) approached the last furlong with a decent lead and she was never going to be caught with the result that she hit the line with a length and a half to spare over the staying-on I Can Fly.

“It was a good performance and a very good ride as she’s a filly that lengthens as opposed to quickens and straight tracks suit her best, she doesn’t like going round bends,” reported Haggas. “The plan was to win a group race with her this year and we’ve that done now and she’ll go on to Ascot for the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes.

“My other filly One Master (a Group 1 winner last year) ran quite well in fourth, she just needed the run and got tired.”

Smaller stables on the scoreboard

GUINEAS weekend began with victories for two small yards and the first to strike was Kieran Cotter whose two-year-old team have certainly impressed through the first couple of months this season. Cotter notched up his second victory in this division from three individual runners when Daughter In Law landed the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Maiden where she progressed on recent placed runs at Naas and Dundalk.

Nathan Crosse’s 7lb claim meant that this daughter of Requinto was carrying just 8st 1lb for this five-furlong dash and the 10/1 chance burnt off her rivals over the last couple of furlongs for a resounding three-and-a-half-length triumph.

“She’s finally shown there what she was showing us at home. She’s got blistering speed and loves quick ground and we’ll have a think about the Queen Mary at Ascot. We felt that she could be one for there before she ran,” reported Cotter of the Betty Murphy-owned filly.

It was then the turn of Co Down-based Natalia Lupini whose stable star Blairmayne (10/1) took the Heritage Hotel & Spa Handicap. The six-year-old blazed a trail for Killian Leonard and, commendably, he sustained that effort all the way to the finish to score by half a length from Arcanears. The Raintree Racing Partnership-owned winner is among nine horses under the care of his trainer.

“He was a bit unlucky at Naas a couple of weeks ago when he got no run,” exclaimed the thrilled winning trainer who was sending out her first winner at the Curragh.

“He was placed in the Scurry and Bold Lad Handicaps last season and the aim this year will be try to win a premier handicap with him. He loves this place and loves this ground.”

Insignia is now Galway bound

THE Galway Mile is the longterm target for Insignia Of Rank (10/1) who recaptured the form he showed last autumn to run out a clearcut winner of the FBD Hotels & Resorts Handicap over 10 furlongs.

Joe Murphy’s charge, who was blinkered after showing up well in a handicap won by Red Tea here earlier in the month, travelled notably well and he quickly stamped his authority on the race inside the last quarter of a mile.

Gary Carroll’s mount finished with two lengths to spare over Polytrack specialist Sheisdiesel. The winner’s ability to handle any ground should stand him in excellent stead when he gets to Ballybrit later this summer.

Michael Halford notched up his second winner of Guineas weekend when Karasi (4/1) won the three-year-old mile handicap. Following a good comeback third behind I Am Superman at Naas, the Aga Khan-owned Karasi showed many admirable qualities in getting the better of a lengthy battle with Jupiter Road before lasting home to defeat Ferretti by three-quarters of a length.

He could be the type to challenge for a premier handicap before too long.