The Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas will see 14 high class fillies go in search of Classic glory at The Curragh with trainer Paddy Twomey strongly armed in Sunday’s showpiece event.
Twomey enjoyed notable success last year, particularly with his team of juveniles, and in the Billy Lee-ridden Purple Lily and A Lilac Rolla, who will be the mount of champion jockey Colin Keane, the Tipperary-based trainer has major chances for Guineas glory.
A Lilac Rolla is so far unbeaten in three stars, while Purple Lily ran a fine race in defeat in the Group 3 Salsabil Stakes at Navan last month.
The Karl Burke-trained Fallen Angel will return to the scene of her finest moment as the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner aims to step forward from her run in the English 1,000 Guineas and among her opposition this weekend will be old rival Vespertilio.
The Willie McCreery-trained filly was second in the Moyglare Stud Stakes last year and ran a fine race to finish a narrowly beaten third in the French 1,000 Guineas at Longchamp a fortnight ago.
Dermot Weld relies on Leopardstown winner Azada in his bid to see a third consecutive 1,000 Guineas return to Rosewell House following Weld’s recent victories with Homeless Songs and Tahiyra.
No trainer has won more Irish 1,000 Guineas than Aidan O’Brien and the champion trainer turns to Buttons, Everlasting, Pearls and Rubies and Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Opera Singer in his bid for an eleventh success in the fillies Classic.
Tough oppositions
The Ralph Beckett-trained Skellet is another notable inclusion in the race, while Jessica Harrington will hope that Bluedrum could follow the path of her 2018 winner Alpha Centauri.
The locally trained Queen Of Thunder lines up for Ken Condon with the Joe Murphy-trained Alpheratz and Jim Bolger’s Finsceal Luas complete the line-up for promises to be a memorable renewal.
Prior to the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas, racegoers will be treated to witnessing one of the highest rated horses in world racing as Auguste Rodin takes on seven rivals in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup.
The Epsom and Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner signed off a remarkable season by winning the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita and spearheads Aidan O’Brien’s quest for an eleventh win in the Group 1 with the trainer also represented by Hans Anderson.
Adrian Murray is set to have two runners with the progressive Elegant Man, who only made his racecourse debut in October, looking to continue his winning ways under David Egan. Rossa Ryan is booked to ride stable mate Crypto Force.
The John Murphy-trained White Birch is another in winning form and will have the assistance of Colin Keane as he seeks a third course and distance success at The Curragh.
From silks to saddling
Joseph O’Brien and Johnny Murtagh, who won the Tattersalls Gold Cup as jockeys, are vying to saddle the winner as a trainer with Lumiere Rock and Mashhoor respectively, while Joe Murphy’s Lord Massusus, runner-up to White Birch earlier this month, is also among the eight declarations.
Jockey Billy Lee will partner the Willie McCreery-trained Ocean Jewel when looking to win the Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes for a fourth consecutive year. Lee’s fine run began on the McCreery-trained Epona Plays and the duo previously combined to win the 2016 renewal with Devonshire.
Some regally bred sorts including Mundi, Aidan O’Brien’s full brother to Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Churchill and Spoken Truth, a full sister to Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Homeless Songs for Dermot Weld, head the Group 3 Heider Family Stables Gallinule Stakes.
Racing on Sunday will begin with the Trainor Stone And Tile Irish EBF Fillies Maiden, followed by the QuinnBet Spring Fillies Handicap in which Gordon Elliott will run Curragh winner Zaynab.
Irish Guineas weekend will then draw to a close with nine going to post for the Revamp Conservation And Restoration Irish EBF Fillies Maiden and a packed field of 19 runners for the Fleetwood Paints Handicap.
Click here to view the declarations for Sunday 26th of May, Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas day.