DON’T be surprised if Trethias outruns her 16/1 odds in today’s Kerrygold Irish Oaks at the Curragh.
I have always held this filly in high regard and she really impressed me when she won the Oaks Trial at Naas last month. That was ‘only’ a listed race but she won going away and, even though she’s a daughter of sprinter Invincible Spirit, I think the step up to 12 furlongs today will suit her. We’re very happy with her at home.
Trethias runs in the colours of Stonethorn Farms and her silks will be familiar to older racegoers who can recall the likes of Sorbus and Eurobird winning big races for owner-breeder Gerald Jennings. Both those fillies ran in the Irish Oaks – Sorbus was first past the post in 1978 and was very controversially demoted for interfering with Fair Salinia. Most racegoers felt it was very harsh though it was not an easy one for the stewards to call.
In 1987, Eurobird finished third in the Irish Oaks before going on to win the Irish St Leger.
Gerald’s son Francis is equally keen on racing and breeding. He keeps his mares at the Lloyd-Webbers’ Kiltinan Castle Stud in Fethard.
Their racing manager Simon Marsh advised Francis to buy some new blood and his purchases included Drumfad Bay, with whom we won the Cairn Rouge Stakes at Killarney in 2017.
Simon also pointed Francis towards Trethias, who was sold by the Lloyd-Webbers’ Watership Down Stud for 400,000gns as a yearling in Newmarket. She’s from the family of Dar Re Mi and Too Darn Hot.
What a story it would be if Trethias was to finally give the Jennings family an Irish Oaks win.
Busy weekend
We have plenty of other runners on both days at the Curragh. I think our best chances of a winner could be on Sunday with either of the two-year-old fillies Sophelanka and Cool Vixen.
Sophelanka is unraced but ‘won’ a barrier trial at Naas, coasting alongside our own Cool Vixen, who of course has gone on to win on the track. We’ve been waiting for a little ease in the ground for Sophelanka as she’s by Kyllachy. She’s a strong filly and very nice, though I know this is probably a very good maiden. Jim Bolger runs one by Invincible Spirit out of Finsceal Beo, so who knows what it will take to win.
Cool Vixen runs in the first nursery of the year on Sunday. She has top weight, having been given a mark of 91 by the handicapper.
All I can tell you is Cool Vixen is going the right way, her form is working out well and we have given her some fancy entries for later on. Let’s just say I wouldn’t put you off her!
Conron should also do himself justice in the two-mile handicap on Sunday’s card. He’s won well off 65 at Clonmel in May and is now rated 73. We gave him a break after Punchestown because he doesn’t want rock-hard ground. He’s up against Jim Bolger’s rapidly-improving three-year-old Trossachs but Conron has proven stamina and could cause a little surprise.
Saturday card
Fingers crossed for Between Hills who runs in the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh today. She was an €88,000 Orby Sale purchase and duly won first time up at Listowel last month. We only went to Kerry for an ease in the ground and that’s what we’re hoping for again today. Any blacktype would be welcome.
We run Jungle Cove in the opening maiden, a race which I think has thrown up Teofilo, New Approach and Sea The Stars in the past. Maybe there’s another superstar in there, but Jungle Cove is improving and his experience will stand to him.
Every bit of rain that falls will suit Dame Kyteler in the fillies’ handicap (2.50). Her mark of 83 seems fair and the mile will suit her.
Brick By Brick (3.25) has a tough task in the Scurry Handicap, though he is getting stronger and is suited by races where he has a low weight.
We’re hoping that first-time cheekpieces will bring out a bit more improvement in Bellakris (6.20). She has finished second three times and her latest effort was much better.
Goodwood beckons for Leo De Fury
WE may well have a Goodwood runner in Leo De Fury, who won so impressively at Navan last Saturday.
I was delighted with him. He got a bit unbalanced coming down the hill but when he got organised he showed a bit of class. I’m happy to report he has come out of the race well.
He is unbeaten in two starts and it’s time to step him up in grade. I’m keen to keep him to his own age group for the moment and the only suitable race I can see is the Group 3 Gordon Stakes. It’s a gamble but the English middle-distance horses don’t appear to be outstanding this year.
The Gordon Stakes is over a mile and a half, which he should get as he is by Australia and has a relaxed style of running. That race will tell us which way to go with him – he has no other entries at the moment.
As I’d hoped, Punita Arora won the auction maiden at Navan, though it was not without incident. She got knocked sideways coming out of the stalls and I actually thought it was over for her after 50 yards. Shane [Foley] told us afterwards he was fortunate not to come off her.
Calling Time won again for us at Killarney on Tuesday. She won her nursery last year off 52 and this week’s win was off 71, so you can see how much she’s improved. She’s small but she’s all heart and I think there could be more to come.
Nope became our latest winning two-year-old filly at Fairyhouse on Wednesday. She reared up in the stalls but ran dead straight afterwards. She cost 135,000gns in Book 1 and so she earned a £25,000 Book 1 bonus on Wednesday. She’s the second winner for the Alpha Syndicate which we set up last year – there are 18 shareholders in nine yearlings and we have already sold one of them.
Finally, I must congratulate Tom Madden on steering Tauran Shaman to win a maiden at Killarney on Wednesday night. He beat Frankie Dettori in a driving finish and I’m sure he got a great thrill out of it. I told Tom I’d seen a photograph of the closing stages and his riding style looked better than Frankie’s. He was chuffed about that!
I’ve only had Tauran Shaman since May and he has been a bit of a boyo at home. He was going to go either of two ways on the track and thankfully he behaved himself and did the job. Early in the race he was on and off the bridle, looking around, running green. Then he came there, looking as if he would win easily, and he ran around again. There’s more in the locker and hopefully he will go the right way.
Good luck to the Corinthians
I’VE always supported the Corinthian Challenge series and I’m delighted to give Yvonne Connolly the mount on Neverushacon in the first leg of the 2019 series at the Curragh on Sunday. Yvonne show jumped as a teenager but wasn’t on a horse for 25 years before this year. Yvonne has been gaining in confidence all the time she has been with us and she’s been to the Curragh twice already on Neverushacon. Neil Durkan is an owner with us and also takes part. He has been a regular in the yard and, like Yvonne, has been very committed in his preparation. Louise Lynn is another who has been in to ride out for us and I wish them all well.
Watch out for Windracer
Windracer will definitely run at Leopardstown next Thursday night in the Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes.
Everything has gone well with her since her winning debut at the Curragh and she should go well again.
Albigna was another Curragh winner for us on Derby weekend, taking a Group 2 race. She could go for the Group 2 Debutante Stakes on August 23rd but it’s also possible we will go straight for the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend.