Hurricane blows away Gallinule rivals
IN his brief career to date he had answered every question asked of him and the still unbeaten Crossfirehurricane signalled that he could now be ready for the big time after making it four from four in the Group 3 Coolmore Ten Sovereigns Gallinule Stakes.
Over three months after landing the Patton Stakes at Dundalk, this son of Kitten’s Joy was tackling ten furlongs for the first time but this new trip was no problem for him. Shane Crosse rode a cool race on Joseph O’Brien’s charge and had still to get animated entering the last couple of furlongs as the pace setting Toronto began to fold. As was the case on his first three starts Crossfirehurricane (7/1) was not found wanting when it mattered and he stamped his authority in the race inside the distance to score by a length and a quarter from Gold Maze.
“His inexperience and the trip were a worry today but he showed there he got the trip well and he got a lovely ride from Shane,” commented O’Brien whose charge is owned by his American-based breeder Scott Heider. “The Tattersalls Gold Cup could be a race to consider for him but I’d say he could run again before then.”
Earlier Joseph O’Brien unleashed a nice middle distance type in Galileo Chrome who progressed from a pleasing debut at Leopardstown last October to pounce late in the 10 furlongs Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden.
The 92-rated King Of The Throne turned in a fine effort from the front but as the line loomed he succumbed to the steady and unrelenting effort of the Crosse-ridden Galileo Chrome (4/1) who looks sure to progress for the experience and a longer trip.
“He had been working well and was showing that he was a nice maiden,” reported O’Brien whose charge is owned by his breeder Mohammed Ali Meddeb. “It would be a big ask to run him in the Irish Derby and maybe we will look for something else but we will give it consideration.”
The wellbeing of Aidan O’Brien’s two-year-olds has been a feature of the first week back racing and there was yet further evidence of the strength of the Ballydoyle juvenile team as Admiral Nelson (5/1) led home a one-two for the yard in the Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden.
The runner-up Merchant’s Quay went off the 11/10 favourite but he could not contain the son of Kingman who travelled supremely well for Wayne Lordan throughout this five furlongs affair before finishing off strongly to prevail by a length.
“They are two very nice colts and we thought they could be Coventry Stakes (which takes place next Saturday) types,” remarked O’Brien.
“It’s not ideal that Ascot comes up so quick but we’ll just see how they come out of this and it’s just great to have racing back.”
After a couple of near misses earlier in the week Johnny Murtagh got off the mark courtesy of the Birdcatcher runner-up Champers Elysees in the seven furlongs Anglesey Lodge Hospital Handicap. The Danny Sheehy-ridden daughter of Elzaam, who was scoring off a rating of 86, took charge of a competitive looking affair nearing the last furlong. Bright Idea pushed her all the way to the line but the Fitzwilliam Racing-owned 14/1 shot held on by half a length.
“She’s a nice filly with a great turn of foot and so I was hoping she’d progress on quicker ground. I think she could make up into a stakes filly,” declared Murtagh.
The in foal Maid Of Spirit (25/1) will have just a brief stint with Ken Condon but she couldn’t have made a better start to life in Ireland as she claimed a narrow success over the former Group 2 winner Ardhoomey in the Equine Medirecord Handicap.
Previously a dual winner for Clive Cox ,the Con Harrington-owned and bred five-year-old travelled conspicuously well for Chris Hayes and she fought on willingly over the last furlong to get home by a neck.
“She’s in foal to Footstepsinthesand and has until August. She’s a speedy filly who they always thought a bit of in the UK” reflected Ken Condon.
“Obviously it would be great to get some blacktype with her but she’s in the Rockingham Handicap on Derby weekend and maybe she will go there first.”