Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas (Group 1)

BACK where it all started with Classic Park in 1997, Aidan O’Brien notched up an unprecedented ninth victory in this fillies’ classic as Peaceful and Seamie Heffernan enjoyed a victory that was as commanding as it was straightforward.

As a mere Thurles maiden winner, Peaceful didn’t quite boast the sort of credentials that many Ballydoyle luminaries of previous years lined-up with. However, there was no denying that she was a filly of major potential and her position as the mount of Heffernan left no one in any doubt as to her standing as the stable’s number one contender.

Peaceful (3/1) produced the most accomplished and polished of efforts. Heffernan, who was on board O’Brien’s second Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Imagine all the way back in 2001, had a beautiful position in second from early on and thereafter the race was smooth sailing.

Peaceful took over the lead from a weakening Valeria Messalina approaching the last furlong and it was all looking ominous for her 11 rivals at this stage. As a Galileo filly who will surely be at her best over farther, the winner was never likely to relinquish her advantage and her final furlong was a strong one.

She readily brushed aside the effort of stablemate So Wonderful and went to the line strongly to score by two lengths from Fancy Blue who ran a huge race as Donnacha O’Brien’s first classic runner.

So Wonderful took third and Joseph O’Brien’s New York Girl finished just a head back in fourth. The favourite Albigna looked to be in trouble some way out and couldn’t ever land a meaningful blow as she crossed the line in sixth. She was subsequently reported to be uncomfortable on the ground.

Thurles maiden

“Everyone who has anything to do with her at home were delighted with how she was going coming into this race,” said O’Brien.

“I know it was only a Thurles maiden she won last autumn but Donnacha rode her that day and he loved her. She then got beaten in Newmarket but she was only just beaten on heavy ground that she hated and she refused to lie down that day which was a very good sign.

“Seamie was very confident that she would get the trip well and I think she will stay farther, so at this track on that beautiful ground this race was always going to suit her well. The Epsom and Irish Oaks are two possible targets for her.”

O’Brien added: “We felt we had some very nice fillies coming into this season. They are beautiful rangy, scopey and very well-bred Galileo fillies and they just get better and better.”

Fancy Blue posted a fine Oaks trial in second and Donnacha O’Brien has indicated that the Oaks is likely to be next for this filly who has just three runs to her name.

An interesting footnote to this race was that it was enabled Galileo to notch up a record 85 individual Group 1 winners, surpassing the late Danehill, and it came in a race where the sire bagged his first classic win with Nightime back in 2006.