Leopardstown’s Group 3 Tyros Stakes has served as a stepping stone for the
likes of Teofilo, New Approach, Rip Van Winkle and Cape Blanco in recent times.
While he is unfortunately gelded and therefore unable to feature in next year’s
classics, there is much to like about the way Exogenesis has gone through his
brief career so far and he occupies pole position in Thursday’s renewal.
Beating a smart collection of rivals, including the subsequent Anglesey
Stakes third Mansion House in a hot conditions race over the course July 4, he
is held in the highest regard by Ger Lyons.
“It’s a huge step up in class from a winners’ race to a Group 3, especially
as we are bypassing listed level, but he’s a course-and-distance winner and he’s
a nice horse,” Lyons told PA Sport. “Whether he’s up to this remains to be seen,
as it all depends on what Ballydoyle throw at you. Aidan’s horses improve hugely
from one race to the next and he sets the standard over here. I’ve been second
to him before, I’ll be second to him again, and there’s no disgrace in that.”
O’Brien’s duo are Sir John Hawkins, who steps up from six furlongs and sports
blinkers for the first time after finishing third in the Coventry Stakes at
Royal Ascot June 18 and Newmarket’s July Stakes a fortnight ago, and the May 5
Limerick maiden winner Expedition.
Having competed in four of the toughest Group 1 races on the calendar, Mars
takes a step back Thursday to bid to register a first win on grass and first
black-type success in the Group 3 Meld Stakes.
Sixth in the Two Thousand Guineas and Epsom Derby, the Ballydoyle trainee was
third in Royal Ascot’s St James’s Palace Stakes and ran with credit when fourth
in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown July 6. Wearing the hood that he sported for
the first time in that 10-furlong contest, he should be able to add to his sole
win on Dundalk’s Polytrack last July.
Scintillula was only beaten a length in last Saturday’s Irish Oaks at The
Curragh, but Coolcullen representatives are often able to back up smart
performances and she may rate the greatest threat.
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