Richard Hannon may be nearing his retirement, but the insatiable appetite of
the veteran trainer has never been more in evidence than in recent years, and he
brings one of his best two-year-olds to The Curragh Sunday in Toormore to
contest the Group 1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes.
Having beaten the impressive subsequent winner and highly-regarded Ertijaal
on debut over six furlongs at Leicester May 28, the bay gave Saturday’s
Champagne Stakes winner Outstrip a headstart and a beating in the Vintage Stakes
at Goodwood July 31.
“We walked off the stand after Toormore won the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood
declaring one more race and that’s it for the season, and we think this is the
right route to take,” Hannon said. “Obviously, no Group 1 is a gimme, but
Toormore, who has had a break since Goodwood, gave Hughesie a good enough feel
on Wednesday morning to convince us that Ireland is the right place to go. The
timing is right and, while we respect the opposition, there is nothing in there
to make us think we cannot win.
“He has improved physically since Goodwood and that race also sharpened him
up mentally, so we are looking forward to the step up from Group 2 company.”
For all of Toormore’s potential, Sudirman holds the aces on form, having
annexed the Railway Stakes and Phoenix Stakes at this track. Trainer David
Wachman has been waiting to step him up to this trip and told PA Sport, “He’s in
good form and we always thought seven furlongs would be more his thing than six.
I don’t know much about Richard Hannon’s horse, so we’ll just have to see what
happens on the day. We’re happy with our horse and I think the trip will suit
him well.”
Aidan O’Brien has won this eight times with some of his best, and it is
notable that of his trio, which features the Anglesey Stakes winner and Gimcrack
Stakes runner-up Wilshire Boulevard, his son Joseph has opted to ride Giovanni
Boldini (War Front). The beau ideal was only seen for the first time a week ago,
and was notably green when winning a conditions race over seven furlongs on
Dundalk’s Polytrack, so his inclusion in this line-up speaks volumes for the
regard in which he is held.
With Galileo Rock running at Doncaster Saturday, the Group 1 Irish St Leger
has no three-year-olds in the lineup for once, and it will be left to the older
brigade to duke it out for the spoils at The Curragh.
Very little separates the majority of the field, with Ahzeemah adding some
intrigue from Britain having won the Lonsdale Cup at York August 23. Unexposed
over this extended trip, the four-year-old had previously finished runner-up to
last year’s Irish Leger third Brown Panther in the Goodwood Cup, and his task
has been made easier with the late withdrawal of that opponent.
“I was very pleased with Ahzeemah’s win at York, and he is in good form at
the moment,” trainer Saeed bin Suroor commented. “He’s a very tough horse who
always tries his hardest. A mile and six furlongs will suit him, and he heads to
Ireland with a good chance.”
Last year’s winner Royal Diamond looked to have met his match this summer
when comprehensively beaten by Ernest Hemingway in both the Curragh Cup and
Ballyroan Stakes, but took advantage of that rival’s flop when gaining a timely
revenge in the Irish St Leger Trial last month.
Trainer and rider Johnny Murtagh, who has been in a rich vein of form in the
saddle in 2013, has opted to come back here rather than have a tilt at next
month’s Caulfield Cup, and said, “He’s in good form and came out of the last
race very well. He won it last year on good to yielding and I don’t think it’s
going to be soft. It’s a much tougher race than last year and there are better
horses in it, but I’m probably more happy with this lad this year.
“We got together and decided we’d give him another shot at the Irish St
Leger. To do it two years in a row would be great. It was a big decision and I
hope we’ve made the right one now. If all goes well, he’ll be going to
Melbourne. He’s got two weeks of quarantine before he leaves and two weeks
quarantine out there and then nine days before the race.”
Also in the mix is 2011 Irish Leger third Red Cadeaux, who warmed up for this
with a fine second in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes over an extended 13 furlongs at
Newbury August 17, and the unexposed filly Pale Mimosa. Dermot Weld has adopted
the patient approach with her over the summer, and his wait for anything other
than fast ground could pay off as she comes into this fresh having not raced
since winning on her seasonal bow in the Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown June
7.
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