Stars Aligning for Irish Guineas Festival
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A number of high-class runners are aimed for races during the Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival May 23-24 at the Curragh, including QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) winner Gleneagles.
The Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) anchors Saturday's card, which includes the Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes (Ire-II) for older sprinters. Sunday's card is highlighted by the Tattersalls Irish One Thousand (Ire-I), Tattersalls Gold Cup (Ire-I), and Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes (Ire-III).
Gleneagles, who won the English Guineas by 2 1/4 lengths May 2, is aiming to become the fourth horse this century to complete the English and Irish Two Thousand Guineas double. The Ballydoyle-trained colt is one of 16 on the list of entries for the opening classic of the Irish season.
"Gleneagles has been in good form since Newmarket and we are looking forward to running on Saturday at the Curragh," trainer Aidan O'Brien said. "We will decide a little later in the week what else we will run in the Two Thousand Guineas."
Great Britain's champion trainer Richard Hannon plans on running Ivawood, who was third behind Gleneagles at Newmarket, and possibly stable companion Lexington Times, while Roger Varian's Dewhurst Stakes (Eng-I) winner Belardo is another intriguing runner ahead of Thursday's declaration stage.
Trainer Ger Lyons has penciled in Cappella Sansevero, Convergence, and Endless Drama as remaining possible for the race.
Trainer Eddie Lynam's multiple group I-winning sprinter Sole Power may well be the headliner in the Greenlands Stakes, for which Tom Hogan's globetrotting stable star Gordon Lord Byron and Dermot Weld's 2014 Jersey Stakes (Eng-III) winner Mustajeeb remain eligible.
On Sunday O'Brien looks to have a strong contingent for the Irish One Thousand Guineas with French group I winner Found spearheading his challenge alongside Kissed By Angels, Outstanding, Qualify, and Wedding Vow. Also among the 21 possible runners at the May 19 forfeit stage was Jim Bolger's recent impressive Naas winner Pleascach.
Devonshire was the only supplemented entry as trainer Willie McCreery added the Godolphin-owned filly to filly classic at a cost of €30,000, while trainer Mick Halford is hoping for a big run from last season's Debutante Stakes (Ire-II) winner Raydara.
"The plan was to go to Newmarket for the One Thousand Guineas but she just wasn't sparking at the time and we said we would just wait for this weekend," Halford said. "She has been to the racecourse for a gallop and I'm happy with her.
"She is a clear-winded filly and an easy filly to get right, and her form from the Debutante Stakes looks rock solid and was well-advertised in the English Guineas, so you'd be hopeful she could run a nice race but a classic is a classic."
Curragh-based trainer Michael O'Callaghan will be looking for the biggest win of his fledging career when he sends Military Angel out in Sunday's feature while Mick Channon's Malabar, who was fourth in the English One Thousand Guineas is among a strong British challenge.
The Gold Cup also takes place on Sunday and could prove to be one of the races of the season as the Dermot Weld pair of Fascinating Rock and Free Eagle remain among the 10 entries in the race alongside last season's Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-I) winner The Grey Gatsby and previous winner of the race Al Kazeem for Roger Charlton.
Epsom Derby (Eng-I) prospect Giovanni Canaletto looks set for the Gallinule Stakes.