Gleneagles Shows Heart in Irish Guineas Win
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Pocketed on the rail with a quarter mile to run, QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas winner Gleneagles gamely charged through a gap in the final sixteenth at the Curragh to capture the Tattersalls Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) May 23.
The son of Galileo was ridden by Ryan Moore through a tricky opening, between pacesetter Ivawood and runner-up Endless Drama, and outbattled those two to get the lead in last 100 yards. He went on for three-quarter-length triumph to complete the English/Irish Guineas double as the 2-5 favorite.
After racing in mid-division early in the 11-horse field, the colt provided trainer Aidan O'Brien a 10th victory in the Irish classic as he completed one mile in 1:39.30 on good turf.
"The ground blunted his pace a little bit," Moore told Racing Post. "He didn't have a lot of room, but he put his head down and fought well at the end."
Endless Drama edged past Ivawood to take second, a half length back. Belardo, Tombelaine, Mohaayed, Convergence, Smuggler's Cove, Lexington Times, The Warrior, and Carbon Dating completed the order of finish
Gleneagles is one of 16 horses remaining eligible for the Investec Epsom Derby (Eng-I) June 6.
"(Coolmore and partners Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith) wanted him left in the Derby," O'Brien said. "... We will make up our mind in the next week or so. He works like a miler, but he showed something today he has never shown before and he had to fight for three furlongs. The ground was a bit slower than suited him, but Ryan gave him a great ride."
Gleneagles has six wins and a third from eight career starts, including his 2 1/4-length success in the English Guineas May 2 at Newmarket. He capped his juvenile campaign by finishing first in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Fr-I) last October at Longchamp, but he was disqualified to third for interference. Prior to that, he won the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (Ire-I) and the Galileo E.B.F. Futurity (Ire-II) at the Curragh, and the Japan Racing Association Tyros (Ire-III) at Leopardstown.
Gleneagles joins seven other horse to complete the English/Irish Guineas double: Right Tack (1969), Don't Forget Me (1987), Tirol (1990), Rodrigo De Triano (1992), Rock of Gibraltar (2002), Cockney Rebel (2007), and Henrythenavigator (2008). O'Brien trained Rock of Gibraltar and Henrythenavigator.
You'resothrilling, a multiple group-winning daughter of Storm Cat, is the dam of Irish-bred Gleneagles, a full brother to 2014 Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) winner Marvellous. You'resothrilling is a full sister multiple group I winner and Central Kentucky sire Giant's Causeway .