Awtaad Dominates Irish Guineas
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Galileo Gold couldn’t complete a Guineas double at The Curragh May 21, but the Tattersalls Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) produced a triumph for the recently pensioned sire Cape Cross and a popular local trainer.
Awtaad dashed clear in the stretch for a 2 1/2-length victory over Galileo Gold (Paco Boy), the 5-4 favorite after his convincing win in Newmarket’s QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) April 30.
Awtaad, a homebred for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Shadwell Estate Co., is the first foal of stakes-placed Asheerah (Shamardal), a daughter of listed stakes winner Adaala. His fifth dam is My Charmer, dam of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew.
It was the second win in the race for octogenarian trainer Kevin Prendergast, the first since Northern Treasure in 1976.
He said the colt was “as good as I’ve had.”
“He’s the best I have had for a long time—and there’s been some good ones,” Prendergast said. “He is in the (Investec) Epsom Derby (Eng-I) and he is in the (Dubai Duty Free) Irish Derby (Ire-I), but I’ll talk to the boss and go where I am told.”
Ridden by Chris Hayes, Awtaad covered one mile on yielding turf in 1:45.26.
European champion 2-year-old colt Air Force Blue (War Front ) was down the track, as he had been at Newmarket, finishing seventh in the eight-horse field.