3 minute read
Dermot Weld will be looking to repeat his success last year with Homeless Songs as Tahiyra looks set to be sent off odds-on for Sunday's Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh following her titanic tussle with Mawj on the Rowley Mile three weeks ago.
Tahiyra was sent off as the 6/4 favourite for the English equivalent staged at Newmarket but just failed to get the better of Godolphin's Mawj when going down by half a length. With Saeed bin Suroor's filly opting to bypass a trip across the Irish Sea connections of Tahiyra will certainly be hoping she can replicate her half-sister's (Tarnawa) success in this race back on home soil. The daughter of Siyouni, who was oh so impressive in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at two, will once again be partnered by regular rider Chris Hayes.
The Aga Kahn will be doubly represented in Sunday's Classic as Tahiyra's stablemate Tarawa gets her chance following a second-place finish in the Group 3 Cornelscourt Stakes at Leopardstown recently. Billy Lee who was on board that day will retain the ride.
Aidan O'Brien will be looking to extend his winning record in the Irish Classic as he searches for a staggering eleventh success in the race. The Ballydoyle team are set to saddle a three-pronged attack with Meditate, who finished sixth behind Tahiyra at Newmarket three weeks ago, likely to be the pick of Ryan Moore. The supplemented Jackie Oh adds interest on just her third career start while Dower House rounds out the trio.
Fozzy Stack will saddle both Aspen Grove and You Send Me. Mark Enright will partner the former while Colin Keane will be hoping the latter can spring a surprise and hand him with a first 1000 Irish Guineas victory.
Unlike the Colt's equivalent, the UK challenge doesn't appear to be particularly strong with John Quinn's Breege the sole runner making the journey. Stable jockey John Quinn will take the ride on her first start since finishing fifth in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at two.
Jessie Harrington trained Alpha Centauri to Irish Guineas success in 2018 and will be hoping maiden Eternal Silence is worth her place.
Jim Bolger's Comhra rounds out the field of ten under Rory Cleary.
Elsewhere on the card, the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup (2.45), has attracted a cracking field of six.
Luxembourg and Vadeni contested one of the races of the decade when first and third in last season's Irish Champion Stakes and both will look to take a sizeable step forward from their respective reappearance efforts.
Champion Stakes winner Bay Bridge finished one spot ahead of Vadeni when third in the Prix Ganay on his return to action and will look to give Sir Michael Stoute a first success in the race since Notnowcato scored in 2007.
Piz Badile, Trevaunance and Layfayette all have Group level victories on their CV and add further spice to what looks like a mouth-watering clash.
