Curragh previews: The Phoenix Park racecourse may be dead and buried but the mammoth prize with which it was associated in its declining years, namely the Cartier Million, has been given the kiss of life with a new sponsor and a new home.
The concept had originally been formulated by Jonathan Irwin who was wearing two hats at the time, namely managing the Phoenix Park and also conducting Goffs Bloodstock Sales.
The idea was to promote the principal sale of Irish yearlings that, in the previous decade, had been moved by Goffs from its century-old home at the RDS Ballsbridge to Kill in Co Kildare by offering a £1 million prize, entry to which was restricted to those that had been sold.
At a time when turnover on both sides of the Atlantic had peaked after attaining levels that have yet to be matched, it did offer a welcome boost for vendors.
Likewise Dermot Weld (Rinka Das and The Caretaker) and Tommy Stack (Corwyn Bay) between them ensured that three of the four stagings of the sales associated "Million" stayed at home and Dermot is double handed for today's revival of this sales-connected event that has been brought to fruition by Goffs current chairwoman Eimear Mulhern at the Curragh.
One of these and the stable selected Fly Free belongs to Michael Smurfit and this introduces the other side of this remarkable race day that is serving as a curtain-raiser for the Ryder Cup at the Smurfit run K Club. She won like a very smart filly on her Leopardstown debut but it remains to be seen if she has the match practice necessary to deal with Kevin Prendergast's race-hardened Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Miss Beatrix.
The Shelbourne Hotel have also come on board with the sponsorship of the Fillies Five Hundred which provides half a million for fillies that have ducked out on competing against the colts in the major event.
If Barry Hills had elected to run his Lowther Stakes winner, Silk Blossom, in the "Million" she would have been among the favourites so it is inevitable that she will be a strong order for her chosen target.
Racing apart the day has been built up as a major entertainment carnival with the gates opening at 12pm and a remarkable variety of attractions through the afternoon ranging from the Herbert Lodge Orchestra, the Army Band, Owen Lynch and the Lilywhite Choir, parachutists landing on the Budweiser Green, to historical tableaux by the Crooked House Theatre Company.
Presentations will be made to the greats of flat and jumping and the afternoon closes with a parade of equine National Hunt stars of today and yesterday including Istrabraq and Florida Pearl.
SELECTIONS
CURRAGH: 1.30 Ireland's Call; 2.05 Baggio; 2.40 Silk Blossom (nap); 3.15 Red Bloom; 3.55 Miss Beatrix; 4.35 Noble City; 5.10 Rockazar.
LISTOWEL: 2.25 Unhinged; 3.30 Bartra Rock; 3.35 Breathing Fire; 4.10 Tipperary All Star; 4.45 Boom Economy; 5.20 Peak Of Perfection; 5.50 Hotel Hilamar.
