DAVID WACHMAN’S rapid rise to the top of the training ranks in Ireland can be confirmed with a first Classic victory if Again comes out on top in tomorrow’s Boylesports Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh.
Denied a run in the English Guineas due to very fast conditions, Again faces ground at the other end of the scale now but she looks to have an ideal blend of class and grit to cope.
If last year’s Moyglare winner does wind up beating her 15 opponents, it will be another major landmark in Wachman’s spectacularly successful career to date.
The 38-year-old Co Tipperary-based trainer already has four other top-flight victories in the bag alongside Again’s Moyglare – Damson (2004 Phoenix Stakes), Luas Line (2005 Garden City Handicap) and Bushranger (2008 Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes) – but a Classic would be another significant boost.
That Moyglare victory proved Again’s ability to act on soft ground conditions at the highest level and reports from Wachman’s yard about her recently have been positive.
As well as the likely favourite, Wachman also saddles three others with the Park Stakes winner Chintz possibly the best of the others.
Jim Bolger’s Cuis Ghaire brings Classic form from Newmarket having finished runner-up to Ghanaati but all the evidence of her juvenile career suggests she will be seriously inconvenienced by the going.
The Newmarket third, Super Sleuth, is a supplementary entry but would also relish a better surface.
One filly that could thrive in the conditions on the day is Luminous Eyes who sluiced up in a Roscommon maiden on heavy last year and who will be ridden by Mick Kinane.
It will be like old times for the legendary rider tomorrow as he also teams up with his old boss Dermot Weld in the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup for the ride on Famous Name.
Pat Smullen’s commitments to Moyglare Stud mean he is on Casual Conquest while last season’s triple Group One winner Lush Lashes makes her first start of the campaign.
The filly would undoubtedly prefer better going and it looks like Casual Conquest could be the one to cope best with the conditions.
Alaivan thrived on the soft ground at Gowran to beat Fergus McIver and similar conditions can again prove the key to the Oxx-trained gelding in the Gallinule Stakes.
