IRISH PREVIEW:THE LAST multi-million euro gasp of racing's Celtic Tiger era can provide home trainers with an afternoon to remember at the Curragh tomorrow, where Dermot Weld will have eyes only for his big-race hope Stunning View.
The colt takes part in the Goffs Million Mile, one of the two Goffs Million races worth €1.6 million each, which are restricted to yearlings bought at last year’s Goffs Select Sale.
This is the fourth and last year of these hugely lucrative prizes, as the global recession has forced the sales company to scrap an idea conceived at the height of the boom.
There is one last jackpot available, however, and along with the Group Two Beresford Stakes, and Group Three CL Weld Park Stakes, the Curragh gets to stage the most valuable day’s racing run in Ireland this year with a prizefund of over €3.5 million.
The history of these races in the last three years has seen five contests, with Irish trainers Jim Bolger (Lush Lashes in 2007) and Kevin Prendergast (Miss Beatrix in 2006) losing out numerically to cross-sea rivals. Richard Hannon, in particular, enjoyed a Curragh benefit, landing both Million races in 2008.
Not surprisingly, Hannon is back in strength with Cadley Road, Private Story and Nurture representing him in the Mile and Lucky General and Full Mandate flying the flag in the six-furlong sprint.
Along with Mark Johnston’s Solario-winner Shakespearean and John Gosden’s unbeaten Azmeel, the Hannon trio in the Mile are part of a strong visiting team. But the home team could still hold an edge.
Aidan O’Brien also runs three, with Lord High Admiral an intriguing contender and Famous representing Group One form from the Moyglare Stud Stakes.
Weld, however, has been targeted this pot since Stunning View broke his maiden at the Galway festival, avoiding high-class engagements like the National Stakes along the way. The forecast good ground will be unusual for the Curragh in 2009 but can help Stunning View, maybe even enough to overcome a draw in stall one.
“The ground looks like being on the fast side of good, and on that going I don’t think the draw will be that much of an issue,” Weld says. “We had a little hold-up with him but I’m satisfied with him now.”
Weld is represented by the Marju newcomer Bethrah in the Sprint, a race that, on figures, looks to rest between the Ballydoyle number one Beethoven and Tommy Stack’s Walk On Bye, both of which have been placed at Group One level.
Most of their form, though, has been on soft ground, and this faster surface can turn things round. The change in going can be a major help to Joanna Morgan’s Moran Gra, who ran fourth in June’s Coventry Stakes.
A poor start ruined his chance at Goodwood, and he was unsuited by the heavy ground in the Futurity. The Moran runner looks to be an each-way option.
In terms of classic betting, the Beresford Stakes could be a more influential contest with the highly-touted Ballydoyle colt St Nicholas Abbey, already prominent in betting for next year’s Derby.
Sea The Stars won the Beresford last year and St Nicholas Abbey can be the latest addition to the Group Two’s roll-of-honour.
Dazzling Day should relish better ground in the Park Stakes, while Clopf should sharpen up for a recent run at headquarters to make his presence felt in the Hacketts Irish Cesarewitch.
EMPRESS CAN REIGH AT GOWRAN
ON A busy weekend in Ireland, this afternoon’s feature at Gowran Park is the Group Three Cordell Lanwades Stud Stakes for fillies, and Aidan O’Brien’s progressive Roman Empress should revel in the unusually decent ground.
An apparently ambitious attempt at the Yorkshire Oaks saw Roman Empress finish a close third, and she ran into Chinese White on soft ground on her last start. She’s Our Mark will again be a danger as will the 113-rated Beach Bunny..
The ground can also be crucial to Kalacan in the nine-furlong handicap. Ger Lyons’ horse broke his maiden on firm last year and showed well at the Curragh on his previous start.
