16
TALKING TWO-YEAR-OLDS
RACING AHEADISSUE 178Ian Heitmansaw plenty of future superstars at
The Curragh and Newmarket this month
Small crowd
but big
talents
T
he Irish Derby meeting at the
Curragh at the end of June
saw relatively modest atten-
dances for such a major
meeting and a surprise
winner of the Derby, Sovereign leading
all the way under a very positive ride
from Padraig Beggy winning unchal-
lenged from the Epsom Derby winner
Anthony Van Dyck.
There were no shock results in either
of the two Group races for two-year-
olds at the meeting. ALBIGNA
maintained her unbeaten record in the
Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes over 6f, get-
ting up close to the finish to deny
PRECIOUS MOMENTS, who ran well
only seven days after running fifth at
Royal Ascot, PEACE CHARTER fin-
ished third having had every chance.
TANGO was a bit of a disappointment,
backed in from 6/1 to 4/1, she never
managed to challenge finishing sixth.
There was some promise from another
of the Aidan O’Brien runners, BLISS-
FUL who was having her second start,
she was still very green but made up
ground late on to be seventh. She has
an excellent pedigree and will do
better when stepped up to 7f or a mile.
Albigna continued the excellent start
Jessica Harrington has made with her
juveniles in 2019, currently operating at
a strike rate of 27%, only Aidan O’Brien
has sent out more two-year-old win-
ners in Ireland this year. Albigna will be
aimed at the Group 1 Moyglare Stud
Stakes back at the Curragh on Septem-
ber 15.
The Group 2 Railway Stakes, also
over 6f, was a good quality race
despite attracting only five runners.
SISKIN was a strong favourite to make
it three wins from three starts having
bypassed Royal Ascot in favour of run-
ning in this race. MONARCH OF EGYPT
had also missed Royal Ascot and was
making his first start for 11 weeks, one
of two runners for Aidan O’Brien,
FORT MYERS turning out quickly
having finished fourth in the Coventry
11 days earlier. Keven Ryan sent
ROMERO from his Yorkshire base, but
he was outclassed, having pace but
fading out of contention with two fur-
longs to go.
Siskin travelled strongly throughout
the race racing close to the pace and
taking the lead with a furlong and a
half to go, only having to be pushed
out by Colin Keane to win by two and a
half lengths from Monarch Of Egypt
who wasn’t given a hard time by Ryan
Moore inside the last furlong. Siskin will
bid for a Group 1 success in the
Phoenix Stakes on August 9th next
according to his trainer Ger Lyons and
will no doubt be hard to beat but
Monarch Of Egypt should give him
more of a race than he did in the Rail-
way Stakes.
Wesley Ward had a poor Royal Ascotcompared to the success he has
enjoyed in previous years but he regis-
tered his first winner in Europe in 2019
when MAVEN, who missed Royal Ascot
due to soft ground, led all the way in
the Group 3 Prix du Bois at Chantilly on
June 29, just holding on by a head from
fast finishing JOLIE. Maven was the
first Group winner for his sire, US Triple
Crown winner American Pharoah, who
has only had a handful of runners so
far. Maven will be a much better horse
on quicker ground than the good to
soft he encountered at Chantilly and if
he does remain in Europe, the Prix
Robert Papin at Deauville could be the
ideal race for him.NEWMARKET JULY FESTIVAL
Newmarket’s July Meeting on July 10-
12 staged three Group races, one on
each day. The Group 2 July Stakes over
6f was on the first day. VISINARI, who
had recorded a very fast time over
course and distance in June, was the
well supported 4/6 favourite in a field
of seven, four of whom had raced at
Royal Ascot on their previous starts,
Coventry Stakes third and seventh,
GUILDSMAN and ROYAL LYTHAM,
Windsor Castle second PLATINUM
STAR and Norfolk sixth KING NEP-
TUNE. Carlisle debut winner, CLASSY
MOON and dual winner HURSTWOOD
completed the line-up.
King Neptune set a decent pace in