Wonder can go one better
The daughter of Kingmambo has three parts of a length to find with the winner of the English equivalent at Epsom, Dancing Rain, but has to be fancied to reverse the placings.
It is universally accepted that Johnny Murtagh rode his rivals to sleep on Dancing Rain that day. He was allowed his own way in front, to dictate a leisurely pace and the tactics worked like a dream.
When Dancing Rain kicked hard early in the straight her rivals were caught flatfooted and, though Wonder Of Wonders was going on stoutly near the end, she was always fighting a losing battle.
It is interesting to note that the contest was run in a time 4.55 seconds slower than it took St Nicholas Abbey to cover the extended 12 furlongs earlier in the afternoon, in the Coronation Cup, and the form appears entirely unreliable.
Wonder Of Wonders is a thorough stayer, as she showed previously when scoring at Chester and, with O’Brien also running Amazing Beauty and Gemstone this, will surely be a real test of stamina.
Blue Bunting, brilliant winner of the English 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, was fourth at Epsom and seemed totally unsuited by the track. She could well do a lot better now.
Laughing Lashes, who ran on strongly when third to Misty For Me and Together in the Irish 1000 Guineas, is another worthy of plenty of respect.
The Group 3 Jebel Ali Stables And Racecourse Anglesey Stakes can also go to O’Brien with After.
A major disappointment at Tipperary, when bowling along near the front, she was a different proposition at the Curragh last time, being produced late by Ryan Moore to defeat stable companion, the promising newcomer, Taigan.
At headquarters this afternoon the once-raced Redoutable is the nap choice in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden.
The daughter of Invincible Spirit made her debut over seven furlongs on this track three weeks ago, finishing three lengths runner-up behind the smart Princess Sinead.
She travelled really well through the race, so dropping down a furlong in trip isn’t a concern and has been handed the best draw to boot.
Tommy Stack’s progressive Fountain Of Honour gets the vote in the Tommy Carmody Lifetime Achievement In Racing Race Day Maiden.
She ran far too freely first time up at Cork, but then settled a lot better when a length and a half second of 19 to Terminal Velocity at the Curragh last month.
At Tipperary tomorrow top-class two-mile chaser Captain Cee Bee, with Tony McCoy in the plate, has the best of the weights in the Grade 3 Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle and is fancied to deliver.
