No reason to oppose Australia in Champion Stakes
Basically, he has done just about everything asked of him thus far by the Ballydoyle maestro and was especially impressive on his latest appearance when landing the Juddmonte International at York last month.
The son of Galileo, who wasn’t overly convincing in winning the Irish Derby at the Curragh previously, revealed his true colours on this occasion.
He travelled like a dream and picked up in style to beat The Grey Gatsby by two lengths, with Mukhadaram further behind in fourth.
That was over Australia’s best trip, ten furlongs, and the most likely outcome now is that he will swamp the opposition in the closing stages.
The other Group 1 on the card is the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes and the best form here is surely held by another O’Brien inmate, Tapestry, who shocked the superb Taghrooda in the 12 furlongs Yorkshire Oaks at York last time.
But she now drops down four furlongs in trip, that’s a big ask, and preference is for Clive Brittain’s Rizeena, who is very much a one-mile specialist.
Dermot Weld’s Mustajeeb, given a decent break since winning the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, gets the nap in the Group 2 Clipper Boomerang Mile.
At the Curragh tomorrow, Leading Light is the nap choice in an excellent renewal of the Palmerstown House Estate Irish St Leger.
He is a stayer with speed and class and that is the ideal mix.
Winner of last year’s English Leger and the Ascot Gold Cup in June, he warmed up for this test when giving Royal Diamond 5lbs and a length and a quarter beating at the Curragh 20 days ago.
Roger Varian’s Cursory Glance is the one to beat in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes. She ran a cracker when runner-up behind Tiggy Wiggy in the Lowther Stakes at York last time and that was a smart effort.
The third Group 1 can fall to Aidan O’Brien’s Gleneagles, who is on a four-timer and gives the impression the best is yet to come!
The Listowel festival makes a low-key start tomorrow, overshadowed somewhat by Champions’ Weekend, but winner-finding may well prove a lot easier in Kerry.
Willie Mullins’ Bosman Rule, disappointingly beaten into second by the modest Point Of Rescue at Bellewstown on his first start over hurdles, is fancied to go one better in the Charleville Cheese Maiden Hurdle.
Mullins’ Verawal, who made a fine start over jumps when scoring by 12 lengths at Down Royal last month, has to get the nod in the Kerry Group three-year-old Hurdle.
