Moore chasing big Curragh prize

Trainer Stan Moore is hoping bargain buy Southandwest can prove successful in the €147,000 Tattersalls Ireland Sale Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.

Bought for just over 5,000 guineas as a yearling last autumn, Southandwest has proved a model of consistency for his trainer on his four starts to date, winning two races and finishing a three-length fifth to Bahama Mama in the Listed Dragon Stakes at Sandown in July.

Moore, who has secured the services of Kieren Fallon for the Titus Livius gelding, is hopeful of a good run.

“It’s great to have Kieren on board,” he said. “The horse is in great form, although he’s drawn 24 of 24 and will have to come up the far rail which could be a disadvantage – we’ll have to see.

“I think he’s a very good horse. He’s never really run a bad race and the six furlongs won’t be a problem to him – he was a good second over that trip on his debut.”

Southandwest’s latest success was in a five-furlong novice event at Bath on firm ground but the easier conditions at the Curragh are unlikely to inconvenience him.

“I think he’s one of those horses who will go on any ground,” the trainer added. “He’s worked well on soft ground so I doubt any rain would be a problem.

“I’d be surprised if Southandwest wasn’t there at the death.”

Moore also runs Montalembert in the valuable two-year-old contest but believes the Kalinisi colt will be seen to better effect over further.

“He ran in the Chesham Stakes at Ascot over seven furlongs and needs that trip really,” concluded Moore.

There is a strong British raiding party for the race with nine other runners from this side of the water set to take their chance.

Among those are Debbie Evans’ Invincible Force, David Nicholls’s Northern Fling and Ralph Beckett’s Simba Sun – all successful on their latest starts.

The other British challengers are Bazroy, Don’t Panic, Fadeyev, Smokey Oakey, Alecia and Goodbye Cash, while the pick of the home team could be Kevin Prendergast’s Fabrigas, who finished sixth behind Holy Roman Emperor in the Railway Stakes last time out.