Albert Einstein can belatedly justify hype with Commonwealth Cup success
CLASSY OPERATOR: Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Precise will be out to confirm Curragh form when she clashes with stablemate True Love for a third time this season. Picture: Healy Racing
Fresh from becoming a Royal Ascot centurion, Aidan O’Brien could be set for a fantastic Friday at the Berkshire venue.
The master of Ballydoyle has a host of chances across the card, most notably in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes where stablemates Precise and True Love clash for a third time this season.
The score currently stands at 1-1 between the pair and Ryan Moore will hope it’s a case of third time lucky for him after he opted to ride Precise in the Newmarket 1000 Guineas won by True Love before switching allegiance in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh, a decision that backfired.
Moore switches back to Precise for round three and the Starspangledbanner filly is fancied to get the better of True Love again.
Read More
The Commonwealth Cup, the other Group 1 on the day four card, has a strong favourite in the shape of the Kark Burke-trained Venetian Sun but it might be worth taking a chance on Albert Einstein belatedly living up to his billing.
O’Brien is never afraid to talk up his horses but he’s better qualified than just about anyone on the planet to know what a good one looks like and Albert Einstein is surely better than he has looked in three winless runs this season.
In his defence, every run this season has been a bit better than the previous one and, while another leap forward is needed here, it wouldn’t be the biggest shock ever if he was to at least put it up to the favourite.
Ballydoyle filly Sun Goddess should be hard to beat in the opening race, the Group 3 Albany Stakes.
Greenness cost her a debut victory over five furlongs at Navan but the Sioux Nation filly made no mistake over six furlongs at the Curragh last time out, cruising to a five-length victory. She looks a smart prospect.
O’Brien will also harbour high hopes for Causeway in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes but the Ballydoyle colt may have to settle for minor honours behind Water To Wine.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained Kingman colt looks an exciting prospect and can emerge from his biggest test yet with his unbeaten record intact.
The three handicaps looks savagely competitive but the Gavin Cromwell trained Quiet Mutiny, who got the better of Precise when winning at Fairyhouse on her sole start as a two-year-old, might be able to make her presence felt in the Sandringham Stakes.
2.30 Sun Goddess (NB)
3.05 Albert Einstein
3.40 Opportunity
4.20 Precise
5.00 Quiet Mutiny
5.35 Water To Wine (Nap)
6.10 Westport
2.30 Dark Issue
3.05 Venetian Sun
3.40 Insanity
4.20 True Love
5.00 Glyfada
5.35 Causeway
6.10 Starmade
