Curragh in spotlight, as Secret bids for Temple repeat
With runners in Ireland's first two Classics of the season, and Pearl Secret bidding for back-to-back wins in the Gr.2 Temple Stakes it is a busy weekend for Qatar Racing.
The Classic contenders are Blue De Vega in today's Gr.1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas (17.40) and Now Or Never in tomorrow's Gr.1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas (13.55) the pair are trained by Michael O'Callaghan, and are live contenders despite the presence of the winners of the Gr.1 QIPCO Guineas races at Newmarket earlier this month.
In the colts' Classic the worthy favourite is Galileo Gold following his QIPCO 2000 Guineas win, but if Air Force Blue rediscovered his brilliant juvenile form he would take some beating, while Awtaad has looked ready for this step up in grade with two wins this season. He beat Blue De Vega last time, but O'Callaghan's colt was making his season's debut, and could well turn the tables over today's furlong-longer trip.
Now Or Never faces a very stiff task in trying to lower the colours of Air Force Blue's stable companion Minding, who won the Gr.1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas in easy style. Minding's other victories include last season's Gr.1 Moyglare Stud Stakes in which Now Or Never finished last, but that was too bad to be true.
A recent win in the Gr.3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown showed Now Or Never has trained on, and she was subsequently purchased privately to carry Qatar Racing colours.
O'Callaghan is happy with the ground for both his runners, and he says of Blue De Vega: ‚"He has come on from his prep run and I hope he runs a huge race.‚"
Ger Lyons has several runners for the team today, including the fillies Ainippe and Queen Catrine who line up in the Gr.2 Lanwades Stud Stakes (18.15). Ainippe has the better recent form of the pair she is trying a mile again after finishing third over the trip in last season's Gr.1 Matron Stakes.
Lyons also saddles Velveteen who shaped nicely when making her racing debut recently in a fillies' maiden (15.20), while Ready to Roc, who won at Dundalk on his debut last month, runs for Johnny Murtagh's stable in the Listed Marble Hill Stakes (16.30).
The pick of British racing today centres on Haydock's Gr.2 Temple Stakes (16.10), which has been won for the past two years by a horse carrying Qatar Racing silks. Pearl Secret (pictured below) won last year, following up Hot Streak's success in 2014 (when Pearl Secret was second), and he should go close again today.
Trainer David Barron is confident he has the seven-year-old fit and firing for his first run of the season, although the presence of Group One winners such as Goldream, Mecca's Angel and Sole Power, not to mention other progressive sprinters, makes it a very open contest, and an absorbing one to watch.
Photo of Pearl Secret: Laurence Squire