JUVENILES take centre stage at Leopardstown with two Group Three races this evening, the Jockey Club Of Turkey Silver Flash Stakes and the Japanese Racing Association Tyros Stakes.
Some promising fillies line up in the Silver Flash, with the Aidan O’Brien-trained Alice Springs heading a field of nine having justified strong market support to make a winning start at the Curragh last month.
She is joined by fellow debut scorers Tanaza and Turret Rocks, who come into this on the back of impressive displays here and at Gowran Park respectively.
Darren Bunyan is excited to see what Madame Thunder can do when she steps up in class for this €60,000 seven-furlong race. The daughter of Zebedee created a big impression when making a successful start to her career at Naas in late April and the trainer feels his filly will appreciate the sounder surface and longer trip she faces at Leopardstown.
However, he warns she is likely to improve for her first run in almost three months. Bunyan said: “She was going to go to Ascot but she started to develop a lot around that time, so we decided to back off her and give her a chance.
“I’m lucky the owners have let me take our time with her. It can’t always happen today and because I’ve been allowed to wait with her, I think the owners have a seriously smart filly on their hands. She isn’t fully wound-up and she will improve for the race, both fitness-wise and for the experience, but at the same time she’s a filly with a lot of class and she should still run a blinder. The better ground will be a help to her and I think she will appreciate stepping up to seven furlongs.”
Aidan O’Brien (pictured) has saddled four of the last six winners and is this year represented by Alice Springs, a ready winner on her debut at the Curragh.
Jessica Harrington claimed last year’s renewal with Jack Naylor and bids for back-to-back victories with last week’s Leopardstown scorer Miss Gossip, who was previously third behind Alice Springs.
The Andrew Slattery-trained Planchart is one with plenty of scope and although still a maiden after three starts could still outrun her odds.
Alice Springs looks the one they all have to beat.
O’Brien steps Deauville up in class for the Tyros Stakes but he certainly showed no stamina limitations when making the perfect start to his career at Listowel, while the other Ballydoyle runner, the maiden Lieutenant General, isn’t to be discounted following two outings so far. Beaten at 1/3 on the second star he has a bit to prove here.
They will both have their work cut out taking on Sanus Per Aquam, who impressed greatly when scoring at the Curragh before easing to victory over this course and distance and looks a high-class colt in the making for Jim Bolger.
Racing gets under way at with an eight runner two-year-old maiden and O’Brien holds live claims again as he takes the wraps off a couple of beautifully-bred Derby entrants General Macarthur and Unicorn.
But these Ballydoyle juveniles have yet to make a serious impact this season, They’ve had 11 individual winners of 12 races on home tracks i.e only one has won two races. And as yet nothing has really excited with a performance that outshines hype.
Interestingly this evening Seamus Hefferan rides as back-up to Joseph in all the two-year-old races.
Ceol Na Nog might be an interesting one for Bolger here, never afraid to run fillies in these colt dominated maidens.
Benkei is back in action in the Korean Racing Authority Handicap having last been seen getting his head in front at Navan in May, but he will need to be at the top of his game as he takes on the in-form Hurricane Sky and recent Dundalk maiden winner Hobart. The latter was given a 16lb rise for his easy success.
Has to concede 6lb here to the Ulster Derby winner Botany Bay, one of Charles O’Brien’s two runners in this €16k contest. That might be beyond him.
