THE spring fixtures at Dundalk have attracted some smart performers and there are a few promising sorts on show again tonight in the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race.
Two of the runners in the mile contest, General Macarthur and Mulligatawny, hold Classic entries but it may pay to side with Long Island Sound in the ‘winners of one’ contest.
The regally-bred son of War Front, who is out of a half-sister to superstar mare Zenyatta, wasn’t given any Classic entries by his xonnections but was put into the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot at the entry stage this week.
The Ballydoyle colt was allowed to go off a 100/30 shot on his debut at this course earlier in the month but defied that apparent lack of confidence in the market to record a victory.
He raced a touch greenly when popped the question turning into the straight, but once the penny dropped he quickened impressively inside the final furlong to score in style.
He beat a good yardstick in Zilbiyr then and was more impressive in doing so than Mulligatawny, who had got the better of the same rival when taking his maiden here last month.
Jessica Harrington’s charge, who holds an entry in the Irish Guineas, probably wasn’t doing a whole lot in front then, though, and looks a smart prospect himself.
He’s an obvious danger in this one. The other Ballydoyle runner, General Macarthur, is well entered up with options in the Irish Guineas and Derby and also the Derby at Epsom in June.
He wasn’t overly impressive when taking his maiden here last September but had the classy Blue De Vega back in third.
He’s unexposed but the very fact that Seamie Heffernan rides Long Island Sound would suggest he’s first choice and General Macarthur, ridden by Donnacha O’Brien, may improve for his return to action.
With the heavy ground prevalent in the early part of the season, it’s no surprise that Aidan O’Brien has been sending a few decent sorts to the all-weather to get runs into them.
He should also claim the 10-furlong maiden on the card, where his pair of runners look set to dominate.
The selection is Housesofparliament, who found stablemate Bhutan too strong on his return to action at Leopardstown.
This looks a nice opportunity for him to get his head in front.
It’s another Ballydoyle horse that looks the threat again with Pietro Testa, who was beaten favourite when third at Gowran on his comeback, the obvious danger.
There is sure to be plenty of interest in Split The Atom at €20,000 in the claimer and he looks the clear pick at the weights in the six-furlong contest.
Diamond Fields looks on a nice mark for her handicap debut in the opening five-furlong contest, while the in-form Tribal Path will make a bold bid for his hat-trick in the concluding seven-furlong handicap.
