Churchill in Charge at the Curragh Cont
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SUNDAY, 28 MAY, 2017 SITTING CHILLY CHURCHILL IN CHARGE Few will be envisaging a turn-up in Sunday=s G1 Tattersalls Irish AT THE CURRAGH 1000 Guineas at The Curragh with Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith=s Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) fully entitled to short-price favouritism on her showing in the Newmarket Classic three weeks earlier. Having dominated a strong renewal of the 1000 Guineas which included her G1 Fillies= Mile-winning stablemate Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G3 Nell Gwyn S. scorer Daban (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), this task will be viewed by many as straightforward. However, history shows that surprisingly only two have completed the Newmarket-Curragh Guineas double with Attraction (GB) (Efisio {GB}) being the first to do so in 2004, with a filly of the calibre of Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) also getting beaten 12 months ago. Aidan O=Brien saddles four including the Fillies= Mile runner-up Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who beat Winter by a head when the ground was on the soft side in the Apr. 8 G3 Ballylinch Stud 1000 Guineas Trial over seven furlongs at Leopardstown. Cont. p8 Churchill strides clear in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas to give Aidan O=Brien his 70th European Classic success | Racingfotos.com IN TDN AMERICA TODAY CUPID ARROWS TO GOLD CUP VICTORY Cupid (Tapit) earned his first victory at the highest level for The iconic figurehead after who Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is Coolmore in the GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita S. Saturday. Click or titled once spoke of making a point using a pile driver again and tap here to go straight to TDN America. again and the Ballydoyle namesake delivered his own Atremendous whack@ in Saturday=s G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas. With The Curragh hit by a deluge of rain, there was reason to doubt whether Michael Tabor=s powerhouse would go through the ground with his usual zest and although it made his task more laboured, there was still a degree of comfort in his completion of the Guineas double. Held up in fourth initially, Ryan Moore had to stir the 4-9 favourite a long way from home, but he was able to subdue Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) from 1 1/2 panels out and assert for a 2 1/2-length verdict over the Godolphin raider. AHe relaxed so well I had to pick him up, but within two to three strides he was there and in front a lot sooner than I expected,@ his rider said. AHe=s such a good mover, so he wasn=t really enjoying that ground, but he never misses a beat--he=s so strong underneath you. He does everything you want as a jockey and he ticks all the boxes. I think he=s a very special horse.@ Cont. p2 TDN EUROPE/INTERNATIONAL • PAGE 2 OF 22 • THETDN.COM SUNDAY • 28 MAY, 2017 Churchill In Charge at The Curragh Cont. from p1 It is 20 years since Aidan O=Brien celebrated the first of his 70 European Classics in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas here and it could be that Churchill sits near the top of those who have delivered that impressive tally including Rock of Gibraltar (Ire). One of three from the stable to bring up the same Newmarket-Curragh Guineas double, he was similarly imperturbable in his pursuit of superiority among his division and all the while was able to keep something back. That has also been the case with the latest Ballydoyle miler supreme, whose only defeat came on his debut in the six-furlong maiden on this weekend and whose undemonstrative way of racing means that he is always open to challenge. As the undisputed champion of his age group after ticking off the G3 Tyros S. at Leopardstown in July, G2 Futurity S. and G1 Goffs Vincent O=Brien National S. here in August and September and G1 Dewhurst S. at Newmarket in October, he had to prove that he was still top dog against some stern opposition when he returned to the latter venue on the first Saturday in May. Unlike some former juvenile leaders, the one thing Churchill has is substantial scope and his advanced physique will always put his rivals on the back foot. Especially when the ground is on the quick side, as it was when he disposed of the best opposition he has faced so far in the Guineas, that muscle power is decisive but there was a chance that he would lose his advantage when the driving rain came on the morning of this contest. By the time Aidan O=Brien is under no illusion as to the merit of the Lancaster Bomber (War Front) took them to halfway, Ryan winner, who will eventually move up in trip after avoiding the Moore was giving out minor signals to disturb the odds-on rapid jump to a mile and a half that tackling the Derby would backers and when his stablemate Spirit of Valor (War Front) have represented. started to come back on to him there was a concern that AHe=s a great horse. Obviously, we=re delighted with him as the Churchill was in trouble. Instead, he arrived wide with a flourish ground was a concern. Donnacha [O=Brien] rides him in all his to overhaul the smooth-travelling Thunder Snow and Christophe work and he said it=d be no problem, so that gave us the Soumillon approaching the final furlong and was sent clear in confidence to keep going. He also said he had come on a good the run to the line for Group 1 number four and an 11th renewal bit from Newmarket, so Ryan was confident before the race. He for his trainer. says he=s asleep in his races and the next thing he=s there and ground and trip all come alike to him. Coming here, we were thinking we=d go from here to [Royal] Ascot for the [June 20] G1 St James=s Palace S. He=ll probably stay a mile and a quarter later in the year and you=d love to think of the [G1] Irish Champion [S. at Leopardstown Sept. 9].@ Thunder Snow was putting his inexplicable antics at Churchill Downs firmly behind him with this thoroughly genuine effort and trainer Saeed bin Suroor was thinking about a rematch with the winner again. AThunder Snow ran very well,@ said bin Suroor. AHe did everything right during the race and was beaten by a better horse on the day. We will keep the options open for him, including the St James=s Palace S. at Royal Ascot.@ Cont. p3 Ryan Moore w/Churchill, Aidan O=Brien and Paul Smith | Racing Post TDN EUROPE/INTERNATIONAL • PAGE 3 OF 22 • THETDN.COM SUNDAY • 28 MAY, 2017 VICE PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS Gary King Twitter: @garykingTDN [email protected] + 1.732.320.0975 International Editor Kelsey Riley Twitter: @kelseynrileyTDN [email protected] European Editor Emma Berry Twitter: @collingsberry [email protected] Associate International Editor Heather Anderson Twitter: @HLAndersonTDN Contributing Editor Alan Carasso Newmarket Bureau, Cafe Racing Sean Cronin Tom Frary [email protected] Irish Correspondent Daithi Harvey Churchill in action | Bronwen Healy Regular Columnists Bill Oppenheim Andrew Caulfield John Berry Kevin Blake Pedigree Notes... Tom Peacock On the same card, Churchill=s full-sister Clemmie (Ire) put up a Send Press Releases to: highly encouraging performance when third in the opening [email protected] maiden, while Airwave=s Auckland (Ire), also by Galileo, won a day earlier at Leopardstown. There is still no proof that this is a pedigree for a mile and a half, but given that Airwave eventually won the G2 Ridgewood Pearl S. over a mile at this meeting there is a strong chance that Churchill will prove equally as effective at that trip. The debut of Meow=s yearling full-brother, will be keenly anticipated and it could come at the 2018 Irish Guineas fixture if this pattern is anything to go by. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. TDN EUROPE/INTERNATIONAL • PAGE 4 OF 22 • THETDN.COM SUNDAY • 28 MAY, 2017 Saturday, Curragh, Ireland TATTERSALLS IRISH 2000 GUINEAS-G1, i300,000, CUR, 5-27, 3yo, 8fT, 1:40.46, yl. 1--CHURCHILL (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire) 1st Dam: Meow (Ire) (SW-Ire & GSP-Eng), by Storm Cat 2nd Dam: Airwave (GB), by Air Express (Ire) 3rd Dam: Kangra Valley (GB), by Indian Ridge (Ire) O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Liberty Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O=Brien; J-Ryan Moore. i171,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 2yo Colt-Eur & G1SW-Eng, 8-7-0-1, $1,328,779. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: B+. 2--Thunder Snow (Ire), 126, c, 3, Helmet (Aus)--Eastern Joy (GB), by Dubai Destination. O-Godolphin; B-Darley (IRE); T-Saeed bin Gordon Lord Byron powers to his 16th win | Racing Post Suroor. i60,000. 3--Irishcorrespondent (Ire), 126, c, 3, Teofilo (Ire)--Contrary After the rain came the withdrawal of Acapulco (Scat Daddy), (Ire), by Mark of Esteem (Ire). O/B-Ballygallon Stud Ltd (IRE); which granted a less-troubled passage back to the big time for T-Michael Halford. i30,000. Gordon Lord Byron after a lean spell following his latest win in Margins: 2HF, 4HF, 4. Odds: 0.40, 5.00, 7.00. the seven-furlong G2 Minstrel S. here in July. By now, the Also Ran: Glastonbury Song (Ire), Lancaster Bomber, Spirit of veteran=s winning exploits in the 2012 G1 Prix de la Foret, 2013 Valor.