An Irish Sort Of Weekend (Early Decs Trackers And Previews)

All eyes will be on the first flat meeting of the season at Doncaster on Saturday but for me looking at the early decs in Ireland over the weekend I know where I would rather be. The first race at Curragh has a few potentially nice horses who could have decent careers ahead of them, I do say could because to be honest a big price tag or nice pedigree means nothing if a horse has a few issues. 

Curragh 13.25

All eyes will be on Kingman filly Finsceal Go Deo here for the trainer who took this race last year Jim Bolger. At this early stage Jim has three here but the nicely bred filly will start her career into the unknown. A 500,000 euro purchase she certainly should have some ability but as I said it's not a given even with a hefty price tag. Dam Finsceal Beo started her career over six furlongs and made a winning debut for Jim Bolger way back in 2006. Finsceal won the English and Irish 1000 guineas in an impressive career. The pick of her offspring was the Aidan O'Brien trained Ol' Man River who won his first two races both at one mile. The pedigree suggests further so I'm interested to see if she has a bit of speed about her. Interesting that Bolger had a couple in this race last year and the l second string won at 16s, he also runs 9000 euro purchase Machnamh in the same ownership and colours of last year's winner. Last of Bolgers trio is National Question, also owned by Mrs Bolger who is a half-brother to Loch Garman, a nice type who needed further. Amo Racing are certainly splashing the cash and in the early decs they run two here, first is New Bay colt Forceful Speed a 260,000 gns purchase and next is Crispy Cat whose price tag certainly rose from a 7500 gns foal to a £105,000 yearling. 

First season sire Sioux Nation is represented by Jessica Harrington's runner Ocean Quest. Last but not least I will mention is the Ger Lyons trained Acclamation colt Midnight Toker who does bring a nice pedigree to the table here. Dam Big Boned was average to say the least for Ed Dunlop. It does make me think about pedigrees to be honest but Big Boned offspring include K Club trained by Richard Hannon who won on debut over five furlongs. Had a couple of wins on soft ground. Next is Back To Brussels who also won on debut over five furlongs on yielding. 

Conclusion: Too many unknown with debutantes and it's something I'm trying to stay clear of now as I'm trying to be sensible and more strict on my betting. If I had to bet it would be on Midnight Toker if I could get an each way price that is. 

I do have a few of my unraced 3yos to follow running over the weekend so a quick mention, as I write this it's only early decs so could well disappear. 

Curragh 14.31 

Aidan O'Brien filly Galleria Borghese is one of my unraced fillies to follow who could make her debut here. Dam On Ice was unraced so not much to go on, second dam Beltisaal produced a few nice types that Aidan trained including Kingsbarns. Another one of my 3yos to follow is the Aidan O'Brien trained Tuesday who is entered here and at 17.00 at Naas on Sunday. The Galileo filly is certainly tipped up by a few shrewd judges after an eye-catching performance at Curragh last June,comes from an excellent family including Minding, Empress Josephine and Kissed By Angels. 

Curragh 15.06 

The second division sees another few of my unraced 3yos to follow Ivy League make her debut. I could be like a deflated balloon after this weekend if these disappoint but to be fair I think it will be more a case of taking a watching brief here. Malex was formally trained by Ralph Beckett and moved stables for owners Amo Racing. Dam Trois Lunes won a Group 3 for trainer Francois Rohaut. Pesso and Wexford Native another couple of trackers worth watching on debut. 

Sunday Naas 17.00 

Tuesday, as I said, has an early entry here. Perotan could make her debut for Aidan O'Brien. The Churchill filly who comes from a nice family. A half-sister to Matterhorn who was a class act for Mark Johnston. Looking forward to the debut of Perotan. 

Thanks for reading.

Unraced Three-year-olds To Follow 2022 (Part 2)

1: SAMUEL PEPYS is by Galileo and out of Tiggy Wiggy, trained by Aidan O’Brien. I always remember dam Tiggy Wiggy as being an absolute speed machine who made all and just bombed out the stalls, add Galileo to the mix and we could have a nice type here. Samuel Pepys is a full-brother to a couple of nice O’Brien horses, Southern Cape and Year Of The Tiger. 

2: KING OF TIME is by Kingman and out of Lombatina, trained by Charlie Appleby. The boys in blue could have a nice one here. Dam Lombatina only raced twice, winning first time out. Her offspring include Agrotera for Ed Walker who ran to a decent level winning a Listed race back in 2019, hopefully this Kingman colt can put in a few decent performances this season. 

3: PEROTAN is by Churchill and out of Tanaghum, trained by Aidan O’Brien. Dam Tanaghum has been busy over the years and produced a few nice types, trained by John Dunlop Tanaghum ran to a decent level herself winning a Listed race. One offspring to note is Matterhorn who was a class horse for Mark Johnston. Perotan could be a name to look out for. 

4: DAIQUIRI DREAM is by Dubawi and out of Cocktail Queen, trained by Ralph Beckett and owned by familiar owner Mr J. C. Smith. Dam Cocktail Queen was a decent type back in her day for David Elsworth and produced a nice type trained now by William Haggas called Tom Collins who has performed with credit. Ralph gave Daiquiri a decent entry last season so lets hope he was right. 

5: GALLERIA BORGHESE is by Caravaggio and out of On Ice, trained by Aidan O’Brien. Not much information here but well-thought of by Aidan so that will do for me. 

6: GRACELAND'S GIRL is by Iffraaj and out of Stella Point, trained by Tim Easterby and owned by The Wolf Pack 2 and Partner. Long shot this one. A full-sister to Storting who is a decent sort for Mick Channon. 

7: INSTRUMENTAL is by No Nay Never and out of Strut, trained by Aidan O’Brien and owned by Derrick Smith. I have a few Irish 3yos in the list so I will just throw them in. Dam Strut was a nice type for Roger Charlton and he certainly loves this dam, training four of her offspring including Mince who was a class act back in her day. Plenty of speed in Instrumentals pedigree and another to look out for this season. 

8: IVY LEAGUE is by Galileo and out of Timbuktu, another trained by the all conquering Aidan O’Brien. Dam Timbuktu was average to say the least but has produced one nice offspring named Ontario who came third in a Listed race last year, disappointed after that so will be wary with this Galileo colt. 

9: ZERO CARBON is by Acclamation and out of Clotilde, trained by Richard Hughes. Another one that you may not find in other 3yos to follow this season but it's nice to be different. It took a while for dam Clotilde to come into her own but had a decent season as a 4yo winning a few races over a mile. I will be keeping that in mind when this bay colt makes his debut. 

10: PEARL BORDER is by Ribchester and out of Firth Of Lorne, trained by Charlie Appleby. Pearl Border comes from a class family being a half-sister to Master Of The Seas and Latharnach both trained by Charlie. Another exciting Godolphin 3yo to look out for. 

Times getting on I will note below a few more I will be keeping an eye out for. 

11: CHERUB trained by Aidan O’Brien. 

12: COMET LINE trained by Joseph O’Brien. 

13: COMPERE trained by Dermot Weld. 

14: ELMAFTUN trained by Kevin Prendergast. 

15. SONG OF WAR trained by Aidan O’Brien 

Thanks for reading and look out for my 3yos to follow coming soon.

Read Part 1 Here