THE BALLYDOYLE DOZEN: Shamrock runs the ruler over Aidan O’Brien’s 12-strong entry in the final two-year-old ‘Classic’, the Racing Post Trophy on Saturday week. There is no racing in Ireland today but his English tips with an Irish connection appear at the foot of the column.
So which one would you make favourite? As I told you yesterday, Ballydoyle has no fewer than 12 protagonists for the Racing Post Trophy, the last big two-year-old ‘Classic’ of the season on Saturday week.
Which is best of the 12, which one might be favourite on the day, and which is destined to make inroads into the Guineas and Derby betting for 2012?
I’ve put them in the order of where I think they would be in the market, if all 12 ran. Somewhere among these horses are half a dozen Group winners, I’ll be bound.
Daddy Long Legs: Royal Lodge winner who, on a line through Rockinante, comes out well in front of Astrology (see below) at this stage, and in that Ascot race beat a dual Aidan O’Brien August winner, Wrote.
Related to winners only up top 1m 2f, and entered only in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and Irish Derby, not at Newmarket and Epsom.
Apollo: By the magic Galileo with dam related to a Nassau winner, so I thought we were probably talking Guineas here, but also entered in the Epsom and Curragh Derbys.
And, in fact, Ballydoyle trusted his stamina from the word ‘go’; he’d obviously grown that way. So it was that he opened his CV at The Curragh over 7f in July, winning so easily – three lengths and 10, though in a small field – that Raceform was inclined to suggest that 33-1 for Epsom was ‘generous.’
Astrology: Another Galileo, with his dam a Saint-Alary (Group 1) winner. Only third foal, so we don’t know much. What we do know is he’s entered up in Guineas and Derbys.
Looked a bit exposed after defeats in Group-2 and Group-3 races but they now look more like Group 1, since they include his being threeparts of a length behind Parish Hall, the subsequent Dewhurst winner.
David Livingston: Along with Astrology and Tenth Star, this is one who has done plenty already, fourth in the Futurity and third in the National Stakes.
Son of Galileo out of an Indian Ridge mare who was half-sister to High Chaparral. Entered only in the Irish 2,000 but in both Epsom and Curragh Derbys.
Tenth Star: Two lengths behind Parish Hall at Leopardstown after winning the Golden Fleece there and beaten just over three by Daddy Long Legs in the Royal Lodge. In the Irish Guineas and both Derbys.
Camelot: Second foal, so we don’t know much about this cross, and the stallion, Montjeu – sire of Hurricane Run, Authorized, Motivator and many more – has not yet been put to a daughter of Kingmambo, as far as I can tell.
The Guineas and Derby entry was a Ballydoyle talking horse before his debut at Leopardstown when he put a small field to the sword.
Furner’s Green: Fourth in the National Stakes behind Power and fifth to David Livingston in the Beresford. Has Derby entries but Curragh Guineas entry catches the eye for this son of a dam closely related to Sonic Lady and other smart milers.
Learn: A Galileo out of a Spinning World mare (first foal), related to family of In The Wings and Virginia Waters. In the Irish Guineas and both Derbys.
Only third to David Livingston but that was a good run on the debut. And, before winning his maiden, was runner-up to a colt who had finished third to Power, a benchmark for the two-year-old season.
Tibet: A Dansili colt whose dam is related to Hawk Wing. Another who was asked to work hard on the debut, beating a big field, if only narrowly. Irish Guineas and both Derbys.
Hail: By Galileo, the dam won up to 1m 3f, so entered in the two Derbys but not in the Guineas.
Third in a big field at Navan, failing to quicken on the soft, but – like Apollo, Tibet and Camelot – there’s plenty left untapped for the future.
I Have A Dream: Yet another Galileo, his dam won up to a mile, but his sole Classic entry next year is for the Epsom Derby.
Minimise Risk: Yes, he’s a Galileo, with his mother’s family related to Darshaan. Not seen yet but entered in Irish Guineas and both Derbys.
SHAMROCK’S BETS
NAP: Dramatic Duke (4.50 Huntingdon)
EACH-WAY: Zulu Principle (3.40 Leicester) and Andrea Bellevica (5.10 Leicester)
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