DAWN OF FLAT SEASON: The Irish Flat season gets underway at 2pm today… and what an act to follow, Dawn Approach won the opener last year!
It’s a new Dawn in Ireland today. At the Curragh a year ago, Dawn Approach won the opening maiden at the start of a career which seems destined for Guineas success at Newmarket.
Gentleman Jim Bolger, for whom superlatives are rare currency, has described Dewhurst winner Dawn Approach as ‘awesome’ and you can get only 3.4 on BETDAQ about Newmarket.
Bolger traditionally starts well at the Curragh today. He’s on the scoresheet eight times in the last decade. But that’s not as well as Tommy Stack, who has had 10 winners on this day in that time.
The score in the opener is Bolger 3, Stack 2, O”Brien 2 since 2003, but Dawn Approach was the only winning favourite in the last eight renewals.
Bolger saddles Saburo who is by Cape Cross, sire of Sea The Stars, and O’Brien’s Stubbs is by Danehill Dancer, daddy of Mastercraftsman and Planteur, who we’ll see next Saturday in the Dubai World Cup. Dermot Weld’s Highland Falcon is full brother to a winner first time out.
It should prove a cracking start to the flat and Saburo is solid in the BETDAQ market in the early exchanges but it’s also interesting to note that the O’Brien ‘second string’ Cougar Mountain is not without support.
It’s hard to look beyond Dermot Weld’s Yellow Rosebud in the first Group race of the season – the Lodge Park Stud EBF Park Express Stakes. She already has winning form at this level and revels in the mud.
It’s hard not to see her starting off this campaign where last season ended – with a Group 3 success. She won well at Tipperary over 7 1/2f and the extra trip should be well within her comfort zone.
If Jim doesnt strike in the opener with Saburo I would be surprised if he leaves empty handed as Alpinist has chances of upsetting the favourite Piet Mondrian in the final race at 5.00.
SHAMROCK’S BETS:
NAP: Yellow Rosebud (3.30 Curragh)
NEXT BEST: Alpinist (5.00 Curragh)
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