Saturday sees the first propulsion of the year's Classic pinball as four Classic trials are staged across Ireland and France. No doubt the strongest of the quartet is Leopardstown's G3 Ballylinch Stud “Priory Belle” 1000 Guineas Trial S., where Ger Lyons has an enviable duo in Juddmonte's Sacred Bridge (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) and the Against All Odds Partnership's Panama Red (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}). Momentum has been building for some time for the Glenburnie handler and with some high-class prospects for 2022, he could be about to enter new territory with Ireland's undisputed leading rider Colin Keane at his side. There was something special in the way Sacred Bridge took apart The Curragh's G3 Round Tower S. and, while she has yet to tackle this seven-furlong trip, as a full-sister to Viadera (GB) she could improve for it. That Keane is a fully signed-up member of her fan club means he has to hand the ride on Panama Red to Gary Carroll, but there is no guarantee he is on the right one given how the stable's second-string battled to deny her highly-regarded compatriot Limiti di Greccio (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) in the course-and-distance Listed Ingabelle S. on Irish Champions Day.
Dr Zempf Returns at Leopardstown
Lyons has the ace in the pack in the same card's Listed Ballylinch Stud “Red Rocks” 2000 Guineas Trial S., with Peter Brant's G1 Phoenix S. runner-up Dr Zempf (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) making the long-awaited step up from six furlongs which promises to suit his running style. In what could be a big day for Co. Meath, the Summerhill base of Sheila Lavery also puts forward TDN Rising Star New Energy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) in this and he remains an exciting prospect forgiving his flop when eighth behind the re-opposing Glounthaune (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the course-and-distance G3 Killavullan S. in October.
Ballydoyle Brigade Out In Force
As ever, the O'Brien triumvirate are omnipresent across the Foxrock fixture, with patriarch Aidan fielding Guineas and Derby hopefuls aplenty. This is a huge year for Westerberg and the silks are carried by a potential Guineas move-and-shaker in TDN Rising Star Contarelli Chapel (Ire) (Caravaggio) in the 1000 Trial. Not seen since running below-par when fourth in the G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. at Naas in May, the half-sister to Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) retains the x-factor for connections who already have Tenebrism steered towards the May 1 Classic. Ryan Moore has begun his Irish campaign with gusto and after partnering her and Glounthaune will bid to provide O'Brien, Sr. with a dozen winners of the 10-furlong G3 P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax S. on Bluegrass (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
The Brothers O'Brien Hold Strong Hands on Saturday
Joseph's day revolves around Scott Heider's G2 Debutante S. and G3 Silver Flash S. winner and G1 Moyglare Stud S. runner-up Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio), but her three-pound penalty disadvantages her against Sacred Bridge and co. In the Ballysax, where the O'Brien clan are responsible for six of the nine runners, it is Donnacha who may have the edge with Flaxman Stables Ireland's Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}). He has a three-pound swing with Newtown Anner Stud Farm's Duke de Sessa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), having finished a half-length second to that TDN Rising Star in the nine-furlong G3 Eyrefield S. here in October. Duke de Sessa's trainer Dermot Weld saddles another TDN Rising Star on the card in Moyglare's Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), making this a key afternoon for Rosewell House as it is for other major figures such as Jim Bolger and Jessie Harrington who also fire their opening salvos.
Agave Poised to Show True Ability in Penelope
At Saint-Cloud, the 10 1/2-furlong G3 Prix Penelope sees Andre Fabre and Olivier Peslier team up again with the impressive Mar. 10 Listed Prix Rose de Mai scorer Agave (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). While the action at Leopardstown sees a notable rise in the temperature, the spectacle of this seemingly-revived partnership of two of France's most revered figures of the sport cannot be underplayed. Juddmonte's relative of Enable (GB) is as fascinating a 3-year-old filly as there is in France and this Prix de Diane prep will provide further enlightenment as to her ability, with Eric Feurtet's G3 Prix des Reservoirs runner-up Queen Trezy (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) lying in wait. What Fabre and Peslier bring to the Penelope in terms of experience and achievement is in stark contrast to the proverbial blooding of rookie Tim Donworth, who pitches Kirsten Rausing's authoritative Deauville debutante winner Allada (GB) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) into what amounts to a personal baptism of fire.
The Revenant Versus 'Spain' In The Edmond Blanc
Away from the 3-year-olds, there is the not-insignificant matter of the G3 Prix Edmond Blanc with Al Asayl France's The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) out to re-establish his dominion of the country's miling scene. He is met by Yeguada Centurion SL's TDN Rising Star Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), an intriguing contender tackling this trip for the first time having run so well when a close fourth in the G1 Prix de Diane.
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