By Tom Frary
In the space of less than an hour on Sunday, it was Too Darn Hot's world and we were all just living in it.
Following the example of stablemate Darnation (Ire), who had dominated the G2 German 1000 Guineas at Dusseldorf minutes earlier to showcase the merits of Darley's second-crop sire, Clipper Logistics' Fallen Angel (GB) also put her G1 1000 Guineas flop firmly behind her to earn top trumps with a clear-cut success in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas at The Curragh. Only eighth at Newmarket, the Karl Burke-trained daughter of Agnes Stewart (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) who had won the G1 Moyglare Stud S. here at two was ideally placed in a prominent position by Danny Tudhope with the pace modest.
Taking control passing two out, the 11-4 favourite bounded clear for a 2 3/4-length success from A Lilac Rolla (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}), with Ballydoyle's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac Opera Singer (Justify) two lengths further behind as a respectable third on her belated return.
“I was confident we would see a different filly from Newmarket,” Tudhope said. “I was pleased when the rain came, to be fair. She just keeps galloping and stays very, very well. She is very versatile ground-wise and takes everything that comes in her stride.”
Burke added, “She showed last year that she's top-class. Obviously we were disappointed with the Guineas, but I find it hard with three-year-olds-you just don't know where you are with them. We sent her down to Newmarket fit and she didn't blow that much afterwards. The ground maybe was a bit quick on the undulations, but that's looking for excuses–we were beaten fair and square on the day. I knew coming out of the Guineas coming into this race that mentally she was in the right place. She just sparked up, especially in the last week or 10 days, and physically she looked fantastic.”
Fallen Angel, who also captured the G3 Sweet Solera S. at two, is not necessarily G1 Coronation S.-bound, with Chantilly a viable option. “We've got the option of the French Oaks as well [as the Coronation] and as you can see she stays very well. We'll enjoy today and worry about that later.”
Aidan O'Brien was happy with Opera Singer. “I was delighted with her, I couldn't believe she ran so well. She was never away, only in full work less than a month. It was an incredible run really. I was very nervous running her, hoping that she wouldn't get too tired, but she has run some race. We were hoping to run with a view to coming back for the Coronation Stakes so that's where she'll go now, but there could be massive improvement in her.”
Fallen Angel returns to winning ways in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas with Danny Tudhope onboard!
A superb run for one of @karl_burke's most promising stable superstars! 👏 pic.twitter.com/B5teLEKtC7
— The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) May 26, 2024
Pedigree Notes
Fallen Angel is currently the last known foal out of the aforementioned G2 May Hill S. winner and G1 Fillies' Mile runner-up Agnes Stewart, whose previous best was the G3 Stanerra S. runner-up Divine Jewel (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Agnes Stewart is a half to the Listed River Eden Fillies' S. winner Sorrel (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), who was also placed in the GIII La Prevoyante S. and GIII Orchid S., while this is also the family of the G1 National S. hero and G1 Irish Derby runner-up Definite Article (GB) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) and the G2 Dante S. scorer Salford Express (Ire) (Be My Guest).
Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
TATTERSALLS IRISH 1000 GUINEAS-G1, €500,000, Curragh, 5-26, 3yo, 8fT, 1:40.84, gd/yl.
1–FALLEN ANGEL (GB), 128, f, 3, by Too Darn Hot (GB)
1st Dam: Agnes Stewart (Ire) (GSW & G1SP-Eng, GSP-Ire, $176,586), by Lawman (Fr)
2nd Dam: Anice Stellato (Ire), by Dalakhani (Ire)
3rd Dam: Summer Spice (Ire), by Key Of Luck
O-Clipper; B-Branton Court Stud LLP (GB); T-Karl Burke; J-Daniel Tudhope. €290,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 6-4-1-0, $628,306. *1/2 to Divine Jewel (GB) (Frankel {GB}), MSP-Eng & SP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–A Lilac Rolla (Ire), 128, f, 3, Harry Angel (Ire)–Mejala (Ire), by Red Ransom. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€40,000 Ylg '22 TATIRY). O-Mutual Admiration Society Partnership; B-John Cullinan (IRE); T-Paddy Twomey. €100,000.
3–Opera Singer, 128, f, 3, Justify–Liscanna (Ire), by Sadler's Wells. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Westerberg; B-Mrs E Stockwell (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. €50,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, 2, NO. Odds: 2.75, 12.00, 3.50.
Also Ran: Buttons (Ire), Purple Lily (Ire), Azada (Ire), Queen Of Thunder (Ire), Skellet (Ire), Vespertilio (Fr), Finsceal Luas (Ire), Everlasting (Ire), Alpheratz (Ire), Pearls And Rubies. Scratched: Bluedrum (Ire).
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