By Tom Frary
A day after Ballydoyle had demonstrated the power of their 2-year-old reserves at Newmarket, Espionage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) became the stable's 11th TDN Rising Star juvenile of 2022 in The Curragh's opening maiden on Sunday. Unlucky on debut when runner-up to stablemate and fellow TDN Rising Star Alexandroupolis (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) over an extended mile at Galway Sept. 6, the son of the G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Even Song (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) was sent forward by Ryan Moore dropping back to seven for this Williamhill.ie Irish EBF Maiden. Clear from two out on the far side, the 9-4 favourite had 1 3/4 lengths to spare over stablemate Sierra Blanca (Ire) (No Nay Never), a son of Alexandrova (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), at the line with another half a length back to the well-regarded Michael O'Callaghan trainee Djockovic (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in third.
“He ran well the last day, when the other horse got up the rail and he had to come around,” Aidan O'Brien said of the imperious sire's 41st TDN Rising Star. “Ryan said he's babyish and when he got to the start he was a little bit anxious. He might go for something like the [G3] Killavullan or the [G3] Eyrefield at Leopardstown. We won't force him. He looks a middle-distance horse for next year and usually when you get a Galileo that wins over seven it bodes well.”
Even Song, who is a half-sister to the G1 St Leger and G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares heroine Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) and to the G2 Superlative S.-placed Maxentius (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), also has a yearling full-sister to the winner and a filly foal by Wootton Bassett (GB) to come.
1st-Curragh, €16,500, Mdn, 9-25, 2yo, 7fT, 1:26.79, y/s.
ESPIONAGE (IRE), c, 2, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Even Song (Ire) (GSW-Eng, $181,130), by Mastercraftsman (Ire)
2nd Dam: Guantanamera (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Bluffing (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $12,613. O-Westerberg,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,D Smith; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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