Harrington Juveniles Firing On All Cylinders

Jessica Harrington and her team continue to be a force among the upper echelons of the Irish training ranks and judging by some of the juvenile talent that Commonstown Stables has unleashed so far this season, Harrington looks poised to be strongly represented in some of the major 2-year-old races later in the season. The TDN's Daithí Harvey got the low down from Harrington on plans for some of the high profile members of the squad.

TDN: You had an amazing time last summer with the Niarchos family's homebred Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). It looks like you have unearthed a potential replacement through the same owner's Albigna (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). You must be thrilled with what she has done in her two outings so far?

JH: She has been brilliant-but not good for my health in the Airlie Stud S. when it took her so long to kick into top gear! It will be almost impossible to follow in the footsteps of Alpha Centauri but she is a lovely laid back filly and gives the impression that she will continue to improve with time. The Niarchos family deserve great credit for nurturing so many great families through their breeding operation and its brilliant to have such a nice filly for them.

TDN: She has shown great determination as well as ability and she looks like she will appreciate an extra furlong. Will it be the Moyglare next for her?

JH: What impressed me most in the Curragh was her ability to get her head in front even though she looks like she will really relish a step up. She wont run over six furlongs again and we will gradually step her up in trip as we go. She looks like she will stay well and has that class that allowed her to win over six so all options are open.

TDN: Even though Albigna won a Group 2 there was just as much to like about the debut maiden success of Windracer (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}). Her win must have given you confidence that she can also take a high rank in stakes company?

JH: We seem to have a nice bunch of 2-year-old fillies this year. Windracer pleased us throughout the spring and the way she broke from the outside stall and beat Aidan's filly [Love {Ire}] in the Curragh, both pulling a long way clear of the third suggests they are both nice fillies. I think the time was slightly quicker than the colts maiden so it looked a very smart debut from her. Like Albigna, she is very relaxed at home and only goes through the motions until you ask her to do more but I would hope she will be well capable of a step up into stakes company.

TDN: If she progresses as you hope, could Windracer also target the Moyglare and would you have any issues with them taking each other on?

JH: It's a long way away and so much can happen in the meantime. We will see how they progress through the summer and it would be a great problem to have if they both end up having the Moyglare as an option when we get to September.

TDN: Windracer was also a first winner in Ireland for Stonestreet Stables LLC. How did the association with Barbara Banke come about?

JH: My son in law, Richie Galway and Ben McElroy are great pals and when Ben was over at the Goffs Orby sale last year, he bought Windracer. Barbara took a chance on having a filly with us and thankfully its worked out well so far. We are delighted to have the colours in the yard and hope we can continue to be lucky for them.

TDN: Physically Windracer looks an impressive individual, with plenty of size and scope You must be excited about how she might progress as a 3-year-old?

JH: I really am excited by her – as I said earlier, she is a big scopey filly and is very straightforward. She has a fantastic temperament and nothing stresses her. All our racing in Ireland is so competitive so every step up is a big step on the ladder but I would be hopeful that we have some fillies that will progress to stakes company and Windracer is definitely one we have high hopes for.

TDN: Windracer is not the only impressive 2-year-old winner you have had this season for a US-based owner. You have also unleashed both Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Invincible Diva (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) for Jon Kelly. What are the plans for these pair of winners?

JH: Both run in Tipperary on Thursday. Again, they have been really good so far. Cayenne Pepper was impressive in Leopardstown and usually when one of mine wins first time out, it suggests that they are above average. Invincible Diva is a pocket rocket and loves fast ground – she is very genuine and we will hope to get some black type for her pedigree. Again, its fantastic to have some nice horses for Jon and Sarah Kelly who have supported us so well in the last couple of years. *Cayenne Pepper maintained her unbeaten record when winning at Tipperary on Thursday evening.

TDN: Have you been actively trying to recruit overseas owners in recent seasons or have you found increased international success has just started to attract more high profile owners from around the world?

JH: Flat racing is a global sport and we are keen to have as many owners from all over the world involved with us. We have actively tried to improve our communication with owners to involve them as much as possible no matter where they are in the world. We regularly send work videos and updates to owners so we hope they feel fully informed and have recently partnered with a new and exciting service called Racing Manager that we feel will further enhance and improve our communication with owners. We have also actively promoted syndication with the introduction of the Alpha Racing Syndicate this year. That group of 18 people have 8 horses running for them through the summer [originally 9 but Liar Liar (Ire) (Dream Ahead) was sold after his first run] and the interaction with the number of horses seems to be a nice formula that people enjoy.

TDN: Ha'penny Bridge (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) got the It's All About The Girls syndicate back in the winners' enclosure recently and looks another shrewd yearling purchase by Patrick Cooper.

JH: Patrick has done a fantastic job for the girls and after last years exploits we were worried we had used up all our luck. Ha'penny Bridge was very good in Limerick and we will step her up in grade through the summer and see how she progresses. She is a nice filly, as is Ya Ya Baby (Ire) (Hallowed Crown {Aus}) who had a nice first run in the Curragh last weekend and we have another filly for the girls called Mutiny (Ire) (Sepoy {Aus}) that is a little off a run but is progressing nicely. Again, it's a brilliant initiative managed by Legs Lawlor and the girls are having a ball along the way.

TDN: You took a number of your 2-year-olds to a barrier trial at Naas recently, including Windracer who won her heat. What are your thoughts on this initiative and would you like to see more of them?

JH: I thought the trials in Naas were excellent and were really well organized by all involved. The experience undoubtedly benefits horses before they have a run and it was really beneficial to get experience on grass when the ground was just perfect good flat ground. From the draw she had in the Curragh, I am not sure Windracer would have been able to win without that learning day in Naas so it has really worked out well for us.

TDN: Finally, could you give TDN readers an unraced 2-year-old to keep an eye for in the coming weeks?

JH: We have some nice horses still to run and our colts just seem to be coming to themselves. I like a colt called Ocean Monarch (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) owned by the Alpha Racing Syndicate. He is a little while off a run but goes nicely at home.