By Brian Sheerin
Irish Derby weekend kicks off at the Curragh on Friday and there are no shortage of potential talking points. From highly-regarded juveniles, intriguingly-bred newcomers, stars of the future and potential banana skins, all of the ingredients are there to make the action on the track absorbing and informative. Here are some things to keep an eye out for.
Twomey Tipped To Begin Derby Weekend With A Bang
The opening two-year-old maiden on Friday has the potential to be a cracker and the Paddy Twomey-trained Admiral Churchill (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) is rumoured to be smart.
It's well-documented at this stage that Twomey is a trainer who takes pride in his stats. If a horse isn't capable of winning or showing up well, he doesn't run them, which is backed up by a 31 per cent strike-rate this season.
The word on the street is that Admiral Churchill is expected to become winner number 12 for the handler this season when he lines out in that 6f contest.
A son of Kodiac, Admiral Churchill was snapped up by bloodstock agent Jason Kelly on behalf of Bond Thoroughbreds for €200,000 at the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale from Tally-Ho Stud. He doesn't have any fancy entries at this juncture but that could be about to change.
There are a couple of interesting colts in opposition, not least David Marnane's East Hampton (GB) (Cracksman {GB}), who overcame an interrupted passage to catch the eye when flying home for fourth in a C&D maiden last month.
Add that to the fact that Railway Stakes winner Beckford (GB) will be represented by his first runner in Ireland through the Ger Lyons-trained Beckman (Ire), who is the choice of stable jockey Colin Keane, there is no shortage of potential talking points right from the outset on Derby weekend at the Curragh.
Big-Name Ballydoyle-Trained Runners To Keep An Eye On
Who could forget Lady Eli (Divine Park)? Winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf 10 years ago now, she has already produced a winner for the Coolmore partners.
Her latest progeny, a Galileo (Ire) colt by the name of Hampshire (Ire), is likely to be a warm order when he makes his debut for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore in the 1m2f maiden on Friday.
Hampshire is not the only Ballydoyle-trained newcomer worth keeping a close eye on this weekend. Bernard Shaw (Into Mischief), who regular TDN readers will already be familiar with, given he played a star role at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale last year, makes his eagerly-anticipated debut for the stable on Saturday.
Having been bought as a foal for $550,000 by an ownership group that featured Archie and Michelle St George, along with pinhooking partners Tony and Roger O'Callaghan of Tally-Ho Stud, the colt was knocked down to MV Magnier for $1.8m last year.
Fittingly, the American-bred will be partnered by Hall Of Fame jockey John Velazquez, which would suggest that Moore's mount Rock Of Cashel (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is the better-fancied of the pair in the opening 7f maiden on Saturday.
Keithen Kennedy A Name To Note In The Apprentice Derby
The Apprentice Derby might not be jam-packed with quality runners but it remains an integral part of the weekend and provides some potential stars of the saddle with an opportunity to shine at a big meeting.
Keithen Kennedy is shaping up to be one such star. After banging in a number of winners on the all-weather over the winter, Kennedy has maintained his form on the grass and has partnered a whopping five winners from 18 rides in the past fortnight alone.
He is one of the most in-demand young riders and the fact that Sheila Lavery has secured his services for Lady Chista (Ire) (Gustav Klimt {GB}) in the concluding race on Friday speaks volumes for that filly's chance of victory.
Of course, Kennedy and Lavery have struck up a good partnership together [two wins from six rides] and the young pilot was aboard Lady Christa when she won last time at Fairyhouse. He's definitely a name to keep on side.
Laroche Buys Into Cromwell's Fiery Lucy
Gavin Cromwell is the latest Irish trainer who, having started off with a predominantly National Hunt string, has made massive strides on the level.
The stable has already sent out two Royal Ascot winners and, interestingly, the owner behind last year's Chesham Stakes heroine Snellen (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}) has bought into Crowmell's highly-touted Fiery Lucy (GB) (Without Parole {GB}) ahead of Saturday's G2 Airlie Stud Stakes.
Along with Snellen, Lindsay Laroche's colours have been carried by the classy Princess Yaiza (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) for Cromwell, and Fiery Lucy could be the latest smart sort to represent American-based.
The daughter of Without Parole built on a hugely promising debut effort at Cork to go one better at Fairyhouse in a style that suggested more was to come. She rates as one of the main players for the Group 2 contest.
Golden Opportunity For Shoemark
There should be no downplaying how big a weekend this could be for Kieran Shoemark. In Frankie Dettori's absence, Shoemark's role with John and Thady Gosden has been heightened, and they have largely had a good season.
A Group 1 would cement that relationship and, in Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Shoemark has a golden opportunity to deliver just that in the Pretty Polly Stakes on Saturday.
Ambiente Friendly v Coolmore
Speaking of jockeys, we need to talk about Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), and the task facing Robert Havlin in the Irish Derby on Sunday.
There may only be a maximum of eight runners set to line out in the showpiece of the weekend but, make no mistake, this is going to be a tactical affair.
Ambiente Friendly had over three lengths to spare from Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) when the pair finished second and third respectively behind City Of Troy (Justify) in the Derby.
The bookmakers have priced James Fanshawe's runner correctly at odds of 11-10, as he is probably the best horse in the race, but taking on the Ballydoyle runners-who make up half of the field-in their own backyard is not going to be straightforward.
Add that to the fact that Havlin has had seven rides at the Curragh and has yet to register a winner, stepping into the lion's den in search of that breakthrough in a race that O'Brien has farmed down through the years is not going to be easy. It should be some spectacle.
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