By Sean Cronin
Michael O'Callaghan trainee Kairyu (Ire) (Kuroshio {Aus}–Vegatina {GB}, by Lope De Vega {Ire}) was the clear-cut winner of a five-furlong Naas maiden last month and franked the promise of that debut score with an upset win upped in trip for Saturday's G3 Jebel Ali Racecourse And Stables Anglesey S. at the Curragh.
Kairyu employed patient tactics from flagfall and lobbed along off the pace in sixth through the early fractions. Making smooth headway once past halfway, the 4-1 chance quickened beyond rivals to seize control approaching the final furlong and was driven out in the closing stages to hold the late threat of 10-11 favourite Pearls And Rubies (No Nay Never) by 1 1/4 lengths.
“She looks very smart, Colin [Keane] said she doesn't want that [soft] ground and she was just good and tough,” said trainer Michael O'Callaghan. “The gaps appeared a little bit before Colin wanted them, but she has a savage turn of foot where she can go and put a race to bed. She relaxes so well that she'll probably get seven furlongs in time. I was thinking about going to the [G2] Duchess Of Cambridge at Newmarket last week, but I wasn't happy with her work so we waited another week. Colin thinks she'll be better on better ground and she'll probably go for something like the [G2] Lowther [at York] now. She's still a little bit high behind and she's going to grow plenty, so she could potentially be a very nice filly.”
Pedigree Notes
Kairyu becomes the fourth pattern-race winner for her sire (by Exceed And Excel {Aus}) and is the only reported foal produced by Vegatina (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), herself a granddaughter of Listed Prix Isola Bella third Vassiana (Fr) (Anabaa). Vassiana is the dam of G3 Phoenix Sprint S. victrix Girouette (Ire) (Pivital {GB}), herself the second dam of G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S.-winning sire Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never). Vassiana, who is also a full-sister to G3 Prix d'Arenberg winner Villadolide (Fr) and Listed Prix Hampton scorer Victorieux (Fr), is from the immediate family of G1 Prix de Diane heroine Mrs. Penny (Great Nephew {GB}).
👀 Kairyu – still unbeaten. Lots to like about this performance at the @curraghrace
🏇 Two runs
🥇 Two wins
🏆 G3 @jarcOfficial & Stables Anglesey Stakes
⭐️ Nice prospect@MDOCallaghan | @ctkjockey pic.twitter.com/E5qswFbW0U— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 22, 2023
Saturday, Curragh, Ireland
JEBEL ALI RACECOURSE AND STABLES ANGLESEY S.-G3, €55,000, Curragh, 7-22, 2yo, 6f 63yT, 1:20.74, sf.
1–KAIRYU (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Kuroshio (Aus)
1st Dam: Vegatina (GB), by Lope De Vega (Ire)
2nd Dam: Valtina (Ire), by Teofilo (Ire)
3rd Dam: Vassiana (Fr), by Anabaa
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€80,000 2yo '23 TATGOR). O/T-Michael O'Callaghan; B-Patrick Turley (IRE); J-Colin Keane. €33,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $46,414. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Pearls And Rubies, 128, f, 2, No Nay Never–Diamondsandrubies (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs Richard Henry & Mrs John Magnier; B-Premier Bloodstock (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. €11,000.
3–Do It With Style (Ire), 128, f, 2, Ten Sovereigns (Ire)–Sodashy (Ire), by Noverre. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€165,000 Wlg '21 GOFNO1; €235,000 Ylg '22 GOFOR). O-Leonard Green; B-Tom Darcy & Vincent McCarthy (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien. €5,500.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3/4, HF. Odds: 4.00, 0.91, 14.00.
Also Ran: She's Quality (Ire), Gunzburg (Ire), Gaenari (Ire), Buyin Buyin (Ire), The Caribbean (Ire).
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