By Brian Sheerin
Limiti Di Greccio (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) and Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), both of whom held prominent positions in the betting for Sunday's G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, have been ruled out of making their respective seasonal return in the Curragh Classic.
Paddy Twomey, who trains Limiti Di Greccio, told TDN Europe that his hugely exciting filly will be aimed at races in the autumn after she encountered “a small training problem” while connections of G1 winning 2-year-old Inspiral are charting a path towards the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot with their charge.
Inspiral failed to sparkle in a key gallop under Frankie Dettori on Saturday, after which, her joint-trainer John Gosden advised connections to skip the Irish 1000 Guineas and wait for Royal Ascot.
Speaking on Monday, Cheveley Park's Chris Richardson said, “She's not going to Ireland. John's recommendation is let's go straight to Royal Ascot for the Coronation Stakes.”
Inspiral, unbeaten in four starts as a 2-year-old, with that brilliant juvenile campaign culminating with G1 Fillies' Mile glory at Newmarket, was also ruled out of the 1,000 Guineas last month with Richardson explaining at the time that the filly had not been “100 per cent straightforward” in the spring.
Connections are now concentrating on having Inspiral in top shape ahead of the Royal meeting.
Richardson added, “Frankie had a sit on her on Saturday and just felt we needed a little bit more time, so we'll give her that and hopefully have her cherry-ripe and spot on for the Royal meeting.”
Time is also what Limiti Di Greccio needs, according to Twomey, who pointed to the G1 Matron Stakes in the autumn as being the new target for Martin Schwarz-owned filly.
Twomey said, “She picked up a minor training setback and is not ready to run at the Curragh on Sunday.”
He added, “The plan is to train her with a view towards the second half of the season where races like the Matron Stakes could be targeted.”
In the absence of Limiti Di Greccio and Inspiral, the Aidan O'Brien-trained Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Dermot Weld's Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), herself having skipped Newmarket and more recently ParisLongchamp, are general 5-2 joint-favourites for the Irish 1000 Guineas.
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