By Tom Frary
There were only six runners in Leopardstown's nine-furlong G3 Eyrefield S. on Saturday, but more than a minor share of drama as the Ennistown Stud homebred Speirling Beag (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}–Starscape {Ire}, by Cape Cross {Ire}) prevailed in a renewal marked by an early-straight incident.
Held up in rear by Rory Cleary after a tardy start, the Jim Bolger-trained chestnut who had been third a fortnight earlier in The Curragh's G3 Staffordstown Stud S. over a mile had to swing four-wide into the home turn as the Ballydoyle trio got in each other's way on the inner.
It was the 7-4 favourite Hiawatha (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) who was the chief sufferer in the scrimmaging caused by the hanging Gulf Of Mexico (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), but after he had muscled his way into the clear Speirling Beag had got first run approaching the furlong pole. Carried right late by that rival as they drew away on the run to the line, the 25-1 shot was headed by the imposing Ballydoyle colt but showed grit and determination to get back up in the dying stride and score by a short head.
“I had a very game filly underneath me,” the winning jockey said. “It got tight on the inside and it ended up meaning I got there too soon. If I'd got beaten I would have been kicking myself. She's a lovely, easy filly to anything with and showed her honesty there today.”
Pedigree Notes
Speirling Beag, who had broken her maiden at the fourth attempt when beating the Staffordstown Stud S. winner Lumiere Rock (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) over a mile at Gowran Park Sept. 17, is the second foal out of the unraced Starscape who is kin to two black-type performers including the G3 Supreme S. and G3 Acomb S.-placed Zumbi (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). She is a granddaughter of the G3 Molecomb S. winner Sahara Star (GB) (Green Desert), who produced the G2 Flying Childers S. winner Land Of Dreams (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) who is in turn the dam of the five-times Group 1-winning sire Dream Ahead (Diktat {GB}). She is also the second dam of the G1 Cheveley Park S. and G1 Flying Five heroine Fairyland (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas third Now Or Never (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}). Starscape's yearling colt by one of Bolger's brightest stars in Teofilo (Ire) was a €66,000 purchase by Boherguy Stud at last year's Goffs November Foal Sale.
Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
EYREFIELD S.-G3, €52,500, Leopardstown, 10-22, 2yo, 9fT, 2:03.05, sf.
1–SPEIRLING BEAG (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Mastercraftsman (Ire)
1st Dam: Starscape (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Star Studded (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
3rd Dam: Sahara Star (GB), by Green Desert
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Ennistown Stud
(IRE); T-Jim Bolger; J-Rory Cleary. €31,500. Lifetime Record:
6-2-0-2, $46,933. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Hiawatha (Ire), 131, c, 2, Camelot (GB)–Attire (Ire), by
Danehill Dancer (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK
TYPE. (€1,200,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR). O-Mrs J Magnier/M
Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg; B-B V Sangster (IRE); T-Aidan
O'Brien. €10,500.
3–Village Voice (GB), 128, f, 2, Zarak (Fr)–Sensible Way, by
Street Sense. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE.
(38,000gns 2yo '22 TATBRG). O-Mrs P K Cooper; B-Malih Al
Basti (GB); T-Jessica Harrington. €5,250.
Margins: SHD, 2 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 25.00, 1.75, 14.00.
Also Ran: Gulf of Mexico (Ire), Mister Mister (Ger), Hippodrome (Ire). Scratched: Keep In Touch (Ire). VIDEO.
Speirling Beag noses ahead when it matters to land a dramatic renewal of the Group 3 Eyrefield Stakes under the guidance of @RclearyRory for trainer Jim Bolger 🥇 pic.twitter.com/Z1Q6sEIwHt
— Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) October 22, 2022
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