Roderic O'Connor: Irish 2000 Guineas Victor
In our article comparing the three major European Guineas (Classic of one mile for three-year olds), I explained that the Irish versions tend to be dominated by home-grown talent usually from Ballydoyle.
This year's Abu Dhabi Irish 2000 Guineas for entire colts and fillies was no different.
The Group 1 race was run in a typical strung-out manner with the Ballydoyle team leading along the rail on good to firm ground. It started raining during the race at the Curragh.
Pacesetter Oracle IRE (Danehill Dancer IRE) provided a perfect set up for Roderic O'Connor IRE (Galileo IRE), usually in second, to take over from him at about the 1 furlong marker.
That sort of soft lead is especially difficult to peg back when a horse likes to close from the rear and, even more difficult, when his jockey leaves his move too late running into trouble along the way.
That was the fate of the favourite Dubawi Gold IRE (Dubawi IRE) when his jockey Richard Hughes dawdled, jumped in an out nearly unbalancing the colt who managed to close fast coming within ¾ of a length of the winner.
Oracle was third by another ½ length.
One hopes Hughes does better for late-runner Presvis (Sakhee USA) tomorrow in the Singapore International Cup. Trainer Luca Cumani must regret his replacement choice after seeing this race now that Frankie Dettori is freed up from Calvados Bleus.
The winner has won three of his six starts with one second and one third. His 11th behind Frankel in the English 2000 Guineas was considered an anomaly.
Roderic was ridden by Joseph O'Brien, 17-year-old son of trainer Aiden, to his first Classic victory. He savoured it as he is growing so tall, he will not be a Flat jockey for long.
Dubawi Gold's trainer Richard Hannon, Richard Hughes' father-in-law, must be very disappointed that his progressive colt missed out.
Racing International http://www.racingint.com
This year's Abu Dhabi Irish 2000 Guineas for entire colts and fillies was no different.
The Group 1 race was run in a typical strung-out manner with the Ballydoyle team leading along the rail on good to firm ground. It started raining during the race at the Curragh.
Pacesetter Oracle IRE (Danehill Dancer IRE) provided a perfect set up for Roderic O'Connor IRE (Galileo IRE), usually in second, to take over from him at about the 1 furlong marker.
That sort of soft lead is especially difficult to peg back when a horse likes to close from the rear and, even more difficult, when his jockey leaves his move too late running into trouble along the way.
That was the fate of the favourite Dubawi Gold IRE (Dubawi IRE) when his jockey Richard Hughes dawdled, jumped in an out nearly unbalancing the colt who managed to close fast coming within ¾ of a length of the winner.
Oracle was third by another ½ length.
One hopes Hughes does better for late-runner Presvis (Sakhee USA) tomorrow in the Singapore International Cup. Trainer Luca Cumani must regret his replacement choice after seeing this race now that Frankie Dettori is freed up from Calvados Bleus.
The winner has won three of his six starts with one second and one third. His 11th behind Frankel in the English 2000 Guineas was considered an anomaly.
Roderic was ridden by Joseph O'Brien, 17-year-old son of trainer Aiden, to his first Classic victory. He savoured it as he is growing so tall, he will not be a Flat jockey for long.
Dubawi Gold's trainer Richard Hannon, Richard Hughes' father-in-law, must be very disappointed that his progressive colt missed out.
Racing International http://www.racingint.com
Posted by susan trevelyan-syke at 5/21/2011 9:46 PM 
Categories: 2000 Guineas
Tags: Irish 2000 Guineas Roderic O Connor Dubawi Gold Richard Hughes Joseph O Brien Ballydoyle Richard Hannon
Categories: 2000 Guineas
Tags: Irish 2000 Guineas Roderic O Connor Dubawi Gold Richard Hughes Joseph O Brien Ballydoyle Richard Hannon
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