Mac Swiney narrowly edged out Poetic Flare in a thrilling finish to the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh to provide trainer Jim Bolger with a one-two in the colt’s Classic. The winner, a Group One winner as a juvenile, had disappointed on his return to action in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial. However he was subsequently found to be suffering from a nasal discharge and this time showed what he was really made of.
Poetic Flare was running in his third Classic of the season, having won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket before finishing only sixth in the French version when denied a clear run at a vital stage. Rory Cleary, who was riding by far the biggest winner of his career, set out to make all on Mac Swiney and his rivals dropped away one by one as he constantly upped the tempo.
Poetic Flare then threw down a strong challenge under Kevin Manning, but when asked for everything he hung across the track slightly to eventually be denied by just a short-head. The Aidan O’brien trained Van Gogh stayed on well to be third. Mac Swiney was immediately cut across the board by bookmakers for next month’s Epsom Derby. He is now a top priced 7/1 with the likes of Betway and Paddy Power. I think the step up to 1m 4f will suit, so at those odds he looks a solid each-way contender in my eyes.
Bolger was not at the track, but his daughter Una Manning confirmed Epsom is the target for the winner. She said: “I just spoke to the boss and obviously he’s absolutely delighted with the horse and very pleased with Poetic Flare as well. I’d say it was probably a race for horses that stay the mile well with the conditions. The plan is to go to Epsom with Mac Swiney and we’ll see how Poetic Flare comes out of the race before deciding whether he’ll go to Ascot for the St James Palace.”
There was a sting in the tail for winning rider Cleary as he got a six-day suspension for excessive use of the whip.
In the fillies equivalent, the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas, Empress Josephine came with a powerful late charge to spring a bit of a shock and beat better fancied stablemate Joan Of Arc. Trainer Aidan O’Brien saddled three runners in his bid for a 10th victory in the fillies’ Classic, with Joan Of Arc regarded as his main hope by many following her triumph in the Irish 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown.
Empress Josephine was sent off a 14/1 chance off the back of finishing second in a Listed contest at Gowran Park on her latest appearance and tracked 15/8 favourite Pretty Gorgeous for much of the way. With the latter then dropping out of contention as fitness told on her first run of the year, Joan Of Arc looked all over the winner when taking over at the head of affairs at the furlong marker. However, in the last 110 yards Empress Josephine really found top gear and powered home to get up in the dying stride and score by a short head. In doing so, she provided jockey Seamie Heffernan with his fifth success in the race. O’Brien said:
“We thought she was lovely – she’s a sister to Minding. We thought she was lovely when she won the first day and then she went to Leopardstown and they went too fast over seven furlongs. She’s quick and Seamus gave her a lovely ride. She’s a classy filly. It’s a long time since Seamus rode his first Group One winner for us. He’s a great fella who works with us day in day out.”
The Ballydoyle maestro added: “Joan Of Arc ran a lovely race. We were going to step her up to a mile and a quarter after today. She might go to the French Oaks. The winner might go for the Coronation (at Royal Ascot), but we’ll speak to the lads and see what they want to do. She has the option of the French Oaks or coming back here for the Pretty Polly, but she’s not slow and I’d say a mile maybe suits her better than a mile and a quarter.”
To me, Joan Of Arc will be suited by a return to a sounder surface. When getting those conditions I can see her being very hard to beat in Group 1 races she contests during the rest of the season.
Helvic Dream provided trainer Noel Meade with a first Group 1 winner on the Flat when coming on top in a thrilling renewal of the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup. Meade, is better known for his tremendous achievements with his jumpers. He has been crowned Champion Trainer in Ireland seven times and saddled six winners at the Cheltenham Festival. The most recent of those came courtesy of Jeff Kidder in the Fred Winter at this year’s four-day spectacular.
Having finished behind 10/11 favourite Broome on his three previous outings this season, Helvic Dream was sent off at 8/1 under Colin Keane. He tracked his old rival travelling ominously well up the straight, but Broome refused to go down without a fight and after a ding dong tussle inside the last the margin of victory at the line was just a short-head. A beaming Meade said:
“I shall die happy now – I was roaring! Colin said to me he was going to sit a bit closer to him (Broome), sit behind him and have one go on him. He said he went too soon the last day and he actually said he went too soon again today. He has an electrifying turn of speed to get there and he lasted out. It was a brilliant ride. He’s a lovely horse who has been a pleasure to train. He doesn’t take a lot of work – he doesn’t take a lot of anything. There’s been plenty of people trying to buy him, but thanks to the lads that kept faith in me as I felt he could win a Group One.”