The Curragh holds the sole meeting in Ireland on Saturday afternoon and Sugar Island can continue Aidan O’Brien’s dominance of the juvenile season by taking the Group 3 Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF Stakes.
The filly, who is out of a full sister to the brilliant Minding, made her debut last month at this venue and won despite showing obvious signs of greenness. The form has taken a few knocks since but there was an unmistakable quality to the winner’s performance, and she is sure to be considerably better for the outing.
The step up to a mile is also in her favour and she can extend the unbeaten start to her career, chiefly at the expense of the promising Queen Of Hawaii. After a debut sixth behind subsequent Group 3 and Group 2 winner Composing, the latter won a maiden in great style and is certainly not out of place in this company.
Perisher can build on a fine first effort, at Galway, by taking the opening race, the John Ormonde Wexford Sand Irish EBF Maiden.
Well backed on the show for that debut at Ballybrit, he chased long odds-on favourite Action all the way up the straight and even though the winner was more comfortable than the winning margin of a length and a quarter might suggest, the selection finished clear of the remainder.
That was a fine performance at a difficult track for newcomers and, with natural improvement, he will take beating this afternoon.
The most obvious danger is Hawk Mountain, who was stable selection from three runners on debut but had to settle for fifth place behind Geryon. There was promise in the effort and, certain to step up considerably, he is feared most.
On Sunday’s card in Tipperary, Aidan O’Brien holds a strong hand in the first race, the Camas Park Irish EBF Maiden, and can land the spoils with Endorsement.
On his only outing to date, the Wootton Bassett colt contested a maiden in Killarney and found only stablemate Benvenuto Cellini too good. The winner looked potentially top-class when runner-up on his only previous start, and considering how much Ballydoyle juveniles tend to improve from their first starts, this fellow fits a similar bill.
There are some interesting sorts in opposition, and once-raced stablemate Christmas Day is feared most, but the selection ought to excel over this longer trip and will be hard to beat.
There was plenty to like about Christmas Day’s debut, in third place behind stablemate Action, and if runner-up that day, Perisher, runs well in this afternoon’s opener, it will be a pointer to his chance.
Giovanni Giorgio took a significant step forward from his first to his second start and can make it third time lucky by taking the second race, the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden.
Joseph O’Brien’s colt set out to make all in a four-runner race in Roscommon and when winner Check This out put his head in front for the first time, the selection fought back doggedly to be beaten in a photo finish.
As the winner was previously successful, it was a fine effort by Giovanni Giorgio, and he will take some beating this time. Newcomers Madbadanddangerous, Believe Believe, Anushka, and Sunrush are worth noting in the betting.
Selections
1:45 Perisher (NB)
2:20 Sugar Island (Nap)
2:52 Mission Central
3:27 Azada
4:02 Nazario
4:37 State Actor
5:12 Amicitia
5:47 Mordor
Next best
1:45 Hawk Mountain
2:20 Queen Of Hawaii
2:52 Chicago Call
3:27 Sand Gazelle
4:02 Invincible Will
4:37 Pink Oxalis
5:12 Send Harry
5:47 Mo Ghille Mar
Selections
2:30 Endorsement (Nap)
3:00 Giovanni Giorgio (NB)
3:30 Bravais
4:00 Snellen
4:30 Bounty
5:00 Western Dreamer
5:30 Lady Kai
Next best
2:30 Christmas Day
3:00 Anushka
3:30 Midnight Strike
4:00 Copacabana Sands
4:30 Songhai
5:00 Miss Americana
5:30 Charlie Brow’n