TALKING dogs and horses
Wednesday September 01 2010
ENTRIES were revealed at the weekend for Dundalk's flagship race, and some interesting names are among the 32 possibles. The Group 3 Diamond Stakes is one in a series of 'win and you're in' races. The 'in' refers to the Breeders' Cup Marathon to be run at Churchill Downs on 5 November. Since it was first staged in 2008 every Marathon winner has prepped on the Dowdallshill allweather.
That year Ralph Beckett dispatched Muhannak for the Diamond Stakes, then a Listed contest, and after winning under Pat Smullen, the pair teamed up again for big race glory at Santa Anita over 1 1?2 miles.
In 2009 the Diamond Stakes was upped to Group 3 status, and the Breeders' Cup Marathon extended to 1m 6f.
At Dundalk Man Of Iron finished fourth behind his Aidan O'Brien trained stablemate Mastercraftsman in the Diamond before returning to the same track for a win which set him up nicely to take the Marathon in thrilling fashion under Johnny Murtagh.
Man Of Iron, now in the care of Luca Cumani, is among the entries again. However, the most intriguing runner on the list is St Nicholas Abbey who hasn't raced since finishing sixth behind Makfi in the 2,000 Guineas.
Gordon Elliott has put in Ebor winner Dirar, while another to catch the eye is Gitano Hernando from the Marco Botti yard.
He started favourite for the Dubai World Cup in March and finished sixth to Gloria De Campeao.
As often is the case, Aidan O'Brien is mob-handed. Apart from St Nicholas Abbey he has seven others entered, among them recent winners Beethoven and Steinbeck.
The 10 1?2 furlong Diamond Stakes takes place on Friday, 1 October. The build-up to the big race starts on Sunday as Dundalk's busy autumn/winter programme gets underway.
O'Brien appears to hold all the aces for next Saturday's Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes. He has to decide whether to run last year's runner-up Fame And Glory,
Juddmonte International hero Rip Van Winkle or both. The Leopardstown feature is supported by another Group 1, the Matron Stakes and the Group 3 Kilternan Stakes.
Semi-finals
MORE than a few punters will be heading from Leopardstown to Shelbourne Park for the semi-finals of the Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby.
The first heat is an absolute belter, bringing together, in trap order, Tullymurry Act, Colorful Champ, Tyrur Big Mike, Mesedo Blue, Thurslesbeg Joker and Dromore Hero.
Trainers Pat Buckley ( Tullymurry Act), Paul Hennessy (Colorful Champ) and Conor Fahy ( Tyrur Big Mike) are also represented in the second semi via Hats My Boy, Barefoot Bullet and Tyrur McGuigan respectively. They are joined by Krug Ninety Five, Ballymac Under and the last remaining bitch Foyle Storm.
The sponsors bet: 5/2 Tyrur Big Mike, 4/1 Tullymurry Act, 5/1 Thurslesbeg Joker, Barefoot Bullet, 10/1 Colorful Champ, Mesedo Blue, 12/1 Krug Ninety Five, 14/1 Hats My Boy, Tyrur McGuigan, 50/1 Ballymac Under, Foyle Storm, 66/1 Dromore Hero.
- Francis CARROLL
