‘Anmaat Is A Smashing Horse’ – Connections Weigh In On Irish Champions Festival

[Wandering Eyes]

The Irish Champions Festival kicks off at Leopardstown on Saturday and, ahead of what promises to be an absorbing weekend of action at the Foxrock track and the Curragh, TDN Europe caught up with some of the leading protagonists to get the lowdown on their runners.  

Shadwell Team Relishing Irish Champions Stakes Challenge With Anmaat

Shadwell racing manager Angus Gold says soft ground will not inconvenience the Owen Burrows-trained Anmaat (Awtaad) in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Sunday and is predicting a big effort from the evergreen seven-year-old. 

Anmaat has raced only twice this season, when second in the Tattersalls Gold Cup on his reappearance before chasing home Ombudsman in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. He appears the chief threat to short-priced favourite Delacroix and Gold is relishing the challenge.

He said, “Anmaat is a smashing horse. We haven't seen him nearly enough due to the prevailing fast ground this season so it will be great to get him back on the track. He's run two gorgeous races this season. We thought he needed the run when second in the Tattersalls Gold Cup on his return when he came to win his race but just blew up. Certainly Jim [Crowley, jockey] felt that as well. And then at Royal Ascot, he did everything right in the St James's Palace Stakes but was just beaten by a better horse in Ombudsman. 

“The ground should not bother him at all. He is a superstar and we have been very lucky to have him. He has overcome lots of problems – and a pretty serious injury a couple of years ago – and managed to win the Champions Stakes at Ascot last year so he has been a star for us. Hopefully there is a bit more to come yet.”

Cromwell Says The Market Has Got His Ingabelle Runners All Wrong

Gavin Cromwell: double-handed in the Ingabelle Stakes

Gavin Cromwell has admitted to taking a double take at the early prices on offer for his duo Mighty Danu (Coulsty) and Brownstown (Cracksman) in the opening race of the weekend, the Ingabelle Stakes at Leopardstown.

A race for fillies who have not placed at Group level, Brownstown is rather fortunate to qualify for the 7f contest given she finished fourth in the G2 Debutante and G3 Silver Flash Stakes on her last two starts. Cromwell is in little doubt that she represents his best chance despite the fact the bookmakers priced her up at 14-1 compared to the general 11-1 on offer for Mighty Danu.

He said, “Mighty Danu won her maiden at Galway where the ground was on the slow side so I think these conditions could bring out the best in her. I don't think she needs soft ground but she's a tough filly. Likewise Brownstown, who has put together a couple of very good runs and, to be honest, I don't think she has to improve much to be involved. I can't get my head around the fact she's not a shorter price than Mighty Danu. Anyway, that's not my department but I think Brownstown is our number one hope.”

McLoughlin Hopes Duckadilly Can Put Him In The Map In The Matron Stakes 

The Matron Stakes has thrown up the odd shock result – think No Speak Alexander springing a 25-1 surprise in 2021 and Hydrangea winning at 20-1 in 2017 – and rookie handler Daniel McLoughlin is hoping his 50-1 chance Duckadilly (Churchill) can put him on the map in the Group 1 contest. 

To be fair to McLoughlin, he has never hidden the regard in which he holds the four-year-old and, while he freely admits he has never had a Group 1 horse through his hands before, he revealed he takes encouragement from the fact that regular rider Ben Coen has not dissuaded him from rolling the big dice at Leopardstown.

The 23-year-old said, “I think the ground was as quick as she wanted it when she was fourth in a Group 3 here in July and we only had her half turned on for Killarney [when second] last month. That has brought her forward again and, while we've never had a Group 1 horse and we don't exactly know what it takes, we're hoping for the best and we're happy to give it a go. This has been the plan from very early on in the year and, even though she was beaten at Killarney, I didn't think it was such a bad run that we needed to abolish the plan. I asked Ben the other day and he didn't think it was a bad idea so we'll see how it plays out.”

He added, “To be honest, I haven't had a horse who was good enough to lead her far enough in her work all year. And that's been a bit of a problem. When she hits the front, she pricks her ears a little and she's like that in her work as well. You could work her with a horse rated 50 or 90 and she'll get there and prick her ears thinking she's done enough. She's the best filly I have ever trained and hopefully she can put me on the map.”

Kieran Lalor: 'Skydance And Leinster Will Out-Run Their Odds'

Kieran Lalor | Zuzanna Lupa

There can be few maidens in Ireland with a better profile than Skydance (Night Of Thunder), who has gained all-important black-type for Al Shira'aa Racing when second and third in the G3 Silver Flash and G2 Airlie Stud Stakes respectively this season. 

The Willie McCreery-trained juvenile was behind the Aidan O'Brien-trained Composing and Beautify in those Group contests and Kieran Lalor, racing and bloodstock manager for Al Shira'aa Racing, is looking forward to the rematch.

“Skydance has been running well against Beautify, Composing and Suzie Songs all year and, bar her last run [sixth in the G2 Debutante Stakes], where she was reported to be in season, she is more than deserving of her place in the line-up. The likely soft ground is going to be pretty much the same for every filly in the line-up but we're confident that she will out-run her odds. Willie has been very happy with her in the build-up to this race and Night Of Thunder is an exceptional stallion so we're quite excited.”

He added, “She's a graduate of Henri Bozo's Monceaux Stud, who, if I am not mistaken, will be represented by Diamond Necklace in the Ingabelle Stakes and Shin Emperor in the Irish Champion Stakes, which is a huge achievement, so hat tip to Henri and his team.”

Al Shira'aa Racing will also be represented by a big-priced runner in the Comer Group International Irish St Leger through rapid-improver Leinster (Camelot) and Lalor says the colt is  not without a chance. 

He concluded, “Al Riffa and Illinois are the heavyweights but I just think Leinster is really blossoming and, while I am not saying he's going to win, I think he'll make them all work for it. He was very good at the Curragh last time and I am convinced that his best days are ahead of him.”

Keane Thinks Stable Star Has 'Each-Way' Claims In Irish St Leger

Lalor is not the only man fancying his chances of taking out a large slice of the €500,000 Irish St Leger prize-money as Gerry Keane, trainer of Crystal Black, reports his stable star to be approaching fever pitch.

He said, “We were delighted with his run at Leopardstown. Obviously we had a lousy enough start to the year because he needed his wind done and, after that, he was off for a couple of months.”

Keane added, “But we feel we have him back and are happy enough with the shape he is in going there now. Whether or not he is good enough is another question but, if he comes back to his very best form, I'd like to think he has a good each-way chance.”

Sprint King Eddie Lynam Triple-Handed In The Bold Lad 

What better way to kick-start the action on Sunday at the Curragh than the 25-runner Bold Lad Sprint Handicap over 6f. Now, races like these can prove something of a lottery but, when you have a man like Eddie Lynam on your side in any form of sprint race, you eliminate a lot of the chance that comes with betting in these contests. Lynam is rightly known as the sprint king and, given he has won this prestigious race many times in the past, is the obvious starting point for what looks like a lottery of sorts.

Speaking about his trio, the handler said, “Jon Riggens is 8lbs out of the handicap, but on his best form would be capable of running well off 83, while Keke is drawn in stall one which is basically in the army camp. Now, he did win a Rockingham from stall one but, generally, the high draws are an advantage in the sprint races at the Curragh, particularly when the ground goes slow. The other horse, Heavenly Power, has been training very well and, if you asked me to pick one of the three, I'd probably pick him.”

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