Ready for Take-Off

[Wandering Eyes]

Despite being beset by a consistently miserable wet spell, Leopardstown’s Classic trials day on Saturday is well supported by Ballydoyle who are represented by a quartet in the G3 Ballylinch Stud ‘Priory Belle’ 1000 Guineas Trial S. As the rapid rise of the previously unheralded Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) proved last year, no firm idea of the pecking order at Rosegreen can be taken for granted at this time of year and it may not be all-important that Ryan Moore is on I Can Fly (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Successful by four lengths in a Dundalk maiden over this trip in September, she was third in the G3 Oh So Sharp S. at Newmarket the following month. Winter’s 1000 Guineas pilot Wayne Lordan is aboard the course-and-distance maiden winner Sarrocchi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), while the G3 Anglesey S. scorer Actress (Ire) (Declaration of War) has the best form in the race having finished third in the six-furlong G1 Phoenix S. at The Curragh in August.

Aidan O’Brien is looking forward to getting them started. “I Can Fly is in good form. She had a couple of runs last year at Dundalk and Newmarket and we’re happy with her,” he commented. “Actress is in good form as well, but obviously she would prefer better ground. She’s just ready to start as well and we’ll find out if she gets seven or further. She’s never run that far before. Sarrocchi won a maiden at the backend in easy ground. She’s in good form but will also improve a lot from the run.”

‘TDN Rising Star’ Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) beat Actress by five lengths in the Listed Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies’ Sprint S. at Naas in May, but has subsequently suffered two reversals when second in the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot in June and when fifth in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. at The Curragh in September.

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