Sun Goddess could be using Moyglare Stud as Breeders' Cup prep
:quality(75))
Yes, it was a restricted sales stakes, but what the 2-year-old filly Sun Goddess did Aug. 20 at York in the Harry’s Half Million still was remarkable. And it is not just that single performance that makes Sun Goddess the heavy favorite to win the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes on Sunday at The Curragh.
Sun Goddess, a four-time winner from six starts – both losses good races in their own right – beat the boys Aug. 9 at The Curragh in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes. That she was not an odds-on favorite with British bookmakers as of Friday, though, might make one raise an eyebrow and suggests there’s some skepticism that Sun Goddess really wants a testing seven furlongs over the expansive swath of Irish field known as The Curragh.
The Moyglare Stud for 2-year-old fillies along with Sunday’s Vincent O’Brien National Stakes for 2-year-olds and the Flying Five, a five-furlong straight-course dash, all are part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, offering winners automatic fees-paid berths into Breeders’ Cup races and travel expenses to Keeneland.
Sun Goddess, trained by Aidan O’Brien, already is penciled in for a Breeders’ Cup start. O’Brien’s comments this summer – that he thought Sun Goddess could stay an American-style mile – hinted that the Juvenile Fillies Turf rather than the Juvenile Sprint would be her target.
Sun Goddess debuted going five furlongs and has raced over six furlongs in five subsequent starts, none so eye-catching as the Harry’s Half Million.
Galloping along near the back of the bulky field, Sun Goddess advanced under Moore about halfway through the race. But as Moore plotted a course through a thicket of horses ahead of him, Sun Goddess, just a quarter-mile from home, got stopped cold. Moore had to check off heels and take a hard right to get his mount into the clear, and somehow, still about 10th with a furlong remaining, Sun Goddess rolled home, going easy, a six-length winner.
Sun Goddess did beat Moyglare Stud rival Green Empress by just three-quarters of a length in a Group 2 on June 27. Green Empress was making her debut when Sun Goddess thumped her by five earlier in May. Green Empress, trained by Joseph O’Brien, gamely saw out seven furlongs on Aug. 22, winning the Group 2 Debutante at The Curragh.
Monogram on Friday held solid favoritism for the National Stakes, and though the colt has raced just once, one can see why. Joseph O’Brien trains this Juddmonte homebred (a relatively new owner-trainer combination), who turned in a remarkable performance of his own in a seven-furlong maiden at The Curragh. Monogram started poorly and raced last of 16 well past the halfway point, still many lengths down with just a furlong remaining, but he roared home to get up by a neck over a seemingly useful colt named Salt Lake. A better start would be helpful as Monogram steps up in class, but the talent is obvious.
Giant Sequoia and Haffner both look like progressive sorts for Aidan O’Brien and might pose the strongest challenge to the second-time starter.
The Flying Five drew 17 entrants and has at the top of the market Commanche Brave, trained by still another in the O’Brien clan, Donnacha. Commanche Brave raised his game to a new level this summer and exits a career-best performance, a victory July 11 at Newmarket in the Group 1 July Cup. In 15 starts, however, Commanche Brave never has run in a race shorter than six furlongs. Time for Sandals will draw plenty of attention, too, after a very troubled fourth Aug. 21 going five furlongs in the Group 1 Nunthorpe.
Scandinavia sits at something like 1-2 for Sunday’s Group 1 Irish St. Leger, which does not have any bearing on American races, but the Group 2 Blandford might. The Blandford often throws up a runner for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, and this year’s Oaks winner, Thundering On, could have that race on her agenda. She tries to rebound Sunday from a disappointing showing in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes, her most recent start and only post-Oaks run.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.