Tahiyra outruns Meditate to take Irish 1000 Guineas
Tahiyra, wearing the green and red silks of the Aga Khan, did not disappoint Sunday at The Curragh, winning the Irish 1000 Guineas by 1 1/2 lengths over a game Meditate.
Vadeni, wearing the green and red silks of the Aga Khan, was very disappointing Sunday at The Curragh, finishing fifth with no excuse as Luxembourg made all the running to win the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup.
Vadeni, France’s best 3-year-old of 2022 and winner of the Eclipse over older horses last summer at Sandown Park, had turned in a flat 4-year-old debut finishing a lackluster fourth April 30 in the Prix Ganay and was even worse in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. Luxembourg, winner of the Irish Champion Stakes last summer, with Vadeni third, also had run below expectations in his first start of the season, finishing fifth of seven May 1 in the Mooresbridge Stakes. But Luxembourg rebounded.
Put right on the lead by Ryan Moore, who craftily doled out Luxembourg’s pace in small increments, Luxembourg turned back a stern challenge from Bay Bridge to win the Gold Cup by a half-length. Bay Bridge got a patient, ground-saving trip under Richard Kingscote, who produced his mount in the final furlong and a half, took aim on Luxembourg, and was repelled. Piz Badile finished a distant third in the 1 5/16-mile fixture.
Luxembourg, by Camelot out of Attire, by Danehill Dancer, is trained by Aidan O’Brien, whose high hopes for the colt as a Derby prospect last year were dashed by an injury after Luxembourg’s third-place finish in the 2000 Guineas. O’Brien said Luxembourg won the Irish Champion despite less-than-ideal preparation, didn’t handle extremely soft ground finishing seventh in the Arc, and could be a very serious horse the rest of 2023. The colt’s next start is expected to come in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes next month.
Tahiyra, meanwhile, was favored at 2-5 in the Irish 1000 Guineas after taking her first loss May 7 in the English 1000 Guineas. There, Tahiyra blew the start and ran bravely to finish second of 20, and on Sunday, the filly had to overcome an inside post and a tricky trip. She and jockey Chris Hayes did so thanks to the filly’s heart and quick acceleration, which got her out of a tight spot and up alongside Meditate with a furlong left in the one-turn mile. Meditate, flashy winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies turf, battled on but was outstayed by Tahiyra.
Both horses could head to the Coronation Stakes next month at Royal Ascot. Tahiyra, who got quicker ground than she prefers Sunday, is trained by Dermot Weld, who also sent out fourth-place Tarawa. Winner of the Group 1 Moyglare Stud last year at 2, Tahiyra is by Siyouni out of Tarana by Cape Cross.
*** On Friday in England, Desert Crown made his first start since winning the Derby by more than two lengths last year – and was defeated. Odds-on favorite in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes, Desert Crown showed some rust, collared just before the wire by Hukum, a Group 1 winner himself and also away from the races for nearly a year. Desert Crown cruised to the lead with a wide run in the 11-furlong Brigadier Gerard at Sandown Park and looked like a sure winner a furlong out, but Jim Crowley extricated Hukum from traffic, got him into the clear, and Hukum delivered a powerful punch.
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