A DISAPPOINTING Classic weekend could turn into a real Bank Holiday disaster for Aidan O’Brien if Fame And Glory can’t lift Ballydoyle morale at the Curragh this afternoon.
There may be three Bank Holiday fixtures spread throughout Ireland but there will be no disputing Fame And Glory’s star role when he lines up for the five-runner High Chaparral Mooresbridge Stakes.
On official figures this should be little more than an exercise spin for last year’s Irish Derby winner who has a stone in hand of Recharge. However, it was a similar scenario here last month when Fame And Glory’s first start as a four-year-old resulted in just third place behind She’s Our Mark.
That put paid to a trip to France for the Prix Ganay although O’Brien was noticeably keen afterwards to stress how unfussed he was with that Alleged Stakes defeat. The going was “good” on the Curragh’s round course yesterday and Fame And Glory should strip noticeably sharper with that earlier run under his belt.
None of the four runners has anything even approaching Fame And Glory’s credentials in the bag so anything else but a victory will be a real head-scratcher down Ballydoyle way.
There are two other Group Three prizes on offer at the Curragh with O’Brien running three fillies in the Athasi Stakes. They include Mastercraftsman’s sister Famous who beat only one home on her first start of the season but who will still be ridden by Johnny Murtagh today.
Tommy Stack’s Park Express winner Pollen tops the weights and meets her old rival Latin Love again in a race that allows the Classic generation take on their seniors.
Both of those fillies are regularly ridden by Wayne Lordan so it is noticeable that the rider is on board the once-raced Lolly For Dolly in today’s race. The Stack-trained three-year-old was very impressive on her Cork debut when stretching clear for a seven-length success and should improve significantly for the experience.
The seven furlongs of the Tetrarch Stakes looks ideal for Elusive Award.
