The Curragh gets a final chance to iron out any kinks ahead of 'Champions Weekend' in a fortnight when tomorrow's HQ action includes an early international element with the appearance of Andrea Atzeni.
The 23-year-old Sardinian is paying a first visit to Ireland since confirmation came at York that he will replace Jamie Spencer as No.1 jockey to racing's newest ownership superpower, Qatar Racing.
Atzeni has four booked rides, three of them for Qatari interests, and the two year old pair of Cappella Sansevero and Sacrificial, both supplied by Ger Lyons, look to have sound claims for giving Italy's latest star jockey a couple of winners.
He will also be on board Mark Loughnane’s Prime Exhibit in the Cambridgeshire but even that €100,000 pales in comparison to the triple-Group One card that will be at the Curragh in 15 days’ time, the second leg of the new €3.7 million ‘Champions Weekend’ designed to promote Irish racing on the world stage.
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Horse Racing Ireland’s chief executive
Brian Kavanagh
outlined yesterday how he believes the two-days-at-two-racecourses element to the new headline dates on September 13-14 is a positive rather than any possible diluting of focus.
“It gives us the opportunity to showcase two Irish racetracks and I think one of the interesting dynamics of the whole thing will be two meetings at two different tracks,” he said.
“History tells us that at two -day meetings at one track, one day tends to overshadow the other. In fact one of the real values of this is seeing the two tracks (Leopardstown and the Curragh) working as one on this and there’s scope to develop that further over time.”
Kavanagh also stressed that quantifying success or failure for the new concept will include a number of elements that have to be judged over a period of time rather than the first year.
“We are putting on a major Irish meeting in a context of similar meetings internationally and we’re building a meeting here that bears comparison with those,” he added.
“In terms of its popularity and appeal on the day, a key issue will be ‘walk-ins’ on the two days but as to what constitutes success, it’s not for me to put a number on it. There is a lot more than just one dimension to this.”
Pat Smullen's 'Champions Weekend' focus is likely to be on Forgotten Rules in the €300,000 Irish Leger but the season's leading rider should enjoy a good meeting tomorrow where Defining Year looks to have a good chance in the Cambridgeshire.
Dermot Weld’s six year old enjoyed little luck in Galway’s big mile handicap a month ago but still wound up an honourable nearest-at-finish fourth to Vastonea. With a clearer run this time he looks a big threat.
Weld runs both Afternoon Sunlight and Carla Bianca in the Group Three Dance Design Stakes and Smullen has opted to ride the latter of the Moyglare-owned pair after the filly's three wins on the spin that give her a clear form edge over Palace and Alive Alive Oh.
Smullen has the ride on Pencil Hill in the concluding sprint handicap and the veteran finished noticeably well off over the course and distance last weekend. At Cork's jumps fixture tomorrow, Josh McGarvey's claim could swing the four-runner two-mile conditions hurdle the way of Plinth over Flaxen Flare.
