Pat Smullen hopes lightening can strike again at Gowran Park as the champion jockey aims for the single winner which will secure him a second consecutive century of Irish winners.
With an eighth jockeys’ title long since in the bag, Smullen has been pursuing another “100” to add to his maiden century memorably secured last year at Gowran when Brooch landed a Group Three at the Co Kilkenny track. He moved to 99 for the 2015 campaign in Ireland after Sevenleft’s score at Naas on Sunday, a day after Fascinating Rock provided Smullen with a fourth Group One victory of the year in Ascot’s Champion Stakes.
Smullen’s four rides at Gowran appear a long way from such exalted standards but they include two for Dermot Weld and another for the champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins ahead of this weekend’s turf season finale at Leopardstown.
However it is the Joe Murphy-trained Zemario that could be the jockey’s best chance despite being the oldest runner in the mile and six handicap and having been pulled up in his last start over flights here earlier this month.
Zemario's jumping quickly fell apart on that occasion but on this decent surface he has a chance of returning to the summer form which saw him find only Modem too good at Killarney when ridden by Smullen.
The Ballydoyle newcomer in the opening maiden, Order of St George's brother, Kellstorm, is bred to be a top-notcher but there is a proven Group One winner on the card already as Loch Garman is due to have just the sixth start of his injury-plagued career in the conditions event. The 2012 Criterium International winner was injured in the 2013 French Derby and wasn't seen again until returning to action at the Curragh in April.
Ground conditions have prevented him running on a couple of occasions since but even though the three-year-old Mohaayed is rated to emerge best, this could see Loch Garman finally return to winning form.
Willie McCreery has a couple with chances here including with Hot To The Touch who has been dropped 3lb in the ratings since her previous start.
