14:45
HKJC World Pool Golden Fleece Stakes (Group 1)
Group 1, Class 1, 1m1f, Flat, 2yo, €240,000, 9 runners
Winning time 1m 51.73s
- Going
- Good
- Surface
- Turf
Tip for this race
All today's tips ›Quest For Stars No. 7, stall 8
James Doyle · Charlie Appleby
✓ Won last time out ✓ Trainer in form (6/18, 14 days)
Quest For Stars is narrowly behind the top-rated Pikachu on these figures but is preferred on the strength of a progressive profile that suggests there is more to come over this nine-furlong trip at Leopardstown. Pikachu and Nola Soul are the chief dangers, with Nola Soul a clear step above the remainder of the field, while Green Dreamer merits respect if running to the ceiling of their ability. On the basis that Quest For Stars is still on the upgrade and capable of closing that slender gap to the top-rated, the selection here is Quest For Stars.
Result
Ryan Moore
A P O'Brien
quick away and settled just behind the pace in 5th at halfway - asked for effort early in the straight to hit the front a furlong out - driven out and battled on gamely to the line - edged further ahead in the finish to score
Colin Keane
Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Held up at back - driven into contention approaching 2f out to take second inside the final furlong - unable to challenge winner - stayed on same gait to finish second
James Doyle
Charlie Appleby
Sat close to front group early - third at halfway - urged forward turning into straight - driven approaching final furlong but unable to close - held to finish third
David Egan
Charlie Johnston
Sat close up early - fourth at halfway - driven approaching the straight but unable to close from a furlong out and held to finish fourth
J M Sheridan
Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Settled midfield early - niggled into 6th turning for home with no headway found over a furlong out - stayed on same gait late to finish 5th
Seamie Heffernan
J A Stack
Handy up front early - hit front turning in but overhauled inside final furlong - unable to find more and eased back into 6th
Pierre-Charles Boudot
A P O'Brien
Held up towards the back - driven up entering straight but still behind with 2f left - improved to 6th inside final furlong but flattened out to finish seventh
Declan McDonogh
Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Held up towards the back of the pack - urged forward turning into the straight but made no dent on the leaders over a furlong out - unable to find more before the finish
Gavin Ryan
A P O'Brien
Prominent early - lost position entering the straight and faded to the back - well held 9th
Non-runners: Aix La Chapelle
Racecard
Christophe Soumillon
A P O'Brien 5/37
Returned a winner last time out before being disqualified, which clouds the picture, and 51 days off the track adds a fitness query; he has experience of today's going and carries 131 lb from stall 10, but that muddled recent record makes him one to treat with caution.
- Sire
- Justify (USA)
- Dam
- Immortal Verse (IRE) by Pivotal
- Owner
- Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Merriebelle Irish Farm Limited
- Foaled
- 22 Mar 2024
- Stable
- Cashel, Co Tipperary
- Trainer last 14 days
- 5 wins from 37 runs (14%)
- Trainer running to form
- 70%
- Ratings
- Perf 80
Ryan Moore
A P O'Brien 5/37
Ranked ninth of ten on our figures and carrying a hefty 131 lb from stall six, Darkness Falls is hard to fancy here despite winning last time out; he has run over today's trip and going before, but the weight burden makes him tough to recommend.
- Sire
- Camelot (GB)
- Dam
- You'resobeautiful (IRE) by No Nay Never
- Owner
- Westerberg Mrs Magnier M Tabor D Smith
- Foaled
- 1 Jan 2024
- Stable
- Cashel, Co Tipperary
- Trainer last 14 days
- 5 wins from 37 runs (14%)
- Trainer running to form
- 70%
- Ratings
- Perf 71
J M Sheridan
Joseph Patrick O'Brien 6/56
Third last time out, and a winner two starts back, Green Dreamer brings solid recent form to this, with experience of today's trip and going an asset; at 131 lb from stall five, the weight could test his resolve.
- Sire
- Churchill (IRE)
- Dam
- Power's Dream (IRE) by Power
- Owner
- Simon Munir Isaac Souede
- Foaled
- 25 Mar 2024
- Stable
- Owning Hill, Co Kilkenny
- Trainer last 14 days
- 6 wins from 56 runs (11%)
- Trainer running to form
- 62%
- Ratings
- Perf 80
Colin Keane
Joseph Patrick O'Brien 6/56
Winless in recent starts and ranked bottom of the field on our figures, Jesus Green faces a stiff task here; he has run over today's trip and going before, and a runner-up finish last time out at least suggests some residual form to build on after a 37-day break.
- Sire
- Ghaiyyath (IRE)
- Dam
- Marbella (IRE) by Invincible Spirit
- Owner
- Chris So Chun Hung
- Foaled
- 1 Jan 2024
- Stable
- Owning Hill, Co Kilkenny
- Trainer last 14 days
- 6 wins from 56 runs (11%)
- Trainer running to form
- 62%
- Ratings
- Perf 68
Seamie Heffernan
J A Stack 2/11
Nola Soul arrives on the back of two wins in his last three starts and steps up in good heart after 21 days off, with experience of today's going adding further confidence; the chief concern is that our rating of 90 suggests he may be meeting stiffer opposition than he has faced recently.
- Sire
- Justify (USA)
- Dam
- Sing Me Home (GB) by Muhaarar
- Owner
- Craig Bernick
- Foaled
- 15 Feb 2024
- Stable
- Golden, Co. Tipperary
- Trainer last 14 days
- 2 wins from 11 runs (18%)
- Trainer running to form
- 50%
- Ratings
- Perf 90, Speed 86
David Egan
Charlie Johnston 3/35
Pikachu arrives on the back of a win last time out and has experience of today's distance and going, making him a serious threat as our top-rated runner; the main risk is whether 131 lb blunts his finishing effort.
- Sire
- Frankel (GB)
- Dam
- Bocca Baciata (IRE) by Big Bad Bob
- Owner
- Amo Racing Limited
- Foaled
- 22 Mar 2024
- Stable
- Middleham Moor, N Yorks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 3 wins from 35 runs (9%)
- Trainer running to form
- 41%
- Ratings
- Perf 95, Speed 96
James Doyle
Charlie Appleby 6/18
Three wins on the spin make Quest For Stars impossible to ignore, and he arrives here fit on 31 days' rest, having run over today's trip before. Carrying 131 lb from stall eight, his momentum is the compelling angle.
- Sire
- Sea The Stars (IRE)
- Dam
- Singforthemoment (IRE) by No Nay Never
- Owner
- Godolphin
- Foaled
- 22 Jan 2024
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 6 wins from 18 runs (33%)
- Trainer running to form
- 64%
- Ratings
- Perf 94, Speed 76
Pierre-Charles Boudot
A P O'Brien 5/37
Shakespeare arrives in solid nick after winning last time out, and a second two starts back underlines his recent consistency; he has run over today's trip and going before, though a third three starts back and a rating of 80 ranked fifth of ten suggest he faces stiff competition here.
- Sire
- Dubawi (IRE)
- Dam
- Lady Bowthorpe (GB) by Nathaniel
- Owner
- Brantmagniertaborsmithwesterberg
- Foaled
- 9 Feb 2024
- Stable
- Cashel, Co Tipperary
- Trainer last 14 days
- 5 wins from 37 runs (14%)
- Trainer running to form
- 70%
- Ratings
- Perf 80, Speed 68
Gavin Ryan
A P O'Brien 5/37
Victory Speech won last time out and has run over today's trip, but 42 days off the track and a stiff 131 lb to carry from stall seven leave questions about his fitness and ability to defy the weight, making him a mixed proposition at best.
- Sire
- Wootton Bassett (GB)
- Dam
- Words (IRE) by Dansili
- Owner
- Mrs John Magnier Michael Tabor Derrick Smith
- Foaled
- 25 Jan 2024
- Stable
- Cashel, Co Tipperary
- Trainer last 14 days
- 5 wins from 37 runs (14%)
- Trainer running to form
- 70%
- Ratings
- Perf 73
Declan McDonogh
Joseph Patrick O'Brien 6/56
Zarak Pasha won last time out and was second two starts back, but ranked eighth of ten on our figures he faces a stiff task, even if the step back to today's distance and going on a light weight of 131 lb from stall two offers some minor encouragement.
- Sire
- Zarak (FR)
- Dam
- Ray Of Sunshine (GB) by Dawn Approach
- Owner
- Simon Munir Isaac Souede
- Foaled
- 1 Jan 2024
- Stable
- Owning Hill, Co Kilkenny
- Trainer last 14 days
- 6 wins from 56 runs (11%)
- Trainer running to form
- 62%
- Ratings
- Perf 72
Draw in brackets. Headgear: b blinkers, v visor, h hood, t tongue strap, p cheekpieces, e/s eye shield; ¹ first time. C course winner, D distance winner, CD course and distance winner. Form reads oldest to newest.