14:50
Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes (Group 2)
Group 2, Class 1, 7f, Flat, 2yo, €78,000, 5 runners
Winning time 1m 25.28s
- Going
- Good
- Surface
- Turf
Tip for this race
All today's tips ›Green Empress heads this five-runner Curragh contest narrowly ahead of Alpha and Ibelieveicanfly on a rating of 94, though the gap to that duo is modest enough to keep confidence measured, and any one of Alpha, Ibelieveicanfly or Dancing Destiny could make a race of it on the day. Green Empress is the pick, but punters should be aware this is far from a foregone conclusion. Green Empress is the selection.
Result
No. 4, stall 1
2yo, 9-2, OR –
J: Dylan Browne McMonagle · T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Dylan Browne McMonagle
Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Sat just off the pace in 3rd - hampered for room and moved left approaching the final furlong - driven to stay on strongly and got up to score late
No. 3, stall 3
2yo, 9-2, OR 101
J: Declan McDonogh · T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Declan McDonogh
Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Tracked pace-setter early - shared front spot approaching 2 1/2f out - pushed along 2f out and edged in front 1 1/2f out - stayed on well - hit front inside final 50 yards - caught in the last strides for second
Wayne Lordan
A P O'Brien
Set the pace under pressure - challenged approaching 2f out and asked for effort - edged in front with a furlong and a half left - overtaken inside the last 50 yards - unable to find more and just held off
Ronan Whelan
A P O'Brien
Settled towards rear early - up into 4th soon after - pressed for effort with 2f left but couldn't get on terms with front-runners - stayed on at one speed to finish 4th
Chris Hayes
Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Jumped hastily and none too smoothly at the break - settled towards the back - pushed along with no headway made 2f out - well held at the finish
Racecard
Wayne Lordan
A P O'Brien 9/49
Alpha arrives in red-hot form, winning two of her last three starts including back-to-back victories, and she has experience over today's trip and conditions; the main risk is that our rating of 87 leaves her with something to find.
- Sire
- Sea The Stars (IRE)
- Dam
- Alpha Centauri (IRE) by Mastercraftsman
- Owner
- Flaxman Stables Mrs Magnier M Tabor D Smith
- Foaled
- 1 Jan 2024
- Stable
- Cashel, Co Tipperary
- Trainer last 14 days
- 9 wins from 49 runs (18%)
- Trainer running to form
- 64%
- Ratings
- Perf 87, Speed 87
Chris Hayes
Joseph Patrick O'Brien 11/66
Ranked bottom of five on our figures and her speed rating of 75 gives little encouragement, though she does arrive on the back of a win two starts back and has experience over today's trip and conditions, so she isn't entirely without hope.
- Sire
- Lope De Vega (IRE)
- Dam
- American Bridge (GB) by Kodiac
- Owner
- Oxleyoconnorballyhimikin
- Foaled
- 1 Jan 2024
- Stable
- Owning Hill, Co Kilkenny
- Trainer last 14 days
- 11 wins from 66 runs (17%)
- Trainer running to form
- 62%
- Ratings
- Perf 80
Declan McDonogh
Joseph Patrick O'Brien 11/66
Dancing Destiny arrives in fine fettle after winning two starts back and filling the runner-up spot last time out, with experience over today's trip and conditions lending her a solid each-way profile at 128 lb from stall three; the main concern is that our rating of 86 leaves her potentially vulnerable to the top-rated runner.
- Sire
- Magna Grecia (IRE)
- Dam
- Dancing Approach (GB) by Camelot
- Owner
- Fishdance Limited
- Foaled
- 1 Jan 2024
- Stable
- Owning Hill, Co Kilkenny
- Trainer last 14 days
- 11 wins from 66 runs (17%)
- Trainer running to form
- 62%
- Ratings
- Perf 86, Speed 81
Dylan Browne McMonagle
Joseph Patrick O'Brien 11/66
Consistently placed in her last two starts, Green Empress has run over today's trip and going and arrives fresh after 56 days off; winless in recent starts, but her rating heads the field and she looks the one to beat from stall one.
- Sire
- Saxon Warrior (JPN)
- Dam
- Sea Empress (IRE) by Sea The Stars
- Owner
- The Thoroughbred Racing Corporation Ltd
- Foaled
- 1 Mar 2024
- Stable
- Owning Hill, Co Kilkenny
- Trainer last 14 days
- 11 wins from 66 runs (17%)
- Trainer running to form
- 62%
- Ratings
- Perf 94
Ronan Whelan
A P O'Brien 9/49
Ibelieveicanfly was a winner last time out and has run over today's trip and going, giving her a solid all-round profile at 128 lb from stall five; the main risk is that her consistency has wavered, with a fourth two starts back.
- Sire
- Frankel (GB)
- Dam
- That Which Is Not (USA) by Elusive Quality
- Owner
- Michael Tabor Derrick Smith Mrs John Magnier Flaxman S
- Foaled
- 1 Jan 2024
- Stable
- Cashel, Co Tipperary
- Trainer last 14 days
- 9 wins from 49 runs (18%)
- Trainer running to form
- 64%
- Ratings
- Perf 87, Speed 79
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.