Dynamic Duo Aidan O'Brien and Johnny Murtagh Aiming for the Champion Trainers fourth Irish Champion Stakes
Johnny Murtagh was the guest of honour at the launch of the 2008 Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes today at the Merrion Hotel.
Once again, the Group 1 Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes, to be run at Leopardstown on September 6th, is shaping up to be one of the highlights of the racing year. And once again, Aidan O'Brien, who is still well on track this year to train more Group 1 winners in a season than any trainer in the world ever has, holds the key.
When O'Brien sent out subsequent Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Dylan Thomas to land the race last year, not only was the colt leading home an O'Brien 1-2-3, he was also providing the master of Ballydoyle with a hat-trick of victories in the race, and his fourth Irish Champion Stakes win in five years.
Plans have yet to be finalised, but last year's runner-up, Duke Of Marmalade, could be the main Ballydoyle hope this year. The son of Danehill, free from the niggly injuries that hindered him last season, has landed four Group 1 prizes in as many attempts already this year, his latest victory arguably his most impressive when he battled back tenaciously on the far side after being headed by Papal Bull inside the final furlong in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot last month.
O'Brien is responsible for 12 possible contenders still in the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes, and this dozen includes Soldier Of Fortune, winner of last year's Irish Derby and this year's Coronation Cup, and Listen, last year's Fillies' Mile winner who has yet to make her debut this season, while dual Guineas hero Henrythenavigator remains a possible. The Kingmambo colt has never gone beyond a mile, but the Breeders' Cup Classic over 10 furlongs appears to be on his radar, and it may be significant that Giant's Causeway and Hawk Wing, both Ballydoyle colts, took in the Irish Champion Stakes before their respective attempts at landing the Breeders' Cup Classic in 2000 and 2002 respectively.
The Irish Champion Stakes is one of three races that have been mentioned by Jim Bolger as a possible target for New Approach's return to the racecourse. Narrowly beaten by Henrythenavigator in both the English and Irish 2000 Guineas, last year's champion juvenile put up one of the performances of the season thus far to win the Epsom Derby, coming from a long way back and producing a telling turn of foot to land the spoils.
Dermot Weld has confirmed that his Epsom Derby third and Irish Derby runner-up Casual Conquest is on track for the race, while the potential overseas challenge looks strong, headed by the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Promising Lead, Godolphin's Rio De La Plata, and a quintet from the Henry Cecil yard, including Phoenix Tower and Twice Over.
The Group 1 Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes on the same day, for fillies and mares, boasts entries from some of the top distaff milers in training in Europe, including Halfway To Heaven, Lush Lashes, Finsceal Beo, Mad About You, Listen, Spacious and Darjina.
