Falcon Eight leads them home at the Curragh© Photo Healy Racing
Falcon Eight puts his unbeaten record on the line in the Loughbrown Stakes at Naas on Sunday.
Dermot Weld ’s three-year-old is a half-brother to three seriously high-class products of Moyglare Stud Farm in Free Eagle, Custom Cut and Sapphire and so far he has upheld family honour admirably.
An impressive debut success at the Curragh was followed by an even more dominant display at Killarney and the Galileo colt steps up in distance and class for this two-mile Group Three.
Fiona Craig, representing Moyglare, said: “It’s a bit of an exploration as much as anything. He’s won two small races over a mile and a half and this is a big jump up in class and trip.
“I think if we’re going to try to find out whether he’ll get two miles, this is a good time to do it.
“If the ground came up like a bog I’m not sure we’d be running, but conditions should be fine.
“He’s in good form and we should know a lot more about him after Sunday, hopefully.”
Last year’s winner Renneti is back to defend his crown for Willie Mullins, with champion jockey Colin Keane taking the ride.
The nine-year-old ran a fine race to fill the runner-up spot in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, but has since finished down the field in the Prix Kergorlay at Deauville, the Irish St Leger Trial at the Curragh and the Doncaster Cup.
Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, said: “His run at Royal Ascot was him in his true colours, but he has been a bit disappointing since.
“He won this race a year ago and has won at Naas twice overall. I think the ground was soft on both occasions, but it was fast ground when he ran so well in Ascot.
“If he runs up to his best he’ll be competitive, but whether he’ll run up to his best is anyone’s guess.”
Aidan O’Brien saddles Cypress Creek (Ryan Moore), Victory Salute (Donnacha O’Brien) and Zabriskie (Seamie Heffernan).
Jim Bolger ’s Twilight Payment Luke Comer’s Kingston Girl and the Jessica Harrington-trained Persian Lion complete the eight-strong field.
