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Precise turns the tables to take Irish 1,000 Guineas

 Precise and Wayne Lordan (right) head True Love (centre) and Albashiri Precise and Wayne Lordan (right) head True Love (centre) and Albashiri
© Healy Racing Photos

Precise followed in the footsteps of last year’s winner Lake Victoria by leaving Newmarket disappointment in the past to land the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas in decisive fashion.

Sent off favourite for the opening fillies Classic of the season despite a less than ideal preparation, a lack of fitness ultimately told on the Rowley Mile as Wayne Lordan and True Love stormed to 1000 Guineas glory.

Jettisoned by Ryan Moore who switched to the Newmarket winner and 4-6 favourite for the Curragh equivalent, it proved a different story this time around for the daughter of Starspangledbanner who was the mount of Lordan and sent off 4-1 to add to her impressive juvenile haul.

With True Love following the pace set by Charlie Appleby’s raider Abashiri amongst the cluster on the far rail, it looked like Moore’s decision to ride the favourite would prove justified as she hit the front travelling well heading down to the furlong marker.

However, she had no answer to Precise’s blistering acceleration inside the final furlong as the champion two-year-old filly claimed Classic redemption by two and a half lengths.

Winning trainer Aidan O'Brien said "She really stepped forward today and Wayne gave her a beautiful ride. In Newmarket, Ryan was on the 'wrong' side and when he made his move, she got tired, needed the run and Ryan looked after her in the last half-furlong.

"Roger (Quinlan), who rides her every day, said this morning that she was a different filly than the one going to Newmarket. Wayne gave her a beautiful ride and we're over the moon.

"We were talking on the way to the races and Annemarie (wife) said how much stamina is in the pedigree and she is out of a really good and genuine Galileo-mare. Obviously the lads (Coolmore syndicate) will make the decision regarding running in the English Oaks so we'll say how she comes out of today. There is a good chance she'll run and Ryan (Moore) felt today that she was running, to go to the Oaks.

"It is a very exciting and she has an incredible pedigree.

"It is very difficult on Ryan and we discussed riding arrangements before declaration time. It was very hard for him not to ride True Love and while he didn't ride her in Newmarket because we weren't sure she would get a mile, but she did.

"Precise was only beaten five lengths at Newmarket, which isn't that much for this type of filly but she is a serious one and is as good as we've had. It looks like she will have no problem going further."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes

1st
4/1
Tote €5.95 €1.55
2nd
2.5L
4/6Fav
€1.01
3rd
0.5L
6/1
€2.00
4th
2.75L
28/1
About Tom Weekes
A lifelong racing fan, Tom began writing point to point reports in 2002 and has reported for irishracing.com since 2003, when he joined Irish Racing Services - since taken over by the Press Association. Has ridden a point to point winner and won the 2018 Irish Field Naps Table.