Sea The Lion, far side, and Gustavus Vassa© Photo Healy Racing
Sea The Lion and Gustavus Vassa respective first and second in the Cork Derby, renew rivalry at the Curragh this evening — but the Irish Stallion Farms EBF ‘Ragusa’ Handicap is far from a two-horse race.
Sea The Lion is actually bidding to go back-to-back in this mile-and-a-half heat.
Twelve months on, Jarlath Fahey’s great servant must contend with a 14Ib higher mark which equates to top weight for this assignment.
That will not be easy for the Sea The Stars gelding. He beat Gustavus Vassa by a nose at Cork and he meets that Willie Mullins-trained opponent 2Ib worse off now.
Mullins also has Law Girl in the mix, and this Listowel victor has the assistance of champion jockey Colin Keane.
A trio from the classic generation take on their elders, and clearly the most fascinating of these is Change Of Velocity
Jim Bolger has the Ulster Derby hero out quick after his dominant display in the Down Royal highlight last Saturday which saw him rise 9Ib in the ratings.
The progressive Teofilo youngster now has an official mark of 100, and that makes him a very dangerous rival to all.
Fellow three-year-old James Cook is back on home soil after his efforts cross-Channel this term.
Ballydoyle’s hope most recently finished well down the field in the Britannia at Royal Ascot.
Another notable aspect to the Ragusa line-up is the fact that Edward O’Grady has two participants — Le Vagabond (Billy Lee) and Roconga (Tom Madden).
Thirty-five minutes earlier, the Her.ie Apprentice Derby sees Change Of Velocity’s trainer Jim Bolger pitch Vocal Resurgence and Dawn Hoofer into battle.
Willie Byrne rides recent Down Royal third, Vocal Resurgence, while Gavin Ryan receives the call-up for Dawn Hoofer, second at Gowran Park on Sunday.
As Irish Derby weekend kicks off, there is one British raider on the card, Paul Midgley sending across Buccaneers Vault (Leigh Roche up) for the Joe.ie Handicap.
