Madhmoon (Chris Hayes) beating Sydney Opera House on debut at Leopardstown© Photo Healy Racing
Exciting prospect Madhmoon makes his return to action in the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.
The Group Two contest looks the pick of a cracking under-card at Foxrock as Irish Champions Weekend gets under way.
Kevin Prendergast ’s charge made a big impression when running out a stylish winner on his debut at the Dublin venue last month.
He quickened up impressively inside the final furlong to account for Sydney Opera House and marked himself out as a classy prospect.
The runner-up went on to frank the form with a Curragh maiden win and lines up again in opposition.
Jockey bookings would suggest that Broome is the first choice from Ballydoyle, however, with Donnacha O’Brien getting the leg up on him.
The Australia colt has been slowly away from the gates on each of his three runs to date and while he overcame that to score in maiden company at Galway, he could not peg them back in the Acomb Stakes at York last time.
He looks a talented sort, however, and if things go to plan he could be a big player.
The other Group Two on the card is the Clipper Logistics Boomerang Stakes and Ballydoyle are also well represented here with three runners.
Recent impressive Irish Cambridgeshire winner Kenya steps back into Pattern company in the one-mile contest but he would appear the outsider of the trio on jockeys bookings.
Donnacha O’Brien rides recent Gowran maiden winner Prepare For Battle and Ryan Moore, who travels over from Doncaster for the second half of the card, gets the mount on I Can Fly
The last named filly did not get the run of the race after a slow start at Tipperary last time and may be capable of better.
Irish Derby runner-up Rostropovich takes a drop in class in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Stakes earlier on the card.
The son of Frankel found things a bit tough against top-level older horses in the King George at Ascot on his last outing, but faces easier opposition in this Group Three contest.
The card opens with a very competitive looking Listed race for fillies in the Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle Stakes. Iridessa contested one of the strongest two-year-old races run so far this season when fifth in the Debutante Stakes won by Skitter Scatter at the Curragh last month and that experience should stand to her.
She faces a couple of impressive last-time-out maiden winners in Trethias and Foxtrot Liv who both scored in some style at the Curragh.
