Bachir made history at the Curragh on Saturday when becoming the first colt to complete the French/Irish 2,000 Guineas double.
Frankie Dettori, sporting the blue silks of Godolphin, rode a fine tactical race from the front. The Italian set a sedate pace on the son of Desert Style, and gradually quickened the tempo to retain the advantage. Giant`s Causeway, 9/10 favourite having already finished runner-up at Newmarket, slowly narrowed the gap but still came up a neck short at the line.
The ever popular Dettori performed his customary flying dismount in the winner`s enclosure, and Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford nominated the St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot as the next target. He will face stablemate China Visit in that Group 1 event before a well-earned summer break.
Incidentally, the French/Irish 1,000 Guineas double was achieved by L`Attrayante in 1983.
There was a real international flavour to the winner of Sunday`s 1,000 Guineas. The Clive Brittain-trainedCrimplene - like Bachir a supplementary entry on Tuesday at a cost of #25,000 - travelled to the Curragh on the back of previous runs this year in Dubai, England, Italy and Dusssldorf where she won the German 1,000 Guineas. Philip Robinson had her up with the pace throughout to beat Amethyst, one of five runners from the Aidan O`Brien stable, by a length and a half.
O`Brien earlier introduced a cracking juvenile in the six furlong maiden. Darwin scorched home by seven lengths, and the son of Danehill looks one to follow in the coming months.
The term in, or out, of fashion is part of the hazards of a jockey`s life, and Warren O`Connor can certainly testify to the roller-coaster nature of the profession. The Irish 1,000 Guineas victory of Kooyonga in 1991 appeared set to launch the Wexford rider on the road to stardom but his career has suffered a very barren spell in recent years. O`Connor has returned to the spotlight with three wins in the space of four days this week, and hopefully this can spark a `second coming`.
The changed going at Roscommon on Monday was the cause of much concern and, for varying reasons, 20 horses were withdrawn. The overnight description of `good` was adjusted to good-firm (Flat & hurdles) and firm on the chase course. The more cynical among us would see a trend by officials to avoid the use of the dreaded words `firm` or at the other end of the scale `heavy` in going reports.
There were a couple of interesting performances on the track at Leopardstown on Wednesday. Little Firefly certainly appears the best juvenile filly seen so far this season judged on her winning debut, while Enzeli remains on course for a repeat win in the Ascot Gold Cup despite a narrow defeat to Royal Rebel on his reappearance in the Saval Beg Stakes.
Dermot Hogan was not at Clonmel on Thursday but he still made the headlines when Persian Isle marked his first training success. However as his assistant Pat Morris explained: 'Dermot is relinquishing his licence next week, and I will lease his yard to train 17 horses including Persian Isle.'
Joe Collins had a taxing evening in his role as starter at Down Royal on Friday. He presided over two false starts in Flat races, and punters were left aggrieved in the bumper after well-backed second favourite Good Vintage unseated Davy Russell at flagfall. The white flagman kept his flag aloft in the belief that the runners would be called back but Collins adjudged it was `a fair start`.
In fairness to the starter, the absence of starting stalls for the five and seven furlong races is difficult to stomach. The professionalism of racing, not to mention our old friend the `fair start`, are at stake. The stalls currently used at country meetings are also causing huge delays. The system only allows for horses to be loaded in order, with those drawn high going in first. The off times at Fairyhouse recently were up to 15 minutes late after a horse refused to enter the stalls. Surely the systemcan be adjusted so that troublesome horses can be left last to enter the stalls!
The Association of Irish Racecourses (AIR) appears set for further internal conflict. A number of AIR members opposed official policy earlier this year when supporting Charlie McCreevy`s proposal to merge the main racing bodies. There is another storm now brewing over sponsorship at courses from offshore or internet bookmakers. The AIR view such sponsorship as `promoting a competitive product`. Downpatrick and Punchestown have both recently staged races sponsored by Isle of Man based betinternet.com.
