Fairyhouse preview: King Cuan expected to return to winning ways while O'Brien's go head-to-head in 2-year-old Maiden
A three-time winner as a juvenile in 2023, King Cuan will be expected to return to winning ways in the four-runner Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction race in Fairyhouse on Friday.
The Tasleet gelding, trained by Paddy Twomey, has started favourite for each of his five starts, shaping with plenty of promise despite a tardy start on his debut at the Curragh back in May 2023.
He went unbeaten for the rest of that season, impressing in a Cork maiden in September before landing a couple of valuable sales races in Naas.
King Cuan, owned by the Red Lily Racing Syndicate, justified 4/7 favouritism when beating Jakajaro by a length in the Goffs Sportsmans Challenge. He subsequently coped with the step-up to seven furlongs when getting the better of Duplantis by a head in the Irish EBF Auction series Final.
Unfortunately, injury kept King Cuan off the track for all of 2024. However, he made a satisfactory return to action in the listed Cork Stakes at Cork in early April, coming from the back of the field to make his challenge at the furlong-pole before weakening to finish fifth, beaten by three lengths behind Lady With The Lamp who went on to score again at listed level in Chelmsford.
Although rated 1lb. below rival Tango Flare, King Cuan is expected to have the edge and might have most to fear from Noel Meade's Naas maiden winner Rowdy Yeats, a distant second to the selection's stable-companion Currawood at Cork last time.
Joseph O'Brien will face off against father Aidan O'Brien at the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2-Y-0 Maiden. File picture: Healy Racing
Earlier, O'Briens Aidan and Joseph will go head-to-head in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2-Y-0 Maiden.
Although Carriganog colt Green Soul was unlucky when pipped by Leblon Queen on his debut at Roscommon, Ballydoyle hope Extravagant is preferred on the basis of his likely improvement from a debut second to Green Sense at the Curragh.
Another imposing son of Wootton Bassett, Extravagant hit a flat spot before staying on late at the Curragh and, expected to prove more effective over this longer trip, should be tough to beat.
Ger O'Leary's Local Lad, fourth in a conditions race at Kempton last time, boasts a rating of 92 and sets a decent standard in the Fairyhouse For BBQs Maiden.
Meanwhile, Gordon Elliott might double-up with Jigoro and Grimaud on Clonmel's hurdles card.
Outpointed by Intellotto over fences in Limerick, Jigoro looks like the one to beat in the Bulmers Original Hurdle.
Grimaud, who performed creditably when fourth to the classy Sunchart in Wexford, has Henry de Bromhead's course winner Trasna Na Pairce in the Botanica International Rated Novice Hurdle.
And, despite an 8lb. hike for a smooth success at Wexford, Onebrightbluerose might follow-up in the Bulmers Zero Handicap Hurdle.
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Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
King Cuan win the final leg of 83/1 treble for Billy Lee
King Cuan outclassed his two rivals in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Race in Fairyhouse, providing Billy Lee with the final leg of a sparkling 83/1 treble. A three-time winner at two before missing all of last season due to injury, the Paddy Twomey-trained gelding had shaped with promise in his comeback run in Cork and, sent off 10/11 favourite, tracked Rowdy Yeats before being unleashed approaching eh furlong-pole. In front early in the final furlong, King Cuan scampered clear to slam Tango Flare, winner of this race for the last two years, by two and a half lengths. 'He has plenty of class and instant acceleration,' stated Twomey, 'He ran well in Cork and this looked a good race for him. I entered him for the big seven-furlong handicap in Cork next week, but he's heading for the listed race at the Curragh on Derby weekend (the Belgrave Stakes on June 29).' And winning rider Lee added, 'He felt great today - he jumped, travelled and really stretched when I asked him. He sprinted to the line and has a lot of pace.' The Limerick man had sparked his treble on board Willie McCreery's once-raced, four-year-old filly Germanese, who got up late to deny Knockmark by a half-length in the CPAC Modular Maiden. 'Her owners' patience has paid off,' said McCreery, 'Billy gave her a lovely patient ride and, while the seven suited for her first run back, she's better at six.' Lee, now four behind Colin Keane in the title-race, was also successful on the Andy Oliver-trained Orchidaceae, who bounced back from a lack-lustre recent run at the Curragh to take the Fairy Night Handicap at the expense of Mr Jeremy. The winner is trained by Andy Oliver who said, 'She ran flat the last day and it turned out that she was in season. She settled and picked-up well tonight. We'll see where we go in handicaps. And black type will be the ultimate aim.' Gary Carroll doubled-up on Gavin Cromwell's Galiway colt Mo Chroi in the Fairyhouse For BBQs Maiden and the Joe Murphy-trained filly Dolce Far Niente, who got off the mark in a division of the ten-furlong 0-60 handicap. It was a night to remember for two young jockeys who registered their significant wins. Jo Harnett, younger brother of Paddy, savoured his breakthrough success on Mark Fahey's top-weight I Bid You Ajou in the Dino Day 9th July Handicap. Meanwhile, in Clonmel, Paul Kavanagh, from Tuam, partnered Enda Bolger's recent Tipperary scorer Gimme A Buzz to a narrow victory over Ballycashin in the Clonmel Show Handicap Hurdle, the rider's second career success and his first in Ireland. Smallcraftwarning, having his third run for John Ryan and back over hurdles, landed a significant gamble in the Bulmers Zero Handicap Hurdle but Ryan and jockey Liam McKenna were denied a double when My Gaffer was pipped by Declan Queally's Oh So Charming (Paddy O'Brien) in the featured Bulmers Original Handicap Hurdle. 'All he does is jump and he'll be lovely over fences,' said Mike O'Connor after partnering 4/6 shot Trasna Na Pairce to as clear-cut, all-the-way win in the Botanica International Rated Novice Hurdle.
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Fairyhouse preview: King Cuan expected to return to winning ways while O'Brien's go head-to-head in 2-year-old Maiden
A three-time winner as a juvenile in 2023, King Cuan will be expected to return to winning ways in the four-runner Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction race in Fairyhouse on Friday. The Tasleet gelding, trained by Paddy Twomey, has started favourite for each of his five starts, shaping with plenty of promise despite a tardy start on his debut at the Curragh back in May 2023. He went unbeaten for the rest of that season, impressing in a Cork maiden in September before landing a couple of valuable sales races in Naas. King Cuan, owned by the Red Lily Racing Syndicate, justified 4/7 favouritism when beating Jakajaro by a length in the Goffs Sportsmans Challenge. He subsequently coped with the step-up to seven furlongs when getting the better of Duplantis by a head in the Irish EBF Auction series Final. Unfortunately, injury kept King Cuan off the track for all of 2024. However, he made a satisfactory return to action in the listed Cork Stakes at Cork in early April, coming from the back of the field to make his challenge at the furlong-pole before weakening to finish fifth, beaten by three lengths behind Lady With The Lamp who went on to score again at listed level in Chelmsford. Although rated 1lb. below rival Tango Flare, King Cuan is expected to have the edge and might have most to fear from Noel Meade's Naas maiden winner Rowdy Yeats, a distant second to the selection's stable-companion Currawood at Cork last time. Joseph O'Brien will face off against father Aidan O'Brien at the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2-Y-0 Maiden. File picture: Healy Racing Earlier, O'Briens Aidan and Joseph will go head-to-head in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2-Y-0 Maiden. Although Carriganog colt Green Soul was unlucky when pipped by Leblon Queen on his debut at Roscommon, Ballydoyle hope Extravagant is preferred on the basis of his likely improvement from a debut second to Green Sense at the Curragh. Another imposing son of Wootton Bassett, Extravagant hit a flat spot before staying on late at the Curragh and, expected to prove more effective over this longer trip, should be tough to beat. Ger O'Leary's Local Lad, fourth in a conditions race at Kempton last time, boasts a rating of 92 and sets a decent standard in the Fairyhouse For BBQs Maiden. Meanwhile, Gordon Elliott might double-up with Jigoro and Grimaud on Clonmel's hurdles card. Outpointed by Intellotto over fences in Limerick, Jigoro looks like the one to beat in the Bulmers Original Hurdle. Grimaud, who performed creditably when fourth to the classy Sunchart in Wexford, has Henry de Bromhead's course winner Trasna Na Pairce in the Botanica International Rated Novice Hurdle. And, despite an 8lb. hike for a smooth success at Wexford, Onebrightbluerose might follow-up in the Bulmers Zero Handicap Hurdle.
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Expect Jannah Star to improve and take Curragh victory
Curragh hosts a particularly good midweek programme, and the nap goes to Jannah Star, who can build on a promising first start by taking the Gannon Interiors Fillies' Maiden. Unraced at two, she made her racing debut in late April at Limerick track and was notably strong in the market. However, having led from halfway, she was unable to fend off the late challenges of Bay Colony and Matrice. That outing is sure to have brought her forward quite considerably, and on this quicker ground, she will take a great deal of beating despite this being a decent race. It's A Heartbeat showed promise on debut and is also like to step forward quite a bit, but the biggest danger may come from Tenoya, who finished third behind stablemate Royal Entry on her recent debut, in Cork. She ran a great race despite being stable second string and an even bolder showing is likely. The day's most competitive race is the €50,000 guaranteed, three-year-olds-only Sky Bet Premier Handicap, over five furlongs, and Sarahmae can land the spoils for Denis Hogan and Joey Sheridan. A breakthrough winner in April at Tipperary, she ran two fine races before getting back to winning ways last time out, back at Tipperary. The 7lb rise for that victory doesn't look to have overburdened her, and the progressive filly can get the better of some smart rivals. Unexpected Issues is far from the finished article but has the ability to play a leading role, despite having to give weight to all of her rivals, and the same comment applies to bottom weight Tropical Retreat, who will surely prove far better than her current mark of 72 when she learns to do things right. She is a serious player today, provided she doesn't leave her race at the stalls, as she did last time out, in Cork. At bigger prices, Saratoga Special has each-way claims. Aidan O'Brien has made a great start to the season with his two-year-olds, and Amadeus Mozart, who is the stable selected from three runners, is another likely type in the opener, a seven-furlong maiden. Flushing Meadows, who contests the second race, a six-furlong maiden, may well be a future star, but Evening Blues, who was only run down close home by Albert Einstein on his second start, sets quite a standard and it will take something considerably above average to lower his colours. Tommy Lyons' Curragh picks: 4:45 Amadeus Mozart 5:15 Evening Blues 5:50 Marlborough Place 6:20 Sarahmae (nb) 6:55 Jannah Star (nap) 7:30 Mr Percy 8:00 Annie Lavinia 8:30 Ukiyo Next best 4:45 Green Soul 5:15 Flushing Meadows 5:50 Stella Alpina 6:20 Tropical Treat 6:55 Tenoya 7:30 Harbour Wind 8:00 Steel Magnolia 8:30 Secret Magician
