24-05-2025
Keane backing White Birch for Tattersalls Gold Cup defence
Colin Keane will be gunning for a second Curragh Group One success of the weekend in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, when his old ally White Birch defends the trophy they claimed so impressively together 12 months ago.
On that occasion, John Joseph Murphy's popular grey ran out an emphatic victor over Auguste Rodin and another Aidan O'Brien-trained Classic winner in Los Angeles is rated his biggest rival this time.
White Birch was having his first outing since that triumph when edged out by last year's Irish Derby hero here in the Mooresbridge Stakes recently and their quick rematch promises to be just as thrilling.
Keane, who enjoyed an easy success in the Irish 2,000 Guineas on Field Of Gold, told Tattersalls: 'White Birch had a very good first run back having been off the track for nearly a year and you'd like to think he would have improved from the run by all accounts.
'He has come out of the race very happy, and everyone is looking forward to having him out again.
'He loves the Curragh and although it's one of the strongest renewals of the race, he's coming there in good nick and any rain that falls will help him.
'I'm looking forward to getting back on him.'
Leading the British hopes is Andrew Balding's Kalpana, winner of the Group One Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot on her final start last term and the current ante-post favourite for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
She was an intended runner in the Middleton Stakes at York for her return to action, but an unsatisfactory scope put paid to that plan and she has been rerouted to the Curragh instead having shaken off that ailment.
'She's all good, York was obviously Plan A and this is Plan B,' said Barry Mahon, European racing manager to owner and breeder Juddmonte.
'It's probably as deep a Tattersalls Gold Cup as I can remember, it's a very, very strong renewal with multiple top-class horses in there.
'We're hopeful of a good run, it's her first run back this year and it's over 10 furlongs, which is probably short enough for her.
'I think we'll learn a bit more about her and it'll set her up nicely for a nice campaign as a four-year-old.'
Owen Burrows' Anmaat is another British-trained challenger and he too makes his seasonal debut having signed off last term with a Group One success in the Champion Stakes on the same Ascot card.
Angus Gold, racing manager to owners Shadwell, said: 'It will be great to see him in action again, they've done a great job with him at home.
'He's an elder statesman now and he did very well for himself over the winter and they've done very well to get that off him.
'To be fair to the horse, he's such a star, he loves his job and he still seems as enthusiastic as ever.
'He's bound to need the run, but equally he's as well as he can be at home. He's as fit as he can be without a run.
'We've had a bit of rain in Ireland, good ground would be perfect for him and hopefully he'll go there with a very good chance.
'It looks a red-hot race and I think that's a consequence of the ground being so fast everywhere else.'
Clive Cox runs Ghostwriter and Karl Burke has entered Prix Ganay third Royal Rhyme to complete the British contingent.
