Leopardstown, Sunday 7th May
The 1,000 Guineas card at Newmarket is the main fare on Sunday, but there is also a decent card at Leopardstown with some key trial races for the Oaks and the Derby next month. Our team have looked at the 3 Group races on the card and highlighted their best bets in those races.
2:15 Cornelscourt Stakes (Group 3)
It hasn’t been an easy start to 2023 for Dermot Weld, he is yet to have a winner from 35-runners this calendar year, but hopes are high for Tahiyra in the 1,000 guineas the day could get off to a good start here for the yard with TARAWA. A well-bred daughter of Shamardal, she created a striking impression when winning a filly’s maiden here in October, hitting the line strongly to get the better of several Ballydoyle fillies. She looks the type to improve as a 3-year-old and the fact that she recorded a time figure of 104 on just her 2nd start would suggest that she is certainly above average.
Most of her rivals have had more experience, but they don’t set the bar particularly high and if there is a top-class filly awaiting to emerge from this field, it is probably her.
2:50 Amethyst Stakes (Group 2)
There are some unexposed types in this race who could improve, but GOLDANA made a very striking impression when winning the Gladness Stakes on stable debut last time and it is hard to see how she doesn’t follow up here. A Listed winner in Germany for Peter Schiergen, she took her form to a new level when winning the Gladness and if anything, this looks to be a weaker contest.
She has already proved that she can handle the step back up to 1-mile and she has form in Germany on soft ground, so any rain won’t be of any real concern and if she repeats last month’s effort, she should win this with ease.
3:25 Derby Trial Stakes (Group 3)
Aiden O’Brien has won the last 4 renewals of this race, but the fact that he runs 3 and all of them arrive here with questions to answer would suggest that he may not be winning it for a fifth time in a row. Instead, this should go to PROUD AND REGAL who is trained by his son Donnacha. He was second to Al Riffa in the National Stakes last September and built on that when winning the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud in October.
With proven Group 1 form in the book, he should be hard to beat providing he has trained on as a 3-year-old.
