GSTAAD Heads Declaration for Saturday’s Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas

Guineas weekend Saturday and Sunday at the Curragh

GSTAAD heads the ten runners declared for Saturday’s Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas with the Newmarket Guineas runner-up a warm favourite to provide Aidan O’Brien with his 13th win in the first Irish classic of the season.

His stable companion Neolithic is also declared for the Group 1 contest at 3.40pm that includes three overseas challengers including Alparslan (Karl Burke), who landed the valuable Tattersalls Sales race on his previous visit to the Curragh last September.

Charlie Appleby, who won this race in 2022 with Native Trail, is doubly represented with Billy Loughnane booked to ride Distant Storm, eight lengths behind Gstaad in third at Newmarket, and Jamie Spencer on board stable companion Pacific Avenue.

Thesecretadversary (Fozzy Stack), over nine lengths behind Gstaad in Newmarket, also runs along with Gowran maiden winner Go Just Do It representing trainer Joseph O’Brien, who won this classic three times as a rider aboard Roderic O’Connor (2011), Power (2012) and Magician (2013).

The Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas field is completed by Bamako Beach (Michael O’Callaghan), Power Blue (Robson Aguiar) and Take-Charge Star (Johnny Murtagh).

The Group 2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes has been reduced to 11 with five British-trained challengers bidding to extend their grip on this race having captured the last four renewals.

Last year’s winner James’s Delight (Clive Cox) and shock 200-1 winner of the Group 1 Ascot Champions Sprint Powerful Glory (Richard Fahey) are both declared with William Haggas running Montassib. Marvelman (Andrew Balding) and Spycatcher (Karl Burke) complete the British quintet.

Commanche Brave (Donnacha O’Brien) is a notable domestic challenger with Ryan Moore booked to ride while Robson De Aguiar’s Bucanero Fuerte, a four-time winner at the Curragh, is also left in along with his stable companion Valiant Force. Big Gossey (Charles O’Brien), a winner nine times at the Curragh and third in this race last year also runs with Chicago Critic (Johnny Murtagh) and Fregada (Johnny Feane) completing the field.

The Group 3 Heider Family Stables Gallinule Stakes has nine declared with Aidan O’Brien, seeking his 20th win in the race, represented by Causeway, Amadeus Mozart and Drop Dead Gorgeous while his son Joseph, seeking his third win in the race, has Shosholoza.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool with be in operation for all nine races from the Curragh this Saturday with bettors from over 20 nations betting into the Tote pools starting at 1.20pm with eight declared for the Tally Ho Stud Irish EBF Maiden.

A field of 10 line up for the Sherry Fitzgerald Country Homes-sponsored Orby Stakes with the NorthStandard Handicap attracting 14 runners with 23 confirmed for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Habitat Handicap. The concluding O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Irish EBF Maiden has 17 runners.

Clerk of the course Paddy Graffin reported the going as good to yielding on Thursday morning and added: “I spoke to Met Eireann this morning and the update from them is to be mainly dry and overcast for today and tomorrow with temperatures set to rise Saturday into Sunday. We have five yards of fresh ground for Sunday but it’s beautiful easy side of good ground currently.”

ENDS

GATES OPEN Saturday May 23th 12 noon  1st of 9 races 1.20pm

TRANSPORT Complimentary bus service from Kildare & Newbridge Town Centres and Stations and Naas Town Centre.  All times on curragh.ie