Top 2yo´s at the Curragh

We have had a whole series of good races for 2yo´s at Newmarket this week, and now the youngest generation also takes the spotlight at the Irish meeting at the Curragh today. 4 of the first 5 races are reserved for juveniles., including the main feature, the Group Two Beresford Stakes over a mile at 17.15 CET. This race has been won in the past by such giants as Nijinsky, Sea the Stars and St. Nicholas Abbey, but there appears to be nothing of that calibre in today´s field. Exogenesis (Ger Lyons/ Gary Carroll) is actually top-rated, having won 3 times and then running third in a Group Two here over 7 furlongs, but he is no champion. Aidan O´Brien has won this race 12 times and now saddles 2 of the 6 runners - Geoffrey Chaucer (Joseph O´Brien), who won his only start at odds-on back in July but probably did not beat much, and Oklahoma City (Seamus Heffernan), runner-up in a Group Three here in July. Johnny Murtagh, who can do no wrong at present, trains and rides Altruistic, also winner of his only start and up in grade. Geoffrey Chaucer, a half-brother to Shamardal, is probably the horse with the greatest potential and his trainer has a good line to top 2yo form, but this is not a race to bet on.

The O´Brien´s also have a Chance in the Group Three for 2yo fillies at 15.40 with Minorette, bit here we prefer My Titania (John Oxx/ Declan McDonogh) and Tarfasha (Dermot Weld/ Pat Smullen). This trip of 7 furlongs could be on the short side for Tarfasha, a half-sister to Group One performers Galileo Rock and Saddlers Rock, althoughWeld would of course love to win this race named after his father. However it would be nice to see Oxx take a good race with a son of Sea the Stars and racing in the same colours.

The O´Brien´s should certainly win the listed race for 2yo´s over 6 furlongs at 16.15 with the promising Guerre, while they have another good chance in the listed race over 2 miles at 18.20 with Eye of the Storm, a lightly-raced 3yo who is up in distance today, but can reverse recent form with Missunited (Mick Winters/ Herffernan), who is also a smart hurdler; so is Weld´ s Unaccompanied (Smullen) and she is our selection, although some rain would help.

It never ceases to amaze how poor are the cards put on in the U.K. on a Sunday, and today we just have two modest flat meetings at Epsom and Musselburgh. German-bred Broughton (Mark Johnston/ Neil Callan) at 16.55 and Omar Khayyam (Andrew Balding/ Oison Murphy) in the Apprentices Derby at 17.30 could possibly both repay each-way support at the Surrey track. Johnston could also do well in Scotland, with Light Rose (Joe Fanning) possibly his best chance at 16.35.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Tested - Kaminari - Dance With Another
2. Race: Minorette - Tarfasha - My Titania
3. Race: Guerre - Shining Emerald - Boom The Groom
4. Race: Nero Emperor - Greek Canyon - Gathering Power
5. Race: Oklahoma City - Exogenesis - Geoffrey Chaucer
6. Race: Campanology - Regulation - Line Drummer
7. Race: Eye Of The Storm - Unaccompanied - Missunited