Paul Jacobs: My Five for Sunday at the Curragh

Aidan O’Brien is kind of a secret indulgence of mine. I mean I love the guy and his lovely family, having interviewed Joseph at his yard and found his clan the most lovely, gentle and thoroughly likeable people in the industry, AND YET I am, purely from a racing/pundit perspective, still at odds with Aidan’s team tactical perspective in any given big race.

That’s when he uses a squad for the benefit of the number one horse in his make-up, cue the Lockinge Stakes, last year’s Leger, numerous renewals of the Epsom Derby and specifically the use of Murillo in this year’s 2,000 Guineas who was never going to stay a stiff mile in a decade of Sundays!

So with four of the seven entries for the Group Two Kilboy Stakes at 3.30pm it is becoming easier, certainly in my mind, to establish team tactics with Sarrocchi quite obviously the hare to chase. Should that be declared by the trainer? Hmmmm I think so for the ordinary small punter who doesn’t decipher the form and merely sees an O’Brien horse at huge odds and thinks that’s worth a fiver each-way.

Either way, the feature race of the day will be Ballydoyle bound in the form of Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Fillies’ third SEPTEMBER who is making her long awaited comeback and will relish the top of the ground conditions. This looks a really good starting point for this athletic daughter of Galileo and I have to admit I have had a few shekels on her for the end of season Breeder’s Cup Fillies and Mares Turf at a naughty price as I think that will be her end and main season aim for this lightly raced and relatively fresh filly.

However, for me still the daddy of all trainers is Dermot Weld and it has to be very significant that he runs the once raced BONA FIDE in a handicap off a mark of 85 at the 4.05pm Fillies Handicap, on what is only her second career start having won a maiden at Gowran Park on her career debut last month.

The sixth from that maiden has since gone on to win a low key handicap, but this daughter of Frankel looks destined for better things and this should merely be a stepping stone for richer pickings into the autumn of this campaign.

The beautifully bred Zarina looks sure to step up on her debut when she contests the one mile fillies’ maiden for the 21 times Champion Trainer at 5.15pm, but the nod goes to the equally blue blooded PARK BLOOM who finally gets a chance to shine over a mile having looked a non stayer over further for Jim Bolger.

Micheal Dods isn’t viewed in the same superstar bracket as an O’Brien, Weld or Bolger but in MABS CROSS he has a genuine Group One sprinter under his care and rightfully should head the market for the Sapphire Stakes at 2.55pm. This daughter of the great Dutch Art is going to be a major player in next month’s Nunthorpe Stakes at York and this looks a nice prize to pick up on the way for the King’s Stand Stakes’ third.

Joseph O’Brien looks to have a likely sort for the nursery at 2.20pm in the form of FACETHEPUCKOUT. Three qualifying runs have landed this well made colt with a handicap mark of just 75 and judged on his last run at Leopardstown I would suggest he is just about the nap of the day to take advantage of the 15lbs he is set to receive from the top weight Evasive Power.

Paul Jacobs’ Selections:

2.20pm – Facethepuckout @ 7/2
2.55pm – Mabs Cross @ 13/8
3.30pm – September @ 9/4
4.05pm – Bona Fide @ 9/4
5.15pm – Park Bloom @ 13/8

*All prices correct at time of posting