Irish Sunday Preview: Broome looks a real pearler

Sunday’s pattern-race action at Leopardstown begins with the Group 3 Amethyst Stakes, a race which has yet to have a double-figure field this century and will once again be a tightly-knit affair, with six runners taking their chance.  

Only the Dermot Weld-trained Famous Name has managed to win this race on more than one occasion in that time, winning this three times in a row from 2010-2012, though last year’s winner Zihba is aiming to follow in his footsteps on Sunday.

Extending his unbeaten record to three when winning this 12 months ago,  Zihba was purchased by Al Shaqab Racing on the back of that, but has largely struggled since, disappointing in the Irish 2000 Guineas on his next start. His most recent effort, when second in a listed contest over C&D last month (Verbal Dexterity fifth), was a step back in the right direction, though he may require softer conditions than this to be seen to best effect.

Psychedelic Funk, a dual Group 3 winner, would be interesting if recapturing his best form, though the fact that he’s struggled in two starts so far this term means that he’s passed over, as is Verbal Dexterity. A Group 1-winning two-year-old in 2017, Verbal Dexterity struggled to make an impact in what proved to be an injury-hit campaign last term, and although he would have strong claims if returning to form, he needs to bounce back from a poor reappearance over C&D last month.

With the majority of these having something to prove, preference is for Hazapour. A winner of the Derby Trial at this meeting last year, Hazapour has failed to win since, though he didn’t disgrace himself in two subsequent starts last term; running with plenty of credit when fifth in last year’s Epsom Derby – just failing to stay the trip – before being run out of things late on when third in a Group 3 here a month later. He produced a poor effort on his reappearance at Naas last month, but should entitled strip fitter for that, and is interesting now dropped back to a mile. Hazapour is still relatively lightly-raced for his age having had just seven starts, and the bare form of his trial win here last season is strong in the context of this race. As such, he looks worth chancing to return to form.

Hazapour causes somewhat of a shock as he shows a smart turn of foot to take the @Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at @LeopardstownRC: pic.twitter.com/guKbMjdhuT

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 13, 2018

Leopardstown’s second 1000 Guineas Trial of the season follows thirty-five minutes later, having held a trial for the English equivalent last month. The winner of that race, the Sheila Lavery-trained Lady Kaya went on to finish second at Newmarket last week, lending hope that this race could produce the first winner of the Irish 1000 Guineas since Bethrah in 2010.

The filly who’s top on Timeform ratings is the Jessica Harrington-trained Trethias, who defeated the current Epsom Oaks favourite Pink Dogwood when getting off the mark at the second attempt in a maiden at the Curragh last August. She shaped well in two subsequent starts in pattern company that term, before once again catching the eye when seventh on her reappearance in a listed race at Navan last month; denied a run two furlongs out and forced to switch. The drop back to a mile should suit her, and a bold bid is expected.

Another likely player is Hamariyna, who has made a taking start to her career so far, catching the eye when third on debut over a furlong shorter here last month, before getting off the mark at Tipperary three weeks later. She gave the distinct impression that there was more to come and she is respected, as is Beau Warrior, who won six times on the bounce on the all-weather at Dundalk over the winter, though this is far tougher.

Preference, however, is for the thrice-raced Titanium Sky, who defeated Hamariyna to get off the mark last month on just her second start. She won in the style of a potentially-useful filly that day, and while she was down the field in a Group 3 contest at Curragh last time, she ought to have learned plenty from that and wasn’t beaten that far.

Although intended as a trial for the Epsom Derby, last producing a winner with High Chaparral in 2002, the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial has also proven to be an indicator for the Irish equivalent, with the 2009 winner Fame And Glory going on to win the Irish Derby for Aidan O’Brien.

As you would perhaps expect for a classic trial, O’Brien has a strong hand here with three runners, including the odds-on favourite at the time of writing, Broome. A useful two-year-old last season, Broome returned a much-improved model when producing a very smart effort to win a Group 3 contest over C&D last month, drawing right away inside the final furlong as his stamina began to kick in. Admittedly, he was suited by the way the race developed that day, getting a strong pace to aim at, but the form of that success puts him a long way clear of the field on Timeform ratings for this, 12 lb to be precise. He can enhance his Derby credentials further by winning again.

The biggest threat could well come from stablemate Sovereign, who was second behind Broome last month. A front-runner, he deserves plenty of credit for finishing where he did considering he set a very strong gallop that day, and would be a threat if getting a similarly easy lead this time around. Also behind Broome last time out was Guaranteed. He did far too much too soon that day, ultimately being beaten 40 lengths, but he displayed a good attitude when winning a Group 3 contest over a furlong shorter here last season, and could be the one to capitalise should the favourite underperform – provided he puts that tame reappearance behind him.