A Ballydoyle juvenile has won the UK’s final Group 1 of the season in five of the last 10 years. Aidan O’Brien is responsible for five of the six declared runners this year so will be disappointed if he can’t make it three wins in a row. Having partnered Innisfree to victory in the Beresford Stakes at the Curragh, Donnacha switches to MOGUL. He justified strong market support in a Group 2 at Leopardstown last month when Royal County Down was beaten more than five lengths. With ground concerns surrounding Royal Lodge runner-up Kameko, he looks the one to be on though Andrew Balding’s colt is no mug and holds Iberia on Newmarket running. Louisiana landed the odds in a Thurles nursery earlier this month but that looks a long way from the form required for this.
Iberia (IRE) 6-4fav (9-3) Prominent, soon held up, 3rd halfway, ridden over 1f out, progress to 2nd final 150 yards, kept on, not trouble winner, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Stela Star (9-0) at Leopardstown 7f Grp 3 stks (1) Soft - Heavy in Oct.
Innisfree (IRE) 4-6fav (9-3) Chased leader in 2nd, travelling well in 2nd 2f out, pushed along over 1f out, ridden to dispute lead 1f out, narrow lead inside final furlong, stayed on well close home, won at Curragh 1m Grp 2 stks (1) hvy in Sep beating Shekhem (9-3) by nk, 5 ran.
Kameko (USA) 6-5fav (9-0) Tracked leaders, led 2f out, soon joined, headed close home, 2nd of 7, nk behind Royal Dornoch (9-0) at Newmarket 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Louisiana (IRE) 4-5fav (9-11) Close up, on terms from halfway, travelling smoothly straight, led from 2f out, ridden to assert 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Thurles 1m hcp Yielding - Soft in Oct beating In From The Cold (8-4) by 4 3/4l, 7 ran.
Mogul 1-2fav (9-3) Chased leaders on outer, closed in 3rd travelling smoothly approaching straight, pushed along to lead from 1 1/2f out, kept on well inside final furlong, won at Leopardstown 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Sep beating Sinawann (9-3) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Royal County Down (IRE) 25-1 (9-3) A little slow into stride, slightly impeded soon after 1f, towards rear, pushed along 2f out on outer, kept on same pace without threatening inside final furlong, 6th of 7, 5 1/2l behind Mogul (9-3) at Leopardstown 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Sep.
