Racecards
16:00 Leopardstown (IRE)
P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f
- Going: Good to Yielding
- Surface: Turf
- €60,000 added
- Winner: €35,400
- 2nd: €11,400
- 3rd: €5,400
- 4th: €2,400
Capri (IRE)
160- Form 21113-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey J A Heffernan
held up towards rear, took keen hold, progress and slightly impeded under 2f out, disputed 5th 1 1/2f out, 4th inside final furlong and kept on without troubling principals
- Form 42215-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 107
dwelt, held up towards rear, pushed along at stages from halfway, no impression 1 1/2f out, soon no extra
- Form 61354-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey D O'Brien
tracked leaders, closed over 3f out, on terms travelling smoothly into straight, led 2f out, headed inside final furlong and kept on without matching winner
- Form 621-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer J S Bolger
- Jockey K J Manning
prominent, ridden over 3f out in 2nd, soon on terms, headed 2f out, losing place when short of room 1 1/2f out, soon no extra
Grandee (IRE)
180- Form 6331-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey C O'Donoghue
tracked leaders, closed over 3f out, soon pushed along, disputed 5th 1 1/2f out, dropped to 6th and no extra inside final furlong
Rekindling
160- Form 210-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey W M Lordan
chased leaders, pushed along to go 2nd 1 1/2f out, led inside final furlong, pressed and kept on well closing stages
Saltonstall
161- Form 216-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 99
towards rear, closed over 3f out, soon pushed along, no impression 1 1/2f out, no extra and eased inside final furlong
- Form 7122-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey R L Moore
chased leaders, pushed along in 3rd 1 1/2f out, kept on without matching 1st 2 inside final furlong
- Form 91343-8
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer J S Bolger
- Jockey R P Whelan
led, joined under 3f out, headed into straight, weakened from under 2f out, eased close home
Verdict
Harzand took this last year before going on to glory at Epsom and the Curragh. He'd already had a run earlier in the season and the only one of these with a race under her belt is Legitimus though it's a surprise to see a filly engaged. Her trainer looks to have a much better chance with Dubai Sand, who looked a very nice prospect when landing a Listed contest here in October on similar ground to this. Capri is penalised for his narrow victory over stable companion YUCATAN in the Group 2 Beresford at the Curragh on very testing ground. He couldn't quite get to the leading pair in the Criterium Saint-Cloud later but had Douglas Macarthur behind though the latter is 5lb better off. Yucatan went on to finish second in the Racing Post Trophy, when Brutal was behind, and also has an advantage at the weights over Capri so gets the vote.
Formwatch
Capri (IRE) (8-13) 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Waldgeist (8-13) at Saint-Cloud 1m 2f Grp 1 sft in Oct.
Brutal (IRE) 40-1 (9-1) In touch, headway under stand side rail 2f out, one pace final furlong, 5th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Rivet (9-1) at Doncaster 1m Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
Douglas Macarthur (IRE) (8-13) 4th of 13, 1 3/4l behind Waldgeist (8-13) at Saint-Cloud 1m 2f Grp 1 sft in Oct.
Dubai Sand (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Soon close up and disputed lead, led over 3f out, ridden to assert straight, reduced lead but kept on well closing stages, won at Leopardstown 1m 1f lst stks (1) Yielding in Oct beating Diodorus (9-3) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Grandee (IRE) 6-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, 8th approaching straight, pushed along and progress 2f out, led under 1f out and edged slightly right, stayed on well, won at Curragh 1m 1f mdn gd in Oct beating Dubai Sand (9-5) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Rekindling (8-13) last of 13, 13 1/2l behind Waldgeist (8-13) at Saint-Cloud 1m 2f Grp 1 sft in Oct.
Saltonstall 11-2 (9-3) Dwelt, towards rear, some headway and impeded 2f out, improved over 1f out, soon no impression, kept on, 6th of 11, 2 3/4l behind Dubai Sand (9-3) at Leopardstown 1m 1f lst stks (1) Yielding in Oct.
Yucatan (IRE) 11-8fav (9-1) In touch, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Rivet (9-1) at Doncaster 1m Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
Legitimus (IRE) 8-1 (8-9) Led, ridden and headed 1 1/2f out, soon no extra, 8th of 12, 5 3/4l behind Czabo (9-11) at Naas 1m Grp 3 fll stks (1) Soft - Heavy in Mar.