Racecards
14:10 Leopardstown (IRE)
Ballylinch Stud 'Red Rocks' 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes (Listed) (Class 1)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 7f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- €42,500 added
- Winner: €25,500
- 2nd: €8,500
- 3rd: €4,250
- 4th: €2,125

- Form 911473-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer K J Condon
- Jockey W J Lee
soon raced in 8th, headway and effort straight, kept on same pace final furlong

- Form 311-1
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer A McGuinness
- Jockey R P Whelan
prominent, keen, soon 4th, pushed along before straight in 3rd, lost place over 1f out, soon weakened

- Form 210-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey S Foley
a little slow into stride, soon towards rear, 10th early straight, soon switched right towards outer, ran on without threatening final furlong, 2nd at finish

- Form 24167-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer J J Murphy
- Jockey R C Colgan
prominent, soon 3rd, 4th before straight, soon effort, kept on same pace final furlong

- Form 42-1
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey R L Moore
pushed along briefly early, soon raced in 6th, 7th before straight, soon effort behind horses, kept on same pace final furlong

- Form 522112-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey D P McDonogh
pushed along briefly early, prominent, soon 5th, effort straight, one pace final furlong

- Form 41-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey J A Heffernan
soon raced in 9th, pushed along approaching straight, soon 11th and no impression, one pace without threatening after

- Form 214-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey W M Lordan
waited with, soon towards rear, 9th early straight, no impression and tight for room on inner final furlong, one pace

- Form 921122-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer K Prendergast
- Jockey C D Hayes
soon raced in 7th, 6th before straight, soon pushed along, headway to chase winner from 1f out, kept on same pace and dropped to 3rd at finish

- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Trainer D Bunyan & G O'Leary
- Jockey C T Keane
in rear, ridden and headway on outer from under 2f out, ran on without threatening final furlong, nearest at finish

- Form 101-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer J S Bolger
- Jockey K J Manning
prominent, soon 2nd, led from 1 1/2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong

- Form 214634-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey S M Crosse
pushed along briefly early, prominent, soon led, headed from 1 1/2f out, soon no extra
In depth
Verdict
Poetic Flare won first time out last March and didn't reappear until October, ending the campaign winning a Group 3 over this course and distance. There should be plenty more to come from the son of Dawn Approach this season, a remark that also applies to A CASE OF YOU, who ended his first season landing a Curragh Group 3 and made a positive return to action at Dundalk. The latter has a fitness advantage over most of these though not Horoscope, one of three from Ballydoyle. He had a comfortable victory at the Curragh last month and though the runner-up has been beaten twice subsequently Ryan Moore has chosen him over Matchless and Merchants Quay. Monaasib had a fine opening campaign, scoring twice and beaten less than a length by High Definition in the Group 2 Beresford at the Curragh when Snapraeterea was 3 lengths behind. The latter's yard is also represented by dual nursery winner Magnanimous.
Formwatch
Laws Of Indices (IRE) (8-13) 3rd of 6, 8 3/4l behind Sealiway (8-13) at ParisLongchamp 7f Grp 1 hvy in Oct.
A Case Of You (IRE) 10-11fav (9-10) Prominent, soon 2nd, travelling smoothly straight, on terms from 2f out, pushed along to lead over 1f out, ridden to assert and stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Dundalk 6f pol in Mar beating Logo Hunter (9-5) by 3 3/4l, 9 ran.
Ace Aussie (IRE) 9-2 (9-5) Mid-division, ridden into 6th 2f out, no extra over 1f out, 11th of 13, 15l behind High Definition (9-5) at Curragh 1m Grp 2 stks (1) Good - Yielding in Sep.
Charterhouse 28-1 (9-0) Prominent, ridden 2f out, weakened entering final furlong, 7th of 8, 9 1/4l behind Supremacy (9-0) at Newmarket 6f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Horoscope (IRE) 9-4fav (9-7) Soon prominent, 4th 3f out, effort from 2f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Curragh 7f mdn Soft - Heavy in Mar beating Meishar (10-7) by 1 3/4l, 20 ran.
Magnanimous (IRE) 11-4fav (9-5) Prominent, 4th halfway, travelled well entering straight, closed 1 1/2f out, soon almost on terms, ridden and edged right over 1f out, kept on final furlong, not trouble winner, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Zaffy's Pride (9-0) at Dundalk 7f lst stks (1) pol in Oct.
Matchless (IRE) 10-11fav (9-7) Pushed along briefly early, soon led, pushed along again under 2f out, pressed and kept on well inside final furlong, won at Listowel 7f mdn gd in Sep beating Laelaps (9-7) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Merchants Quay (FR) 5-2 (9-5) Towards rear, pushed along and some headway on far side 2f out, ridden over 1f out and no impression inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 4th of 7, 3 1/4l behind Laws Of Indices (9-5) at Curragh 6f Grp 2 stks (1) Yielding in Jul.
Monaasib 7-1 (9-5) Mid-division, progress in 6th 3f out, ridden to dispute 2nd 2f out, led 1f out, kept on final furlong, headed close home, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind High Definition (9-5) at Curragh 1m Grp 2 stks (1) Good - Yielding in Sep.
Notre Belle Bete Zoffany colt out of Angelic Guest.
Poetic Flare (IRE) 3-1 (9-5) Disputed lead, headed briefly at halfway, disputed lead 3f out, led 2f out, soon ridden clear, stayed on strongly final furlong, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 7f Grp 3 stks (1) Yielding - Soft in Oct beating Zaffy's Pride (9-2) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Snapraeterea (IRE) 11-4fav (9-5) Prominent, soon led narrowly and pressed, headed 1 1/2f out, ridden over 1f out, dropped to 3rd final 100 yards, soon no extra in 4th, 4th of 16, 3 1/2l behind Ecliptical (9-3) at Naas 7f sft in Oct.