Racecards
16:55 Leopardstown (IRE)
Summer Festival Series At Leopardstown (C & G) Maiden
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- €12,000 added
- Winner: €8,280
- 2nd: €1,920
- 3rd: €840
- 4th: €480
Azamata (IRE)
192- Form 23-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Trainer K Prendergast
- Jockey D P McDonogh
tracked leaders in 4th, pushed along 4f out, ridden in 3rd 2f out, soon went 2nd, stayed on strongly final furlong to lead close home
Badged
150- Form 0-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Trainer J M Oxx
- Jockey N G McCullagh
mid-division, ridden and no impression from 4f out
Calgacus (IRE)
200- Form 0-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Trainer D K Weld
- Jockey P J Smullen
mid-division on outer, ridden 3f out, went 5th 2f out, kept on without threatening to go 3rd final furlong
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey J A Heffernan
towards rear, 10th 3f out, soon ridden and progress on inner entering straight, disputed 3rd briefly 2f out, no extra final furlong
Cropley (IRE)
143- Form 9-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Trainer J M Oxx
- Jockey Johnny Murtagh
chased leaders, ridden in 7th 3f out, no impression
- Form 9-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Trainer J S Bolger
- Jockey K J Manning
chased leaders, 3rd 4f out, ridden in 2nd entering straight, led 1 1/2f out, strongly pressed final furlong, no extra and headed close home
Hail (IRE)
143- Form 324-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey C O'Donoghue
chased leader in 2nd, ridden and led entering straight, strongly pressed and headed 1 1/2f out, soon no impression
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Trainer P J Prendergast
- Jockey Fran Berry
mid-division, ridden and weakened from 3f out
Taigan (USA)
276- Form 2-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey Joseph O'Brien
towards rear, ridden 3f out, moderate 6th 2f out, no impression
- Form 6-3
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
fly-leap at start and slowly away, always towards rear
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Trainer J McLoughlin
- Jockey R P Cleary
pulled hard and soon led, ridden and headed entering straight, soon weakened quickly
Verdict
Azamata did well in his first season and entries in the Guineas and Derby at the Curragh suggest he's well thought of. Both runs have been on soft ground so it remains to be seen how he fares in these conditions. Once again Aidan O'Brien enters the fray triple-handed but the fact that TAIGAN was only beaten a head by stablemate After at the Curragh last June and is entered in all the top races suggest he should be the one here. Hail ran poorly on his final start here in November though quicker ground may bring about some improvement while Chicago is bred to be a star over middle-distances and could find a couple of these too speedy on this ground. Cropley caught the eye in the race where Hail disappointed and looks certain to do better in his second season.
Formwatch
Azamata (IRE) 9-2 (9-1) Towards rear, kept on well without threatening under pressure final furlong, 3rd of 18, 2l behind Seanie (8-13) at Fairyhouse 7f 2yo aut in Sep.
Badged 20-1 (9-0) Towards rear, never a factor, kept on one pace, 12th of 19, 16l behind Thomasgainsborough (9-0) at Leopardstown 1m mdn stks in Oct.
Calgacus (IRE) 13-2 (9-0) Chased leaders, no impression and kept on same pace from 2f out, 10th of 19, 19l behind Imperial Monarch (9-0) at Curragh 1m 2yo mdn sft in Sep.
Chicago (IRE) Montjeu colt out of Lady Karr.
Cropley (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride and towards rear, some late headway straight, 9th of 18, 18l behind Takar (9-0) at Leopardstown 7f 2yo mdn sft in Nov.
Dynamite Dixie (IRE) 33-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden in 5th from 4f out, no impression from 2f out, 9th of 10, 17l behind Mahaazen (8-9) at Tipperary 1m 1f 2yo mdn hvy in Oct.
Hail (IRE) 3-1 (9-0) Chased leader in 2nd, improved to lead 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 4th of 18, 12l behind Takar (9-0) at Leopardstown 7f 2yo mdn sft in Nov.
Suneagle (IRE) Dylan Thomas colt out of Much Faster.
Taigan (USA) 8-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders on outer, pushed along in 5th after halfway, headway to lead inside final furlong, kept on under pressure, headed final strides, 2nd of 9, hd behind After (8-12) at Curragh 6f 2yo mdn gd in Jun.
Tucker Casey (IRE) 7-2 (9-5) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, led over 3f out, ridden and challenged 1 1/2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra and kept on same pace, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 8, 2 3/4l behind China One (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 3f 3yo mdn stks pol.
Yellow Road (IRE) Danroad gelding out of Yellow Ribbon.