Marten Julian’s Weekly Roundup 22 July 2024

The early indications are that there are some pretty smart two-year-old fillies in Ireland at this stage of the season.

Fairy Godmother came from what looked an impossible position to win the Albany Stakes while the following day Bedtime Story won the Chesham Stakes by no fewer than nine and a half lengths, with subsequent winners Brian and Miss El Fundi back in third and fifth.

Then, on Sunday, Red Letter won what is traditionally a decent maiden fillies contest at the Curragh by four and a quarter lengths from Indigo Dream, with the beautifully bred debutante Ballet Slippers – a daughter of Dubawi and the first foal of seven-times Group 1 winner Magical – a head away in third.

Red Letter had previously run Lake Victoria, trained like Fairy Godmother and Bedtime Story by Aidan O’Brien, to a head.

I acknowledge these are early days, but it would not surprise me if from the three O’Brien fillies and Red Letter, who is trained by Ger Lyons, there was an Irish or English 1000 Guineas winner.

As for the two-year-old colts the picture is less clear.

The first eight home in the Coventry Stakes were covered by just a couple of lengths and the current 12/1 ante-post favourite for the 2000 Guineas with one firm is O’Brien’s dual-Tipperary winner Surpass.

The pick of the English colts at present is probably three-times winner Ancient Truth, although a rating of 109 leaves him still about a stone adrift of the level required to merit comparison with the top two-year-olds of recent years.

This is, though, the time when maiden races can be the source of potential talent and the early entries for the back-end Group contests will be most revealing.

Talking of talent, of the 11 entries for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes on Saturday, five are trained by O’Brien.

Auguste Rodin, who flopped so dramatically in the race last year, is a top price of 5/4 with Rebel’s Romance and Bluestocking next at 4/1 and 5/1.

First impressions suggest this is not a vintage renewal of the race, with Derby winner City Of Troy – who, in my view, falls short of the lofty accolades which have come his way – heading for the Juddmonte International Stakes at York.

Rebel’s Romance has won five Group 1s, all of them abroad, and the highest level he has won off in this country was the Group 3 Glorious Stakes at Goodwood in July, 2022.

Bluestocking is likely to run provided the ground is not too fast, leaving four-times Group 1 winner Luxembourg as the possible each-way value at 10/1 if he lines up.

Bye for now

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