A Fillies' Mile candidate emerges, Godolphin unearth another smart stayer and a classy sprinter bounces back to form

Ballydoyle debutante makes fine impression

Aidan O’Brien saddled an eight-length winner of a 28-runner maiden at the Curragh on Saturday, but it was his other juvenile scorer on the Phoenix Stakes card who could be destined for Group 1s. 

Going by jockey bookings and market expectations, Diamond Necklace was the Ballydoyle second string in the 7f fillies’ contest, a race won by Matron Stakes winner Hydrangea in 2016 and Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up A Lilac Rolla in 2023.

Wayne Lordan’s mount was sent off a 9-1 shot, with Ryan Moore-ridden stablemate Minerva priced at 5-1, and they secured a one-two for O’Brien.

Diamond Necklace was positioned in midfield and made swift headway to make a challenge approaching the furlong marker. The daughter of St Mark’s Basilica, and a half-sister to Mackinnon Stakes winner Magic Wand, finished off strongly to strike by a length and a half.

The smart prospect cost €1.7 million as a yearling at the Arqana August Sale last year and has entries in the Debutante Stakes at the Curragh in a fortnight and the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the same track next month. O’Brien mentioned the Fillies’ Mile, in which Hydrangea went on to finish second, as an autumn target.
Jack Haynes

Godolphin stayer catches the eye in France

Trawlerman has been the staying star for Godolphin this season and they appear to have another candidate for that division in Deauville Listed winner Hotheaded.

The Andre Fabre-trained three-year-old recorded a notable triple-figure Racing Post Rating of 103 when landing a 1m4f Saint-Cloud maiden by four and a half lengths in May.

After finishing fourth in the Group 3 Prix du Lys over the same trip at Chantilly last month, Hotheaded relished the step up in trip when comfortably landing the 1m7f Prix Michel Houyvet on Saturday. Fabre won the race with smart stayer Sevenna’s Knight two years ago.

Hotheaded took a little while to hit his stride early on but made rapid headway to lead after the first half-mile. He stayed in front from that point on and finished off strongly to score by three and a half lengths.

He was introduced into the Arc betting at 40-1, but is likely to remain in the staying ranks. He could still be in action on Arc weekend, though, with the Prix Chaudenay among his options later in the season.
Jack Haynes

Kind Of Blue looks ready to strike again

The James Fanshawe-trained Kind Of Blue had posted Racing Post Ratings of just 91 and 90 in his first two starts this season but bounced back to form when third in the Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.

The son of Blue Point came into the Group 3 with serious questions to answer after trailing home last of nine at Chantilly on his seasonal reappearance, before an equally underwhelming eighth in the Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle.

But the four-year-old put up a far more promising show at the Curragh, being up with the pace throughout and keeping on for pressure to finish a length and three-quarters behind Bucanero Fuerte.

Kind Of Blue (red cap): finished third in the Group 3 Phoenix Stakes at the CurraghCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Kind Of Blue ended last season with a win in the British Champions Sprint at Ascot and his campaign is likely to revolve around a defence of that Group 1 on October 18.

Getting back on soft ground would suit, and odds of 20-1 for that race make some each-way appeal.  
Joe Eccles

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