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May 22, 2012

Homecoming Queen Attempts Guineas Double this Sunday

Irish Guineas-Festival HOMECOMING QUEEN will hope to follow up on her impressive success in the English 1000 Guineas when the Aidan O’Brien-trained filly will bid for a Classic follow up when she faces a maximum of 13 hopefuls in the featured Etihad Airways Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh on Sunday 27th May.

The daughter of Holy Roman Emperor made every yard of the running at Newmarket and, clear from the two furlong marker, she came home unchallenged to beat Starscope and stable companion Maybe by nine lengths and one length with La Colina back in fifth place.

O’Brien, who won this race for the first time with Classic Park in 1997 and has since scored with Imagine (2001), Yesterday (2003) Halfway To Heaven (2008) and Misty For Me 12 months ago, has also left After, Devotion, Ishvana, Maybe, Soon and Wonderful in Sunday’s race.

It is exactly 40 years since local trainer Kevin Prendergast recorded his first (he also scored with Arctique Royale in 1981) success in this race with Pidget and he is very keen on the chances of La Colina. Winner of the Group One Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at this venue last season, La Colina was having her first outing of the season at Newmarket and Prendergast has confirmed that his filly has come on a great deal for that run and will be better suited to the Curragh.

Yellow Rosebud staked her claim for top honours on Sunday with a solid victory in the Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown earlier in the month when she had Devotion (second), Soon (sixth) and Princess Sinead (tenth) behind her. Dermot Weld, who saddled Prince’s Polly (1982) and Trusted Partner (1988) to land this prestigious prize, has always held Yellow Rosebud in high esteem and the daughter of Jeremy won’t be far away.

The Mick Channon-trained Samitar is the only overseas challenger, while Jim Bolger is double handed with Cleofila and Janey Muddles.

Paddy Power have opened a market on the race and go 6/4 Homecoming Queen and Maybe (with a run), 100/30 Yellow Rosebud, 7/1 La Colina, 9/1 After, 10/1 Devotion, 16/1 Ishvana and Samitar, 20/1 bar.

So You Think and St Nicholas Abbey are the stand out entries in the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup for which there are a possible eight runners. Aidan O’Brien has also left Await The Dawn, last year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach and Robin Hood in the race. Multiple scorer Famous Name will represent trainer Dermot Weld, while Bible Belt (Jessica Harrington) and Elusive Ridge (Harry Rogers) are other notable entries.

The Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes, an established trial for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, has attracted 14 entries including Aklan, Coral Wave, Frontier, Tannery and the English trained Crius. The HH The President of the UAE Cup, the only race in Ireland run for pure bred Arabian horses, will also take place on Sunday 

As always, fashion is top of the agenda with the first of the Curragh’s series of six Ladies Days taking place on Sunday. Media personality Claire Byrne, Jessie Collins Editor of Irish Tatler and bridal designer Patrick Casey will award the prize of a holiday to Abu Dhabi courtesy of Etihad Airways to the overall winner who is judged to represent classic racing style.

Race goers can also look forward to seeing the display of the Etihad Airways Formula One Ferrari on both days. 

Saturday’s highlight is the Abu Dhabi Irish 2000 Guineas with a maximum field of 15 runners with the home trained team lead by Taker, Born to Sea, Parish Hall and Power facing a very strong overseas challenger who include the French trained Hermival and Trumpet Major trained in Britain by Richard Hannon

Admission on both 26th and 27th May is €20, under 25s and seniors €10.  Children under 16 accompanied by an adult go free.  Special 3 for 2 admission offer available by booking in advance. 

1st race:  Sat 26th May, 1.40pm, Sun 27th May, 1.35pm.