16 stand ground for Irish 1,000 Guineas

A final field of 16 thoroughbred fillies was unveiled at the final confirmation stage of the Irish 1,000 Guineas on Thursday.

Amongst the racehorses to stand their ground for the second Irish Classic of the weekend was Dermot Weld’s Luminous Eyes. The filly will be ridden by Michael Kinane in a renewal of one of the most famous jockey-trainer partnerships in Irish racing.

“Michael was stable jockey here for 15 years and we had some great times together,” Weld said yesterday. “I think the last time he rode for me was when Agnetha won the King George Stakes at Goodwood.”

Meanwhile, Johnny Murtagh will be onboard antepost Irish 1,000 Guineas favourite, Again, at the Curragh on Sunday. Murtagh has never won the Irish 1,000 Guineas and will be hoping that the David Wachman trained filly has what it takes to break his duck.

Another former champion jockey, Declan McDonogh, will ride Lahaleeb for Mick Channon in the Irish 1,000 Guineas. Lahaleeb comes into the race on the back of a disappointing showing in the Newmarket Guineas, but Channon is confident she can provide a better showing on the softer ground at the Curragh on the weekend.

“I think it is fair to draw a line through the English Guineas as the ground was much too quick. She couldn’t let herself down on it. With any luck the conditions will be much more suitable at the Curragh,” Channon was quoted as saying in the Irish Times.