Gossamer makes amends

RACING/Curragh Sunday Report: The pony-sized Gossamer abruptly disrupted the dominance of the Ballydoyle battalion with a scintillating victory in yesterday's Entenmann's Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh.

It was a second 1,000 Guineas success for racing's rising young superstar Jamie Spencer who endured a nightmare run on Gossamer in the Newmarket Guineas.

"I was so disappointed at Newmarket. Everything went wrong," said the 21-year-old rider.

"But this filly is special. If I get a wife like her, I'll be happy!"

A slow start, a slow pace and a stumble had scuppered Gossamer at Newmarket but she emphatically put four and a half lengths between herself and Quarter Moon yesterday after cruising throughout.

"She has done what we have always expected of her," said trainer Luca Cumani who had previously won the Guineas with Ensconse in 1989.

Tarascon in 1998 had heralded Spencer's arrival to the big time and he clearly remembered how to win the race because the result was never in doubt from the two furlong pole.

"She is small, and one would clearly like to see them growing over the winter, but the main thing is that we knew the enthusiasm was still there," added Cumani who will target Gossamer at Royal Ascot's Coronation Stakes.

Gossamer's owner was too ill to attend the races but the winning prize-money will be donated to a cancer charity.

Quarter Moon's effort was enough for Ladbrokes to cut her to 4 to 1 second favourite for the Epsom Oaks. The leading O'Brien contender led home a Ballydoyle clean sweep of the minor placings.

"She was very keen but stayed on well and I wouldn't swap her for Epsom," reported Michael Kinane.

Nayef was an odds-on flop in the Tattersalls Gold Cup as Rebelline and Declan McDonogh pounced to share a maiden Group One victory. McDonogh, who had earlier picked up a three-day ban for careless riding, made a daring manoeuvre at the two pole, darting for the inside and then squeezing between Bach and Tobougg.

"On that running, she will get any trip," said a delighted Kevin Prendergast who has endured a frustrating time, getting Rebelline ready for big races only for her to come in season at the wrong time.

"The way she ran today, we will have to have a look at the Arc de Triomphe with maybe the Irish Champion Stakes before it. But she'll have a break now."

Rebelline became the first Irish-trained winner of the race since it graduated to Group One status and got a 33 to 1 quote from Cashmans for the Arc.

Dermot Weld is targeting Royal Ascot's Coventry Stakes for Pakhoes after the colt broke his maiden at the third time of asking in the opener. "He is tough, not flash, and is entitled to go for the Coventry. If he runs into a very smart colt at Ascot he won't be good enough, but he deserves his chance," Weld said.

The form of High Chaparral's Ballysax win got a boost from Smuggler's Song's all the way win in the Silver Stakes.

Rakti gave the locals their first success in the Derby Italiano since Tisserand in 1988 when holding off the Aidan O'Brien-trained Ballingarry in Rome yesterday but had to survive a stewards' inquiry before being confirmed the winner.

Marco Demuro produced Rakti to lead early in the straight in the 12-furlong Group One contest but his stride began to shorten with the winning post in sight as Kieren Fallon conjured a late rally out of Ballingarry with Fisich also challenging. Inside the final furlong Rakti hung to his right hampering O'Brien's runner, who had to be switched to renew his challenge but the Italian horse held on by a length and a half.