THE LAST race at Leopardstown this evening will be viewed keenly around the world as Profound Beauty takes the latest step on her eventual return to Australia for the Melbourne Cup.
Dermot Weld’s high-class mare finished an honourable fifth on unsuitable ground at Flemington last year and is already one of the favourites for “the race that stops a nation” in November.
Profound Beauty takes on five opponents in tonight’s Challenge Stakes, a race she won last year, but as well as future significance, the Listed event provides more immediate interest with a fascinating rematch on the cards.
Last month’s Curragh Cup provided Profound Beauty with a winning Group Three return to action but it was an incident-packed race with the runner-up, Alandi, badly interfered with by the third, Yankee Doodle, as the trio fought out a close finish.
Yankee Doodle’s jockey, Johnny Murtagh, got a one-day ban for his ride that day and Alandi did look an unlucky loser. Yankee Doodle himself has a 2lb pull today but despite all that Profound Beauty still looks the one to beat.
She was after all making her first start since Flemington 2008 and Dermot Weld’s filly travelled much the best through the race until possibly getting tired in the final furlong. Profound Beauty should strip sharper for that and the forecast cut in the ground won’t be a problem.
There is Group Three action in the Silver Flash Stakes with Murtagh choosing Mastercraftsman’s sister, Famous, over Aidan O’Brien’s other runner, Cabaret.
Famous broke her maiden at this course last time out and Murtagh’s choice looks significant given that Cabaret won well at the Curragh last month.
Alshahbaa is another Curragh maiden winner but a combination of seven furlongs and a little cut in the ground could be the key to Kitty Kiernan getting back to winning form. Jim Bolger’s daughter of Pivotal took on colts last time out in the Railway Stakes but the extra distance this time may be crucial to her.
The Ballydoyle team are represented in force this evening and the regally-bred Viscount Nelson should come on significantly from his first start to land the mile juvenile maiden.
The 92-rated Empress Of France hasn’t run since March when six lengths behind Maoineach in a Group Three and anything like that should be good enough in the 3-y-o maiden.
The last of Killarney’s four days takes place this afternoon and anyone who saw Separate Ways trot up by 10 lengths at the Kerry track on Tuesday won’t need any convincing that a 5lb penalty should be no problem to David Marnane’s horse following up with another win tonight.
Inis Ceithleann also won on Tuesday, at Downpatrick, and looks to have a major chance in the first handicap hurdle under Barry Geraghty.
The Tipperary authorities will inspect their flat course at 8.00 tomorrow morning ahead of Saturday’s scheduled fixture. The flat track was unraceable yesterday. Both the hurdle and chase tracks are raceable although the ground is heavy.
