Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas
Group 1, Curragh 15:50
€400,000 guaranteed,
3yo fillies only, 1m   
Sunday 23rd May 2021

%ALT_TXT%%

1 Empress Josephine 14/1
2 Joan Of Arc 9/2
3 No Speak Alexander 13/2
14 ran Distances: shd, 1l, shd
Time: 1m 47.92s (slow by 11.02s)

Ryan Moore and Joan Of Arc had just about conquered No Speak Alexander deep inside the final furlong, but her Aidan O’Brien-trained stablemate Empress Josephine was relentless in her pursuit and ultimately her head was down at the right time on the line.

A short head was the winning margin, with Jessica Harrington’s No Speak Alexander another length back in third.

O’Brien said: “We thought she was lovely – she’s a sister to Minding.

“We thought she was lovely when she won the first day and then she went to Leopardstown and they went too fast over seven furlongs.

“We ran her over nine furlongs in Gowran Park and had a lovely run, but we just felt the trip maybe caught her out.

“She’s quick and Seamus gave her a lovely ride. She’s a classy filly.

“It’s a long time since Seamus rode his first Group One winner for us. He’s a great fella who works with us day in day out.

“Joan Of Arc ran a lovely race. We were going to step her up to a mile and a quarter after today. She might go to the French Oaks.

“The winner might go for the Coronation, but we’ll speak to the lads and see what they want to do.

“She has the option of the French Oaks or coming back here for the Pretty Polly, but she’s not slow and I’d say a mile maybe suits her better than a mile and a quarter.”

Of Pretty Gorgeous, who had not been seen since her victory in the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket in October, Joseph O’Brien said: “I thought she ran very well.

“It’s a tough mile up there in that ground without a prep run and she was only beaten three lengths. We’re looking forward to the rest of the year with her.

“She’ll probably go to Ascot. It’s a long year.”

Trainers Quotes

Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas
€400,000 guaranteed, 3yo fillies only, 1m
14 ran
Going: Heavy

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT JOCKEY TRAINER SP
1 (13)       Empress Josephine 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Seamie Heffernan 14/1
2 (11) shd Joan Of Arc 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 9/2
3 (7) 1 No Speak Alexander 3 9-2 Mrs John Harrington Shane Foley 13/2
4 (8) shd Belle Image 3 9-2 Ms Sheila Lavery Robbie Colgan 125/1
5 (1) ½ Fantasy Lady 3 9-2 P Twomey W J Lee 25/1
6 (3) 1½ Friendly 19 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Wayne Lordan 100/1
7 (14) hd Pretty Gorgeous 3 9-2 Joseph O'Brien Shane Crosse 15/8F
8 (5) ¾ Sense Of Style 3 9-2 Joseph O'Brien Declan McDonogh 14/1
9 (2) 2½ Thinking Of You 3 9-2 Joseph O'Brien Gary Halpin 50/1
10 (9) shd Fev Rover 3 9-2 Richard Fahey Paul Hanagan 18/5
11 (6) 1 Sweet Gardenia 3 9-2 John Joseph Murphy Oisin Orr 125/1
12 (4) 1¾ Sziget t 3 9-2 David Henry Bergin J M Sheridan 150/1
13 (12) shd Miss Amulet 3 9-2 K J Condon Colin Keane 14/1
14 (10) 1 Zaffy's Pride 3 9-2 Mrs John Harrington Tom Madden 28/1