Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas
Group 1, Curragh 15:45
€500,000 guaranteed,
3yo fillies only, 1m   
Sunday 26th May 2024

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1 Fallen Angel 11/4F
2 A Lilac Rolla 12/1
3 Opera Singer 7/2
13 ran NR: Bluedrum Distances: 2¾l, 2l, nse
Time: 1m 40.84s (slow by 4.24s)

Fallen Angel rebounded from her Newmarket setback to secure trainer Karl Burke’s second Classic victory within an hour.

Having previously claimed Group One success at the Kildare track in last season’s Moyglare Stud Stakes, this daughter of Too Darn Hot disappointed as the favorite in the 1,000 Guineas three weeks ago. However, she showcased her true abilities on Irish turf just 45 minutes after her stablemate, Darnation, triumphed in the German 1,000 Guineas in Dusseldorf.

Fallen Angel entered the race as the 11-4 market leader, rewarding those who maintained their faith. Under the guidance of jockey Danny Tudhope, she raced prominently from the outset. As the challengers closed in behind her entering the final three furlongs, Burke’s grey filly found an extra gear when asked, pulling away to win comfortably.

She crossed the finish line with a commanding two-and-three-quarter-length lead over the previously unbeaten A Lilac Rolla. Opera Singer also impressed, finishing third in her first start since her scintillating performance in the Prix Marcel Boussac last October.

“I was confident we would see a different filly from Newmarket. I was pleased when the rain came, to be fair. She just keeps galloping and stays very, very well,” said Tudhope.

“She is very versatile ground wise and takes everything that comes in her stride.”

FormRatings

Burke said: “She showed last year that she’s top-class. Obviously we were disappointed with the Guineas, but I find it hard with three-year-olds – you just don’t know where you are with them.

“We sent her down to Newmarket fit and she didn’t blow that much afterwards. The ground maybe was a bit quick on the undulations, but that’s looking for excuses – we were beaten fair and square on the day.

“I knew coming out of the Guineas coming into this race that mentally she was in the right place. She just sparked up, especially in the last week or 10 days, and physically she looked fantastic.”

Quinnbet cut Fallen Angel’s odds for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot to 4-1 from 10-1, making her the joint-favourite alongside Newmarket Guineas heroine Elmalka – but she is not certain to line up in Berkshire next month.

On claiming his second Classic win of the day and third overall after Laurens’ victory in the 2018 French Oaks, the trainer added: “Amazing, that doesn’t happen very often. This is what we work for.

“I had cancer late last year and an operation and a bit of chemotherapy. I finish the chemo in December and since then it’s been back to work, we keep going and hopefully we’re all square.

“I never took a backwards step, you have to face what’s happening to you and worse things happen to a lot of other people, so you’ve just got to get on with it.

“I don’t know (about Royal Ascot), we’ll have to have that discussion. We’ve got the option of the French Oaks as well and as you can see she stays very well. We’ll enjoy today and worry about that later.”

Aidan O’Brien was thrilled with Opera Singer’s comeback effort and an appearance at Royal Ascot is now on her agenda.

“I was delighted with her, I couldn’t believe she ran so well. She was never away, only in full work less than a month,” he said.

“It was an incredible run really. I was very nervous running her, hoping that she wouldn’t get too tired, but she has run some race.

“We were hoping to run with a view to coming back for the Coronation Stakes so that’s where she’ll go now, but there could be massive improvement in her.”

Trainers Quotes

Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas
€500,000 guaranteed, 3yo fillies only, 1m
13 ran
Going: Good to Yielding

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (3)    Fallen Angel 3 9-2 K R Burke Daniel Tudhope 11/4F
2 (6) 2¾ A Lilac Rolla 3 9-2 P Twomey Colin Keane 12/1
3 (13) 2 Opera Singer 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 7/2
4 (10) nse Buttons 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Wayne Lordan 18/1
5 (8) ½ Purple Lily 3 9-2 P Twomey W J Lee 8/1
6 (2) ½ Azada 3 9-2 D K Weld Chris Hayes 12/1
7 (14) hd Queen Of Thunder 3 9-2 K J Condon Ronan Whelan 125/1
8 (9) ½ Skellet 3 9-2 Ralph Beckett Rossa Ryan 12/1
9 (5) ½ Vespertilio 3 9-2 W McCreery Declan McDonogh 4/1
10 (4) 4¼ Finsceal Luas 3 9-2 J S Bolger Rory Cleary 125/1
11 (11) 2¼ Everlasting 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Dylan Browne McMonagle 25/1
12 (12) 4 Alpheratz 3 9-2 Joseph G Murphy Gary Carroll 25/1
13 (7) ¾ Pearls And Rubies 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Ben Coen 33/1
NR 4 (1) Bluedrum 3 9-2 Mrs John Harrington NON RUNNER