Awtaad showed good acceleration to land the Listed clash
PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos, BY JACK HAYNES3:06PM 2 MAY 2016
Report: Curragh, Monday
Power European Breeders Fund Tetrarch Stakes (Listed) 7f, 3yo
IRISH GUINEAS hope Awtaad showed a taking turn of foot and likeable attitude to secure a third victory from four starts in the €55,000 Listed event.
Paddy Power made Awtaad an 11-2 chance for the Irish 2,000 Guineas (from 10), while Betfair Sportsbook shortened him to 6-1 (from 14). BoyleSports are a best-priced 8-1.
The son of Cape Cross secured a second win for trainer Kevin Prendergast in this race in the last decade, ten years after the trainer landed the prize with subsequent Irish 2,000 Guineas third Decado.
RELATED LINKS, Tetrach Stakes result
Travelling well during the first half of the seven furlong contest, Awtaad cruised into the lead three furlongs from the finish, heading pacesetter Collision Course.
Dermot Weld’s Embiran produced a strong challenge on the stands-side rail with a furlong to run, though his effort petered out, eventually finishing third as Blue De Vega stayed on to take a two-length second.
The impressive 13-8 winner is entered in the Investec Derby, St James’s Palace Stakes and Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby as well as the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas.
‘Ticks all the boxes’
Winning rider Chris Hayes said: “He’s a picture, a real model, and providing the ground dries out a bit more he has a live chance in the Guineas.
“It was a great call by the boss to run him here. We intended to go straight to the Guineas with him but he proved quite gassy today so hopefully that would have taken the edge off him.”
Hayes, who last tasted Group 1 success aboard Dermot Weld’s Voleuse De Coeurs in the GAIN Irish St. Leger three years ago, feels Awtaad “ticks all the boxes” for the Irish 2,000 Guineas on May 21.
He said: “He’s a gorgeous horse, he has a great attitude and temperament. He ticks all the boxes. He wants a mile and better ground – wait til you see him on better ground. He’d be one of my best chances in the Guineas in years.”
