The Curragh: Irish 1,000 Guineas, Tattersalls Gold Cup Preview

The Curragh hosts two Group 1 races on Sunday, and both look to be competitive – especially with a special betting offer.

TwinSpires has its Rest of the World Bet Back offer on all eligible races at the leading Irish venue on Sunday, so those who opt in can get up to $10 on a win bet back if their horse finishes second.

Both the Tattersalls Gold Cup and the Irish 1,000 Guineas look to be competitive races, so there’s value in opting in to the bet-back offer. Here’s a look at the races.

Race 4, Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1), 1 5/16 miles, 4-year-olds and up

Selections

• #1 Auguste Rodin
• #3 Elegant Man
• #7 White Birch

Wagers

• $10 win/$30 show: #3 Elegant Man
• $3 trifecta: 1 with 3, 7 with 3,7

The big question here: which Auguste Rodin will turn up?

At his best you’d select him to win this, as he has seven of his last 10 starts. He’s had the class to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) and the Epsom Derby (G1), and he also showed in the Irish Champion (G1) last year that he’s adept at 1 1/4 miles.

Unfortunately, he’s also shown himself to be the Irish equivalent of this year’s Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite Fierceness – capable of following great performances with absolute stinkers. Three times in the last 12 months he’s finished way down the track when starting favorite: the 2,000 Guineas (G1) and the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth (G1) last year, and the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) in March this year.

It’s a worrying trend. But every time to date that he’s run badly, his next start has been a top-level victory. So it’s hard to bet against him, even at what could be short odds.

Part of this reason is that the field doesn’t have a lot of depth, and the form of the others is mainly unexposed. White Birch arrives after nice victories in the Alleged (G3) and Mooresbridge (G3), but he was safely held in two Derbies by Auguste Rodin last year. 

Perhaps the most intriguing runner is Elegant Man. An American-bred son of Arrogate, he’s only run four times, all on all-weather tracks, for three victories and a second, the latest while giving weight to all in the Easter Classic at Newcastle. This is a massive step up for his first turf start, but he definitely adds interest and could be worth a go given the bet-back option.

RELATED: The Curragh: Maidens, handicaps kick off Irish Guineas Weekend May 24, 2024

Race 5, Irish 1,000 Guineas (G1), 1 mile, 3-year-old fillies

Selections

• #3 Azada
• #9 Opera Singer
• #14 Vespertilio

Wagers

• $10 win/$20 show: #3 Azada
• $1 trifecta: 3, 9, with 3, 9 with 1, 3, 7, 9, 14

Unlike the Irish 2,000 Guineas (G1) on Saturday, the fillies’ classic looks an open affair, one which gives the exciting Triple Crown winner Justify a chance to get his first classic winner.

His daughter #9 Opera Singer was named the champion two-year-old filly in Europe after a five-length victory in the Prix Marcel Boussac (G1). She might have been favorite for the 1,000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket May 5 but a minor setback saw the Aidan O’Brien-trained filly miss the race and she will make her seasonal debut here instead.

#7 Fallen Angel was a slightly disappointing eighth in that 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, but she was a Group 1 winner here at two.

The chances don’t end there. The unbeaten #1 A Lilac Rolla beat Opera Singer last year, and returned to racing with victory in the Priory Belle (G3) last month. Her trainer Paddy Twomey has another handy performer in #11 Purple Lily, second in the Salsabil (G3) April 27.

FrenchcClassic form is represented by Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (G1) third #14 Vespertilio, while the most interesting among the unexposed fillies is #3 Azada. Trained by Dermot Weld for the Aga Khan, she hasn’t been seen since winning her only start Oct. 21.

It’s possible Opera Singer will dominate, but I’m going to go with Azada at odds and look at the favorites more for exotics.