By Daithi Harvey
With just six winners a day at Royal Ascot there are many more losers and given the stern competition quite a few reputations get dented over the five days. However, Michael Halford is still upbeat over the future prospects of his Irishcorrespondent (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) despite the colt's slightly underwhelming display in the G3 Hampton Court S. last Thursday. Having finished a good third to Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas the Ballygallon Stud homebred was expected to take a strong hand in the event, especially given the extra two furlong trip. Though far from disgraced in being beaten seven lengths by Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) Irishcorrespondent failed to build on earlier promise but Halford has not lost faith in the 3-year-old commenting, “Things just got to him a little bit at the start. He got a little bit worried about things and ran a bit keen.” The Curragh trainer feels the horse has come a long way in a short time and is keen to give him a chance to show his best. “He's come home sound and I'm sure there's better days ahead. He didn't train or race as a two-year-old, so he's done a lot in a short space of time. We'll give him a chance now and make a plan when we have him right again,” Halford added.
Jessica Harrington was another Irish trainer to go to Royal Ascot with high hopes and come home without a winner. Her representatives all acquitted themselves well, in particular the imposing Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). The TDN Rising Star only just failed to get to grips with Different League (Fr) (Dabarsim {Fr}) in the G3 Albany S. and Harrington is not going to shy away from future major targets with the Niarchos family's homebred. “The winner was an unknown quantity. I offer no excuses and on the day she was just beaten by a better filly. She won't run again now until the [G1] Moyglare Stud S. [Sept 10],” the trainer said.
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