By Emma Berry
There's a heavier bias towards smart homebreds but of those who went through the sales ring, the prices for the runners in the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas started at just €1,000.
Albigna (Ire)
Zoffany (Ire) – Freedonia (GB) (Selkirk)
Classy Niarchos family homebred who won the G1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac and G2 Airlie Stud S. last term before running fourth to Sharing in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf. Her dam won the G2 Prix de Pomone and is herself out of a half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Mile winner Domedriver (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}).
Apricot Moon (GB)
Bated Breath (GB) – Striking Choice (Smart Strike)
Bred by Australian-based Rosemont Stud, she was an 11,000gns pinhook by Troy Steve for Piermill Bloodstock but was then bought back for 8,500gns at Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. She won over a mile on the Dundalk all-weather in December in the colours of her trainer Andy Oliver and hails from the Juddmonte family of Zafonic and Zamindar, her great grandam being the Group 3 winner Zaizafon.
Brook On Fifth (Ire)
Champs Elysees (GB) – Slieve (GB) (Selkirk)
A 50,000gns foal purchase by Cathy Grassick from breeder Brian Williamson, this sister in blood to G3 Geoffrey Freer S. winner Census (Ire) (Cacique {GB}) won on debut last August at the Curragh over seven furlongs and two weeks later was fourth, beaten almost nine lengths, in the G3 Flame Of Tara S. Not seen again until Tuesday when finishing 12th of 15 in the G3 Leopardstown Fillies Trial S. for Joseph O'Brien and owner Mark Dobbin. Very quick turnaround.
Even So (Ire)
Camelot (GB) – Breeze Hill (Ire) (Danehill)
In the navy blue of the Coolmore Partners, Even So is trained by Ger Lyons for Susan Magnier and Linda Shanahan. She appeared to relish the soft ground when winning easily over a mile at Gowran Park last September. She took advantage of the opening day of the Irish turf season at Naas on March 23 before the lockdown by running third in the G3 Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express S., a length behind the winner, her stable-mate Lemista (Ire) (Raven's Pass). Her 20-year-old dam raced for Robert Sangster and is a half-sister to Derby winner Dr Devious (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}).
Fancy Blue (Ire)
Deep Impact (Jpn) – Chenchikova (Ire) (Sadler's Wells)
A first Classic runner as a trainer for Donnacha O'Brien, who is going up against his father Aidan, who trained Fancy Blue last year, and brother Joseph with a smartly bred filly by one of the world's best stallions of the modern era out of a full-sister to the brilliant High Chaparral (Ire). Unbeaten in two starts last autumn, including in the listed Staffordstown Stud S. over course and distance on soft ground, she is likely to thrive as she steps up in distance.
Katiba (Ire)
Footstepsinthesand (GB) – Katiola (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire})
A narrow winner over a mile in heavy ground last September, she was then third in the G3 Killavullan S. when dropping back a furlong the following month. Her dam won over a mile and a half and is a half-sister to the G2 Blandford S. winner Katiyra (Ire) (Peintre Celebre). Katiba has been declared in her breeder the Aga Khan's old family silks of green and chocolate hoops, nowadays used as the second colours and last carried to Classic glory by Alamshar (Ire) in the 2003 Irish Derby when beating Dalakhani (Ire).
Miss Myers (Ire)
Zoffany – Jabroot (Ire) (Alhaarth {Ire})
The best of her three juvenile performances was winning a heavy ground maiden over 6½ furlongs in October, and she was less than a length behind Even So when fourth in the G3 Park Express S. in March. Bred by Glenvale Stud and Lynch Bages, Miss Myers was a €25,000 Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale purchase by Tom Mullins and is a grand-daughter of the German 1000 Guineas winner Walesiana (Ger) (Star Appeal {GB}).
My Lucky Penny (Ire)
Fulbright (GB) – Beauty And Style (Aus) (King of Kings {Ire})
Rated 54, she has been well beaten in four starts to date and was bought for €1,000 by her jockey Adrian O'Shea at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale. Bred by Kellsgrange Stud, her unraced dam is a half-sister to G2 Sandown Guineas winner King Ivor (Aus) (Fairy King) and treble Grade III winner Snake Eyes (Dixieland Band).
New York Girl (Ire)
New Approach (Ire) – Annee Lumiere (Ire) (Giant's Causeway)
Bred by the Kelly family of Ballybin Stud, New York Girl was sold by them as a foal for 32,000gns and won the G3 Weld Park S. for Joseph O'Brien on her second start. Her listed-placed dam is a half-sister to the dam of GII Goldikova S. winner Rhythm Of Light (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}) and 15-time winner Lunar Deity (GB) (Medicean {GB}) who made his 100th racecourse appearance earlier this week.
Peaceful (Ire)
Galileo {Ire}) – Missvinski (Stravinsky)
A winner over a mile in soft ground last year, Peaceful was then runner-up in the listed Montrose Fillies' S. at Newmarket. Another Coolmore homebred, she is a sister to the listed winner and Group 3-placed Easter (Ire) out is of a dual listed-winning sprinter.
Ridenza (Ire)
Sea The Stars (Ire) – Raydara (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire})
Has raced just once, winning at Leopardstown over seven furlongs last August. Her dam, also trained by Michael Halford, won the G2 Debutante S. for the Aga Khan but was down the field when running in the Guineas herself.
Roca Roma (Ire)
Australia (GB) – Lucy Diamonds (Ire) (Orpen)
Runner-up to the well-related Amma Grace (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) on her sole start over a mile in October, Roca Roma was bred by Tommy Murphy and was unsold at 75,000gns when offered at the December Foal Sale. Her half-sister Roca Rojo won the GII Churchill Distaff Mile on the turf for Chad Brown.
So Wonderful
War Front – Wonder Of Wonders (Kingmambo)
Still a maiden from eight starts last year but one with pretty smart form, notably her third-place finish to subsequent 1000 Guineas winner Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. Bred by the Orpendale, Chelston and Wynatt syndicate, she boasts Urban Sea as her great grandam, while her dam won the Cheshire Oaks and was runner-up in the Oaks to Dancing Rain (Ire) before finishing third in both the Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks.
Soul Search (Ire)
Zoffany (Ire) – Ecoutila (Rahy)
Bred by Marston, Norelands and Richmond Bloodstock, Soul Search was a 230,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling, bought by Eamonn O'Reilly for her owner Maurice Regan of Newtown Anner Stud. She too is still a maiden after five starts but she was only two lengths behind Love when fourth in the G1 Moyglare Stud S., one of her three group placings last season.
Valeria Messalina (Ire)
Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) – Arty Crafty (Arch)
A winner on debut over seven furlongs and then runner-up to Rose Of Kildare (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in the G3 Oh So Sharp S. at Newmarket. She races in the colours of her breeder Anthony Rogers of Airlie Stud. Her dam is a sister to the GI Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup H. winner Prince Arch and half-sister to G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. winner Kingsfort (War Chant).
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