Tag Archive for: Jessica Harrington

Hotzahell prevails in Futurity Trophy duel

Hotazhell outbattled Delacroix to claim the William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster.

Jessica Harrington’s colt was ridden by Shane Foley as an 11-1 shot in a field of eight for the Group One.

He always looked a threat and began to lock horns with the favourite Delacroix in the final furlong, putting his head down to claim victory on the line as the first two pulled clear of the rest.

Hotzahell shaded Delcroix by a nose, with four and three-quarter lengths back to Wimbledon Hawkeye in third.

Coral make both colts 25-1 shots for next year’s Derby, while Hotazhell is 25s from 33-1 for the 2000 Guineas with Betfair.

The two main protagonists got close in the final furlong
The two main protagonists got close in the final furlong (Mike Egerton/PA)

The testing ground soon found plenty out, with the John and Thady Gosden-trained pair of Nebras and Detain beaten a long way from home.

Seaplane travelled well for Paul and Oliver Cole, but the Irish pair had it to themselves throughout the final furlong.

Harrington said: “He’s very tough and he loves a battle, I don’t think he’ll ever win by a large margin – he loves just looking at the other horse and saying ‘I’m better than you’.

Trainer Jessica Harrington was on hand at Town Moor to greet her winner
Trainer Jessica Harrington was on hand at Town Moor to greet her winner (Mike Egerton/PA)

“He’s a little bit feisty, he isn’t called Hotazhell for nothing!

“I think he might get 10 furlongs next year but we’ll start off over a mile. I’m not sure he’ll get a mile and a half but he is a very relaxed horse.

“He’s won a Group Three, a Group Two and now a Group One and this is just the start of his career, hopefully. We hope he can go on next year and get better.

“He’s in the Irish and he’ll be in the English Guineas, so we’ll see how the spring unfolds.”

Harrington last saddled a winner at the highest level in 2022 and added: “It is very special to win a race like this, it’s always special to win any Group or Grade One. We are mainly Flat now, we’re down to about half a dozen jumpers.

“I did a lot of shouting in the final furlong – I’ll get sent back to the National Hunt for doing that!

“I thought he had won but then I thought he hadn’t. He had to battle back twice, he’s very, very tough.

“It’s very exciting for next year.”

O’Brien said of Delacroix: “He’s run a stormer. We hope that bodes well for next year.”

James Owen said of Wimbledon Hawkeye: “He was lost in the ground. He showed his heart and how good he is in the way he battled on to finish third.

“James (Doyle) said it’s a lot softer here today than it was at Newmarket. He was struggling in it but he’s a lovely horse for next year. I’m thrilled to be here mixing it at the top and he’s done us proud.”



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Jessica Harrington hoping it will be Hotazhell at Doncaster

Jessica Harrington is excited about the prospects of Hotazhell in the William Hill Futurity Trophy at Doncaster on Saturday.

The Too Darn Hot colt has won three of his five juvenile starts thus far, must recently claiming Group Two honours in the Beresford Stakes at the Curragh.

Having already proven his stamina over a mile and with soft ground not expected to be a problem, Harrington is hopeful Hotazhell can sign off for the year with a Group One victory on Town Moor.

Jessica Harrington with Hotazhell
Jessica Harrington with Hotazhell (Brian Lawless/PA)

“Everything is looking all right, he came out of his last race very well, he’s had plenty of time and we’re happy with him,” she told Sky Sports Racing.

“I was delighted with him (in the Beresford Stakes). He got a bit of hassle from the (Aidan) O’Brien horses, but he didn’t turn a hair getting bumped coming down the hill. When he turned into the straight it looked for a second that he was slow to pick up, but when he did pick up he stayed on very strongly.

“He’s been very good to us. He was unlucky not to win the first time, he got trapped on the rail at Leopardstown and couldn’t get out, but in a way it probably was a great thing as it taught him to relax and his head has been very good ever since.”

She added: “He wears a red hood in the parade ring and going down to the start, but that’s just to keep him relaxed. I think he’d probably be all right without it now, but it’s a big day on Saturday at Doncaster and there’ll be a fair buzz going on, so I think we’ll keep it on him.

“It’s a big, wide, galloping track. He’s won at the Curragh and I think he’ll be fine. I think the ground will be grand for him as it’s going to be soft.

“I think he probably will stay a mile and a quarter at three, but we’ll start him off over a mile. He’s got an entry in the English and the Irish Guineas and it will just depend how he is in the spring.”



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Harrington expecting Hotazhell to make Beresford mark

Jessica Harrington expects Hotazhell to continue his progression in the Montane Developments Beresford Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.

Fourth when favourite to make a successful start to his career at Leopardstown, the Too Darn Hot colt has since won at the Curragh and landed the Group Three Tyros Stakes back at Leopardstown in late July.

He was last seen pushing Henri Matisse all the way at Group Two level in the Futurity Stakes and Harrington believes her charge will improve for the step up to a mile this weekend.

“We’re hoping he’ll run a big race. I think he’s improving and getting stronger all the time, so fingers crossed I think he’ll run a very big race,” said the Moone-based trainer.

“I think the step up to a mile will definitely suit him. We’ve had a fair bit of rain, not as much as Newmarket, but if the ground is on the soft side, that will be fine for him.”

The Beresford Stakes has unsurprisingly been dominated by Aidan O’Brien, with Saratoga Springs (1997), St Nicholas Abbey (2009), Saxon Warrior (2017) and Luxembourg (2021) among his 21 previous winners.

This year, the Ballydoyle handler fires a twin assault, with Trinity College – a 12-length winner on his latest outing at Galway – joined by his blinkered stablemate Lambourn, who followed up a debut victory at Killarney with a Listed triumph at Craon in France.

Joseph O’Brien is represented by Tennessee Stud, who confirmed the promise of his debut third at Galway with a clear-cut win at Tipperary four weeks ago, while the field is completed by Andrew Balding’s British raider Windlord.

O’Brien said: “It looks a good race, as you’d expect, but our horse won well last time and we think he’s going to be capable of competing at this grade.

“I think you’ll find that it will work out a strong race and we’re hopeful our horse can hold his own.

“He won over nine furlongs the last day, so we know he stays and we’re looking forward to running him.”

Windlord in action at York
Windlord in action at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

The Juddmonte-owned Windlord has an impeccable pedigree, being by Dubawi and out of a daughter of Goldikova, and was visually impressive when opening his account at the third attempt at York.

“He obviously ran a big race the last day to win a maiden at York and we’ve had a bit of rain in Ireland, so that will suit him,” said Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon.

“I think a mile in the Curragh and on good ground is just perfect. He showed Andrew a nice level of ability and we probably thought he would do that on his second start, but he was still a bit green.

“I think it took the last run for the penny to really drop for him and he was impressive when it did.”



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Evergreen Kinross firmly on track for Foret repeat

Kinross will bid to continue his resurgence by claiming a second victory in the Prix de la Foret at ParisLongchamp next month.

Ralph Beckett’s stable stalwart was beaten on his first three starts of the season, but the seven-year-old showed his true colours when regaining his crown in Doncaster’s Park Stakes, his ninth success at Group-race level in four seasons.

Jamie McCalmont, racing manager for owner Marc Chan, said: “Because of the emotional attachment everyone has to the horse, that win meant a lot.

“We went there pretty confident. He was in such good and the ground was right. It was probably softer competition that he’s been up against all year, but I don’t think that made a difference.

“To me, he’s as good as he’s ever been on that run – that’s as impressive as he’s ever been winning a race, other than maybe his maiden!”

Kinross’ two Group One wins were achieved in 2022, with Foret glory on Arc weekend followed by success in the Qipco British Champions Sprint on Champions Day at Ascot.

Both races are again under consideration, while a trip to America for the Breeders’ Cup was also mooted in the immediate aftermath of his Doncaster triumph. But for now a return to Paris is the focus.

“The Foret is definitely next and we’ll see after that,” McCalmont added.

“Marc Chan has to take a lot of credit as he’s never put any pressure on to run in any race. Obviously Ralph and his team are equally responsible, but it helps if you have an owner that is understanding.

“If the Foret was the last race of the year then so be it. We’d probably go into the winter in a better state than we did last year and there’s no reason why he can’t run in four or five races next year.

“He’s had the enthusiasm for it all year, that’s never been in doubt, but I think he was thriving going into the Doncaster race and my feeling was if he didn’t win then the engine wasn’t there anymore and we were going backwards rather than forwards.

“How many times can anyone be involved with a horse that’s won nine Group races? He’s the gift that keeps on giving.”

Green Impact (right) on his way to victory at Leopardstown
Green Impact (right) on his way to victory at Leopardstown (Healy Racing/PA)

Kinross completed a big-race double on the day for Chan, with the Jessica Harrington-trained Green Impact striking Group Two gold on the other side of the Irish Sea at Leopardstown.

The son of Wootton Bassett will now be put away for the winter ahead of what connections hope will be a Classic campaign next term.

“He’s the first horse Marc has ever bred and we’ve always had high expectations,” said McCalmont.

“Jessie and Kate (Harrington) said in April time that they were going to run this horse in a maiden on Irish Derby weekend, so they were always pretty confident about him.

“He won’t run again this year, but that was always the plan going into the race at Leopardstown.

“We hope he’ll strengthen up and be a much stronger horse next year and he’ll probably start off in one of the Guineas as a trial to see what his best trip is.

“He’ll definitely stay a mile and a quarter. Whether he’ll stay a mile and a half is another thing, but we’ll see how we go in the spring.”



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Green Impact makes his mark for Jessica Harrington

Green Impact backed up the promise of his previous victory over Delacroix to scoop the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown.

Jessica Harrington’s son of Wootton Bassett is the first colt to be bred by owner Marc Chan and after a narrow defeat at the Curragh on debut, accounted for Aidan O’Brien’s Delacroix on his second start.

With only four heading to post for the Group Two event, it was O’Brien’s Bernard Shaw who led the quartet along with Green Impact settled in second. He was asked to win his race entering the straight by Shane Foley, working his way past the Ballydoyle inmate and then showing a game attitude to confirm superiority over the fast-finishing Delacroix, who was sent off the 5-6 favourite.

Green Impact finished half a length clear at odds of 5-2 and with a bright future ahead, was cut to 10-1 from 14s for Doncaster’s Futurity Stakes next month, with Coral going 33-1 for next year’s 2000 Guineas.

However, Harrington is already dreaming of a trip to Epsom and a tilt at the Derby.

“It’s lovely to get one on the board for this weekend because it’s very tough and very competitive racing,” said Harrington.

“No one was going to box him in. It’s so easy in a four-horse race to get into a pocket, but we had that plan well worked out beforehand.

“He was always a lovely horse, very laid-back and very easy to train. He’s a very big horse and I think we probably haven’t seen the best of him yet.

“We can dream all winter. He’s a big horse and needs time to fill out his frame. I think we’ll see a really nice horse next year.

“I don’t know whether we’ll go to the Guineas first and then see what happens.

“I would love to win the Derby. He’s out of a Galileo mare so there is no reason why he wouldn’t get a mile and a half.

“I still think he’s probably a little bit of a weak horse this year and think he’ll be better next year.”

Chan’s racing manager Jamie McCalmont made the trip to Ireland rather than heading to Doncaster to watch the owner’s stalwart Kinross in the Park Stakes.

The Green Impact team celebrate their success
The Green Impact team celebrate their success (Healy Racing)

He said: “He’s the first horse that Marc Chan has ever bred so it’s amazing for him. He’s in Hong Kong and he’ll be over the moon with this.

“Jessie and Kate (Harrington) thought he was a good horse back in April and said ‘we’re going to run this horse on Irish Derby weekend’ and they were 100 per cent right.

“That will be it for the year now and we’ll dream for next year. He’s done all we want to do this year and that’s enough for him.

“Kate and Jessie say he just needs the time. He’ll be a great horse for us next year, hopefully.”



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Givemethebeatboys heading to Haydock after Curragh victory

Givemethebeatboys put his Royal Ascot disappointment behind him when getting back to winning ways in the FBD Hotels And Resorts Heritage Hotel Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh.

Jessica Harrington’s sprinter was quietly fancied to run a big race in the Commonwealth Cup having pushed Bucanero Fuerte close in the Lacken Stakes, but he was never going at any stage and trailed in last of the 14 runners behind Inisherin.

Given plenty of time to get over that and back on home soil, he came with a late rattle under Shane Foley to take the Group Three spoils.

Before he appeared on the scene it appeared another big Irish sprint was due for export, with British raiders Shartash and Electric Storm hitting the front.

However, both faded late on and it was 11-4 favourite Kind Of Blue, another British runner, who appeared set to give Harrington’s charge the most to do, but he went down by a head. My Mate Alfie was third.

Shane Foley is all smiles as he returns on Givemethebeatboys
Shane Foley is all smiles as he returns on Givemethebeatboys (Brian Lawless/PA)

Assistant trainer Kate Harrington said: “It’s lovely for him to win as the Sands family (part-owners Bronsan Racing) had a tragic farming accident this week and the funeral is today.

“It’s great to get the horse back on track after Ascot. He had an abscess underneath his lip the size of a golf ball and had an operation to have it removed about three weeks ago.

“Shane said he took a little blow half a furlong down, so he’ll improve plenty from that.

“I’d say all roads lead now to Haydock for the Betfair Sprint Cup. He did a lovely bit of work in Naas last week. Shane said he gave him a feel today like he hadn’t done before, and he’ll improve again.”

The sponsors make him 16-1 from 25s for next month’s Haydock feature.



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Green Impact breaks new ground for owner-breeder Marc Chan

Green Impact put his previous experience to good use when coming out on top in the one-mile Frank Conroy Irish EBF Maiden at Leopardstown ahead of two well-bred Aidan O’Brien-trained newcomers.

Jessica Harrington’s juvenile went down by just a neck behind Hazdann on his racecourse bow at the Curragh last month and looked more professional than his main market rivals on this occasion.

Shane Foley had the 11-8 favourite on the heels of front-runner Glen To Glen and loomed alongside at the two-furlong pole before kicking for home.

Green Impact responded impressively and that proved a decisive move, as the Wootton Bassett colt built up enough of a buffer to score by a length and a half from Delacroix, a son of Tepin, with his Ballydoyle stablemate Scandinavia, a half-brother to Above The Curve, back in third.

Leopardstown Races – Thursday 25th July
Green Impact ridden by Shane Foley on their way to victory at Leopardstown (Brian Lawless/PA).

Harrington said: “It’s great to get that, he’s a lovely horse. He’s the first horse that (owner) Marc Chan has ever bred, so he’s very excited.

“He’s a very laid-back horse, a big horse, and he’s probably a little bit on the weak side still.

“We’ll give him a bit of time and we probably won’t be going anywhere in a hurry. There are plenty of mile races in the autumn. He’s got some entries.

“We’ll see how he comes out of this and go from there. Whatever he does now, he’s going to get better.”

There was a major upset in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden when a host of blue-blooded youngsters were eclipsed by 80-1 longshot Latin Fever.

Leopardstown Races – Thursday 25th July
Latin Fever ridden by Mikey Sheehy on their way to winning (Brian Lawless/PA).

Mikey Sheehy produced Kevin Coleman’s daughter of Equiano with a late charge alongside 50-1 outsider Aleramo to prevail by a neck, with that pair pulling nicely clear of 7-2 joint-favourite Dahlia Noir.

Part owner Adam Potts said: “Everything went wrong, she had to overcome a bad draw and being kept on the wing the whole way and then she got a bump turning in.

“I think class got her through. She’s a half-sister to a Group Three winner (Markaz Paname) and the dam hasn’t missed.

“She was a gorgeous looking filly, so we thought we’d chance her.”



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Hotazhell burns off Tyros rivals to land Leopardstown spoils

Hotazhell produced a taking display to claim the Group Three Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown.

It was Aidan O’Brien’s unbeaten Surpass who was sent off the 5-6 favourite and expected to enhance his reputation, but Shane Foley claimed the perfect position tracking the pace set by the market leader’s stablemate Swagman and was ideally placed to pounce when the race entered the business end.

Jessica Harrington’s 10-3 shot, who cost 200,000 guineas at the breeze-up sales, was pushed along to make his challenge when straightening for home and the son of Too Darn Hot hit top gear with a furlong to run as he stretched past Swagman and galloped on to register a length and a half success.

Surpass, who had previously won twice at Tipperary, could only plug on for third, a further two and a half lengths back.

Leopardstown Races – Thursday 25th July
Hotazhell ridden by Shane Foley after winning at Leopardstown (Brian Lawless/PA).

“That was nice, he’s a nice colt,” said Harrington.

“He quickened up well, they went a good old gallop the whole way. He’s tough and he’ll probably just have one more run this year.

“He had to do it the hard way because he had to go and catch the pacemaker and then go away from him.

“Shane was thinking the other horse would come to him and take him along but it didn’t and he had to go and commit.

“He’ll go a mile, probably even this year. I don’t think we’ll go to the National Stakes, I’d say we’ll wait for something over a mile in September.”

The handler had earlier struck with impressive maiden winner Green Impact and added: “We’ve got two nice milers and we’ll keep them well apart!”



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Fleur De Chine continues upward progress with Gowran Classic win

Shane Foley originally overlooked Fleur De Chine in the €200,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Gowran Classic but he was extremely happy he eventually teamed up with the filly in the course’s richest ever race.

Foley was due to partner the Jessica Harrington-trained Kinesiology but when he was taken out on account of the soft ground, Foley replaced Siobhan Routledge on Kirsten Rausing’s filly.

Fleur De Chine only broke her maiden at the fourth time of asking last month, but she is clearly up the upgrade and is from the family of Group One winner Madame Chiang.

Foley hit the front well over two furlongs out and the 9-1 chance always held Galileo Dame at arm’s length, winning by two and three-quarter lengths.

“She’s stayed every yard of that and will probably step up to a mile and a half,” said Harrington.

“I declared the two because we wanted good ground for the other fella (Kinesiology) and she’ll go on the softer ground.

“I’m not sure what happened at the Curragh (on her reappearance) and Shane thought she’d gone wrong.

“She was very good in Limerick and then we thought she could come here if there was some ease in the ground. A little bit of ease is probably important.

“She’s not very big but has a great attitude which is the main thing. Shane gave her a great ride.

“It’s a nice pot to win and wherever she goes now it will be about black type.”

The winner received an entry into the Irish Derby but Rausing is lukewarm on that idea.

Harrington said: “I said that to Kirsten and she said “Oh, I don’t think we should do that” but I’d still put her in it and see what happens. If we have a free entry we might as well.”



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Harrington backing Jetara for Grade One glory

Jessica Harrington is confident her fast-improving mare Jetara can give the boys a run for their money in the curtain-raising Nathaniel Lacy And Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The two-mile-six-furlong contest is the first of eight scheduled Grade Ones across the two-day Dublin Racing Festival and, as is the case with most of them, the market is dominated by Willie Mullins.

The champion trainer is responsible for four of the six runners, with hot favourite Predators Gold joined by Loughglynn, I Will Be Baie and Dancing City, but Harrington has high hopes for the well-related Jetara, who since disappointing on her Down Royal comeback has rattled off a hat-trick of wins.

“She had the summer off, she grew, she filled out and when she came back, she was great, but unfortunately she went to Down Royal, was very fresh and made a mistake at the first hurdle and after that it was a non-event,” said the Moone-based trainer.

“Since then, she’s won her next three and done nothing but improve. I think that has happened because she has got a lot stronger.

“She did everything right the last day. I was a bit worried because they took the last hurdle out because of low sun, so it was a long way home. I knew she would stay but I was worried the others might have a better turn of foot.

“She’s from a great family, her dam is a full-sister to Jezki and she’s related to Jetson. Her dam was much smaller, she won a bumper and went off to stud and Jetara is her first foal.

“She jumps well and they (geldings) are going to have to give her 7lb. She’s above average and they are going to have to be above average to give her 7lb. She wouldn’t be there unless I thought she could win, I hope she lives up to my expectations.”

Goffs Bumper winner Predators Gold impressed on his hurdling debut at Punchestown before finishing best of the rest behind Caldwell Potter in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at this track in December.

Eddie O’Leary, racing manager for owners Gigginstown House Stud, views a significant step up in trip as a positive for the five-year-old.

He said: “This will be his acid test, we always thought he was a stayer until Willie ran him back over two miles and he ran well. We will get to see where we are.”

The second Grade One on the card is the McCann FitzGerald Spring Juvenile Hurdle, in which Gigginstown’s market leader Storm Heart leads a six-strong Mullins assault.

The French recruit won by 22 lengths on his Irish debut at Punchestown but faces a sizeable step up in class for what promises to be a hugely informative event with the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in mind.

“We will see on Saturday what we have and I hope he comes through it well. We know he won his race well and this will tell us where we are now. He has to take the next step,” O’Leary added.

Joseph O’Brien claimed back-to-back wins in this race in 2019 and 2020 with Sir Erec and A Wave Of The Sea and has another interesting contender on his hands in the form of Intellotto, who impressed on his hurdling bow over the course and distance.

Anthony Bromley, racing manager for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, said: “Daryl (Jacob) won on him for Joseph over Christmas at Leopardstown and we’re going back to course and distance.

“We had the option of going over to Cheltenham last Saturday, but decided to stay local and see where we are in the pecking order.”

A Dream To Share is the star attraction in the concluding Donohue Marquees Future Stars (C & G) I.N.H. Flat Race.

The six-year-old really burst onto the scene when landing this Grade Two prize 12 months ago before going on to win the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and a second Grade One at Punchestown.

John and Thomas Kiely’s charge was due to pursue a career over obstacles this term, but with a setback delaying his return, he instead bids to complete the very rare feat of winning six bumpers.



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Jetara now going from strength to strength

Jetara continued her rise through the ranks with a comprehensive success in the BeattheBank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Jessica Harrington’s inmate is bred to be pretty smart, with her dam Jelan being a sister to several top-class performers – including Jetson, Jett, Jered and Champion Hurdle hero Jezki.

Listed bumper winner Jetara did not manage to get her head in front during her first season over obstacles but did chase home one-time Classic contender High Definition and smart mare Ashroe Diamond, and her lack of a victory meant she retained her novice status for the new campaign.

The five-year-old was well beaten in a Down Royal Grade Three on her reappearance, but bolted up in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse next time before adding another Listed win to her CV at Punchestown, and she was prominent in the market at 5-2 as she returned to Graded company at Foxrock.

Always travelling strongly in the hands of Jack Kennedy, Jetara was sent to the front jumping the final flight before the home turn and she was not for catching thereafter, galloping up the straight to score by seven and a half lengths from Pink In The Park, with 13-8 favourite Risk Belle back in third.

Harrington said: “She jumped and settled and he (Kennedy) said he couldn’t believe how much she picked up. He thought he had got there plenty soon enough and, when he asked her, she picked up well.

Jessica Harrington and Jack Kennedy with Jetara
Jessica Harrington and Jack Kennedy with Jetara (Brian Lawless/PA)

“We are delighted with her. She will be better on better ground – the whole family want better ground. She is the only one of them that is happy on that soft ground.

“She will probably come back here for the novice hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival. We might as well, as she is still a novice. She jumps very slick and they (geldings) will have to give her 7lb.

“Then we will probably wait for Fairyhouse, which is early this year, for the mares’ Grade One. That will be kind of her programme.”



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Jetara upholds family honour with Punchestown win

Jessica Harrington’s Jetara successfully stepped up to Listed class with a tenacious display in the William Hill Epic Value Mares Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.

The daughter of Walk In The Park is bred to be smart, being from the family of several high-class performers, including Jetson, Jered, Jett and Champion Hurdle hero Jezki.

Jetara was a Listed winner in the bumper sphere last season and went on to be placed in Grade Three company over hurdles in the new year.

She failed to fire on her first start of the current campaign at Down Royal but made the most of having her sights lowered when belatedly opening her account over timber at Fairyhouse last month and she was a 2-1 joint-favourite stepping back up in grade under Sean O’Keeffe.

The five-year-old mastered Banntown Girl halfway up the home straight and passed the post with six lengths in hand over the staying-on A Penny A Hundred.

Harrington said: “She was good. She’s got the experience from last year and is a second season novice basically.

“She goes on that heavy ground, unlike the rest of the family. She’s hardy now and she won going away, she quickened up great.”

Jetara will now bid to pick up more valuable black type in Graded company.

Jessica Harrington was delighted with Jetara's success
Jessica Harrington was delighted with Jetara’s success (Damien Eagers/PA)

“I don’t know where we’ll go, she might get an entry in the mares’ race at Christmas (Grade Three Kerrymount Mares Hurdle at Leopardstown) and then there is one at the end of January (Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse),” Harrington added.

“We’ll look at anything over two and a half miles or two-five. I might even try and find a three-mile race in England.

“The mares’ novice at Cheltenham is only two miles. I’d rather wait and go to Fairyhouse for the Grade One, that would be her aim in the spring.”



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Curragh Quest for Ocean ahead of Ascot aim

Jessica Harrington is eyeing a second straight Group Three prize with Ocean Quest in the Westgrove Hotel Renaissance Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday before plotting a return to Ascot.

The three-year-old filly heads into the Westgrove Hotel Renaissance Stakes on the back of an impressive strike in the Ballyogan Stakes at Naas.

Before that, Ocean Quest had performed with great credit at big odds when finishing fourth to Shaquille in the Commonwealth Cup.

Another tilt at Ascot Group One glory in next month’s Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes is on the agenda if all goes well this weekend.

“We were really pleased with her last time out at Naas and everything has gone well with her since then,” said Harrington.

“She’s in great form and we’re looking forward to running her. This was always the plan to use as the next stepping stone before going to Ascot on British Champions Day.

“It’s already been a great season for her and the good news is that she stays in training next year.

“She’s gone well on all types of ground this year. I was quite surprised that she did so well on fast ground at Ascot in the summer, but conditions should be perfect on Sunday.”

It was good to firm when Ocean Quest was in contention two furlongs out at the Royal meeting.

However, the daughter of Sioux Nation also handled heavy ground when romping home by six lengths in a Navan Listed race back in April, when the reopposing Aesop’s Fables was runner-up.

French import Go Athletico has proved another shrewd purchase for Ado McGuinness since being snapped up after a Listed win at Deauville in April.

He scored at a similar level at Cork in June before twice finishing second in Group-class company.

The son of former high-class sprinter Goken, who had his last run in the 2016 renewal of this race, chased home Art Power in the Sapphire Stakes here.

He was then runner-up to Moss Tucker when returning to the Curragh for the Phoenix Sprint.

Big Gossey earned this step up in class by seeing off 21 rivals in the valuable Bold Lad Sprint Handicap over course and distance for Charles O’Brien.

Michael O’Callaghan’s Twilight Jet was also a winner last time out in a Tipperary Listed event, but Shartash is still trying to recapture the sparkle of a smart juvenile campaign which brought course and distance success in the Railway Stakes.

Clever And Cool, a winner at Naas, Cork and Tipperary this term, drops down in class and distance after taking on Tahiyra in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.



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Ocean’s quest proves successful at Naas

Ocean Quest showed her class when storming to Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF Ballyogan Stakes at Naas.

Jessica Harrington’s speedy daughter of Sioux Nation was an impressive winner of the Committed Stakes at Navan on her three-year-old return and following a narrow defeat over course and distance in the Lacken Stakes, performed with real credit at Royal Ascot when fourth to Shaquille in the Commonwealth Cup.

Freshened up following that outing at the Royal meeting, Ocean Quest was the 10-11 favourite to secure Group Three honours, something she did with the minimum of fuss.

Away well in the hands of Shane Foley, she was always forcing the pace on the far side and came home in splendid isolation to record a decisive three-and-three-quarter-length victory over Aussie Girl who finished best of those on the near side.

Paddy Power handed winner was handed quotes of 12-1 from 16s for Haydock’s Betfair Sprint Cup on September 9 and the same price from 18-1 for the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (Ascot, October 21), with Harrington indicating both Group One races would be on Ocean Quest’s radar.

“That’s great. She hasn’t run since Ascot, we gave her time. We know she likes a bit of give in the ground and that’s why we put her away after Ascot,” said Harrington.

“I think she’ll go on anything actually and she’s a very classy filly.

“Ascot in October is the main target and she’s in at Haydock in the Group One sprint there.

“We didn’t put her in Irish Champions Weekend because it’s five furlongs, but apparently she gets a free entry now. If it came up heavy maybe.

“This summer we’ve had no idea what ground we’re going to get. You can have good to firm in the morning and abandoned in the afternoon.

“We know she goes on heavy, she’s won on heavy and she’s gone on good to firm so she’s a very versatile filly. She’s classy and speedy.”

There was earlier success for Harrington on the card when Matter Of Fact landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at 22-1.

The daughter of No Nay Never was well held on debut earlier in the season, but showed how much she has flourished in the interim with a stylish display which brings loftier targets into the picture.

“That was nice. She ran in May and has grown an awful lot since then,” said Harrington.

“Nathan (Crosse) said when she was in behind she was behind the bridle, whether it was the kickback or what. It wasn’t until he pulled her out that she absolutely flew up the hill.

“She did it well. She was still very green and she’ll have learned a lot, which is great.

“I’d say she could step up in trip but the dam only got six, even though she’s by Galileo. She has got a beautiful pedigree.

“My two-year-olds are only just starting to come to themselves. They were all good in the spring and then they all started growing. She was small in May but now she’s a fine big filly.

“We’ll see what comes up and see where we go from here. I’d hope we’d be going for stakes race next. She’s got the pedigree and she’s done that well.

“I’d say it was a good maiden, my other filly didn’t seem to get home.”

There was a shock in the opening Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden when Kitty Rose denied Dermot Weld’s 11-10 favourite Tannola.

Sent off at 25-1, Natalia Lupini’s filly made the perfect start, travelling powerfully on the front-end and running on strongly to score by a length and three-quarters.

The trainer’s partner Craig Bryson said: “We were hoping for a nice run but you never know first time out.

“She’s a filly that we’ve liked a lot at home, she did it well and she’ll progress plenty. She’s big and she’s a nice filly.

“She likes to go forward, she likes to gallop and I’d imagine as you step her up in trip she’ll be better. She’s one to look forward to.

“I’ll talk to the lads but we might look at the Ingabelle Stakes at Leopardstown, that might suit her. If she comes out of it well that’s probably the race to go for.

“We had a filly (Highly Desirable) that was third in this race last year and went on to finish third in the Ingabelle. You’d be happy to go and take your chance in it and hopefully get black type.”

The afternoon’s other two-year-old contest went the way of Joseph O’Brien’s McTenett who justified 9-4 favouritism in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden.

“He had a nice run the first day and he learned a good bit, he was more professional today. He looks like a nice horse going forward,” said O’Brien.

“We were happy that he’d get the six up here well. It was a nice straightforward ride by Dylan and it’s nice to have a winner for Neil (Sands) and the Bronsan team.

“There is plenty of money in those auction races and there is a winners race in Roscommon in early September.”



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Harrington hopeful, but realistic as Sprewell prepares to take Auguste Rodin on again

Jessica Harrington is well aware of the task facing Sprewell in this weekend’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

Harrington is revered in the equine world, and having won the Gold Cup at Cheltenham and Classics on the Flat, she has mastered both of the racing codes.

She would, though, love nothing more than to win an Irish Derby. Sprewell has seven lengths to find with the odds-on favourite Auguste Rodin from the Betfred Derby, but back on a more conventional track and with less runners, Harrington hopes the Epsom fourth may be able to close the gap on Sunday.

“I’m very happy with his preparation. He came out of Epsom very well and we’ve just slowly built him up,” she said.

“He’s a very laid-back character and it’s quite easy to keep the preparation going.

“Auguste Rodin is going to be very difficult to beat. He’s proved himself to be an exceptional horse, to come back from what was a disaster really in the English 2000 Guineas.

“It was a great training feat for Aidan (O’Brien) to get him back and to win so easily, as he did in Epsom.

“He’s got to go out and do it again, but I’m presuming he’ll be in good order. He’s got it on the board and he beat us a fair way.

“You’re always hoping. You don’t go into those races thinking, ‘I’ll be grand being second’. I want to go in there thinking, ‘I’ll be grand if I can win’.”

When asked if she thought the Curragh would suit him better, the Moone handler added: “I’m hoping it will. He hasn’t run there, but he’s gone both ways around so I don’t think that’s going to be a problem. He’s been left-handed three times now and also right-handed at Gowran.

“It looks like it’s going to be lovely ground, perfect good ground which will be ideal – no extremes in any direction.”

Harrington reported herself in good form, having come through treatment for breast cancer in recent months, and has her sights set firmly on the future.

“We’ve got through it all and I’m feeling great now, really good. I think I’m nearly back to normal because I’ve got my energy back now,” she said.

Jessica Harrington is looking forward to more big days
Jessica Harrington is looking forward to more big days (Brian Lawless/PA)

“I’m lucky I’ve got through it all and that’s the main thing. I’m only looking forward, not back. Keep looking forward to what you are going to do and don’t be looking back.

“It’s very easy to look back and get negative so you want to keep looking forward. What motivates me is that I like succeeding, I like winning, doing well and I like to get better at what I do.

“Having had the cancer I’m probably more focused now and wanting to do things. In a way it raised the question that you could get ill and then the answer was that I’m going to beat this. That makes you want more because that keeps you going.

“I hoped that if I talked about it other people would too, instead of pushing it under the carpet and going about their treatment with their heads down.

“My attitude was to go about the treatment, and that I’m going to beat this.

“There are an awful lot of things left on my list to achieve. The Irish Derby is definitely one of them, that’s on the bucket list as it were.

“There are loads of international races I’d like to win and I’d like to win more races in Ireland, you always want to win more. When you get so far you like to keep your standards up.”



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