Racecards
19:30 Leopardstown (IRE)
Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction (C & G) Maiden (Plus 10)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f
- Going: Good (Good to Yielding in places)
- Surface: Turf
- €20,000 added
- Winner: €11,999
- 2nd: €4,000
- 3rd: €2,000
- 4th: €999
Aesop (IRE)
256- Form 597-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey S Foley
waited with towards rear, travelling smoothly into straight and headway, pushed along in 2nd over 1f out, led and stayed on best from over 50yds out
- Form 3
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Trainer Miss Ellmarie Holden
- Jockey W J Lee
led briefly early, prominent in 2nd, pushed along under 3f out, dropped to rear and weakened from over 1f out
Cursu Mina (IRE)
287- Form 8460-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey Declan McDonogh
keen, raced in 4th early, dropped towards rear before halfway, closed over 3f out, pushed along on outer approaching straight, one pace from over 1f out
- Form 4
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Trainer T Mullins
- Jockey Colin Keane
tracked leaders, soon 3rd, 4th before halfway, 5th 4f out, closed over 3f out, pushed along towards outer into straight, one pace from over 1f out
Pugin (IRE)
16- Form 9
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey S M Crosse
soon led, pushed along approaching straight, headed and kept on without matching winner from over 50yds out
- Form 0-3
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Trainer J G Murphy
- Jockey J A Heffernan
dwelt, in rear, closer in 5th before halfway, 3rd 4f out, pushed along on inner before straight, soon effort, not match principals and switched right over 1f out, one pace
In depth
Verdict
Joseph O'Brien has two entries but Cursu Mina was well beaten in a Naas nursery on his final start last season, though Pugin stayed on nicely once getting the hang of the job over this trip at Roscommon. However, he still finished a long way behind runner-up CLASSIFY and Dermot Weld's charge, who looked certain to win until collared close home, can go one better. Loved Out made a reasonable start at Gowran while Sage Advice was staying on strongly over an extended 7f at Tipperary. Believe Jack couldn't get to the leaders over a mile at Gowran and is certain to improve over this trip as is Aesop, who showed potential over shorter last season.
Formwatch
Aesop (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Soon led, pushed along and pressed over 2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, soon ridden and weakened, 7th of 13, 10 1/4l behind Celtic High King (9-5) at Leopardstown 1m mdn sft in Oct.
Believe Jack (FR) 17-2 (9-7) Chased leaders, pushed along approaching straight and some headway on inner, effort 2f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 12, 5 3/4l behind Keats (9-7) at Gowran Park 1m mdn Yielding in Jun.
Classify 10-3 (9-7) Tracked leaders on outer, travelled well early straight and headway to lead 1 1/2f out, ridden 1f out and headed inside final 100 yards, no impression on winner, 2nd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Indicative Vote (9-7) at Roscommon 1m 2f mdn gf in Jun.
Cursu Mina (IRE) 10-1 (9-9) Mid-division, ran freely early, ridden and no extra over 2f out, weakened, 18th of 20, 26 1/4l behind Luke Short (9-6) at Naas 1m hcp gd in Sep.
Loved Out (IRE) 9-1 (9-7) A little slow into stride, soon tracked leaders, pushed along into straight, one pace 1f out, 4th of 7, 4 3/4l behind Collaborating (9-7) at Gowran Park 1m 1f mdn gd in Jun.
Pugin (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, towards rear, pushed along and no impression approaching straight, kept on one pace on outer from over 1f out, never a factor, 9th of 14, 7 3/4l behind Indicative Vote (9-7) at Roscommon 1m 2f mdn gf in Jun.
Sage Advice (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) Chased leaders early, soon mid-division, 9th halfway, pushed along and progress under 2f out, ridden into 5th 1f out, ran on well to 3rd final strides, never nearer, 3rd of 14, 4l behind War Flight (9-7) at Tipperary 7f mdn Yielding in Jun.