Owner Christopher Tsui sees the first progeny of Sea The Stars take to the track in his colours as My Titania makes her racecourse bow at Leopardstown tonight.
Sea The Stars won six Group Ones for Tsui back in 2009 and his first crop of runners have hit the racecourse this summer, with two of his 10 starters winning so far.
Tsui and Sea The Stars’ trainer, John Oxx, have yet to team up with one of their great horse’s sons or daughters, but My Titania will get the ball rolling in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden.
“She is a nice filly having her first run and hopefully she will come on for it,” said Oxx.
"Like everybody else we would like a bit of rain and good ground. This is a nice start for her, though there are a couple with good placed form, including David Wachman's Three D Alexander who was third to Tapestry (subsequent Debutante Stakes winner).
Quite precocious
"My Titania is quite precocious. Plan A was for her to be out a few months ago, but for one reason or another that didn't happen so she is out later."
Oxx also takes the wraps off a well-bred colt in Karezak, who lines up in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden. The son of Azamour holds an early entry for next year’s Investec Derby.
Oxx said: “He’s a nice big horse and needs the run. He’ll hopefully run respectably.
“He hasn’t been on grass much so it could come as a shock to him. He wouldn’t be as sharp as the filly (My Titania).”
Action last night centred on Gowran Park where Along Came Casey was a most impressive winner of the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Hurry Harriet Stakes over an extended nine furlongs.
Strongly backed into 6 to 4 favouritism, the Dermot Weld-trained five-year-old was nicely positioned just off the pace set by Johnny Murtagh on Belle De Crecy.
The latter still held sway with a quarter of a mile to run, but Pat Smullen was travelling powerfully on Along Came Casey.Hitting the front a furlong and a half out, Smullen only had to give his mount a few reminders as she ran on strongly to beat Belle De Crecy by three lengths.
'High-class filly'
Say took third for Aidan O'Brien, whose Snow Queen was very reluctant to leave the stalls – as she was on her last start at Cork – losing many lengths before consenting to go on her way.
Weld said: “She did what was expected and is unbeaten around here. She’s a very high-class filly and I thought she would be tough to beat. She is so consistent and loves fast ground.
“The Dance Design Stakes at the Curragh is a logical next race, it’s also over nine furlongs which is probably her optimum distance. She’s entitled to have a crack at a Group One before the year is out.”
A dramatic outcome to the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden saw first-past-the-post Green Tag demoted in favour of the O’Brien-trained odds-on favourite Mekong River.
The market leader looked to be making hard work of it before fellow newcomer Green Tag, who had led from the off, hung to his left at the furlong pole and then back over to the right, although not as sharply.
Mekong River (4-9) appeared to find his feet after the initial interference and was making ground to the line, eventually failing by a neck. A stewards’ inquiry was immediately called, with the officials electing to reverse the placings.
