Ryan Moore’s globally acclaimed status means his presence at Dubai World Cup in Meydan is – as with his planned overnight trip for the opening day of Ireland’s 2015 turf season at the Curragh on Sunday – being pored over for possible implications.
The Englishman has three booked rides for Aidan O’Brien at HQ and is set to be part of a mammoth post-race workout by the champion trainer with up to 70 Ballydoyle bluebloods, including prime classic prospects such as Gleneagles and Ol’ Man River, predicted to appear.
Since there are two hours between an otherwise mundane novice hurdle at Limerick and the finish of racing at the Curragh, there is plenty of time for O’Brien’s son, Joseph, to make the post-race gallops session on the back of his first experience of racing over obstacles.
The 21-year-old former dual-champion flat jockey has long maintained he will try the jumping game at some stage but has wrong-footed many by electing to team up with his father’s runner Egyptian Warrior at Limerick rather than ride at the Curragh.
O’Brien has conceded in the past that keeping his six-foot frame under control in terms of weight can’t be a long-term project but it is noticeable how two of Moore’s Curragh rides are on Ballydoyle three-year-olds scheduled to carry 9.5.
Eagerly anticipated
“Joseph is a little heavy at the moment but plans to be back riding on the flat shortly,” Aidan O’Brien reported. “Ryan will ride all of our first-string horses at the Curragh on Sunday.”
In nine rides on Dundalk’s all-weather during January and February, 9.8 was the lowest any of O’Brien’s mounts was scheduled to carry.
He has also stated though that he is eagerly anticipating riding the top Ballydoyle three-year-olds this season, particularly pointing to Gleneagles’ Guineas potential.
Day One of the Irish flat campaign though is hardly a regular date for Moore whose status among the world’s top riders was cemented by a hugely successful 2014, where histop-flight tally included five Group One pots for Ballydoyle.
Moore has seven rides at Meydan although not in the 20th World Cup where America’s Horse of the Year California Chrome is a strong favourite to score on a dirt surface which has been installed since last year’s race that was won by African Story.
However, Moore’s international appeal is such that his book of Meydan rides includes the Japanese filly Harp Star as well as The Grey Gatsby who memorably trumped the O’Brien-ridden Australia in last year’s Irish Champion Stakes and lines up in the nine-furlong Dubai Turf.
Stalwart
Eddie Lynam’s stalwart Sole Power, Ireland’s reigning Horse of the Year, flies the flag on the lucrative card as he has a fifth try at winning the Al Quoz Sprint.
Although he disappointed in a Meydan warm-up, Lynam reported: “Hopefully he can put that behind him: usually five furlongs on a fast surface is pretty okay for him.”
Lynam is not represented on the Curragh card where the featured €100,000 Lincolnshire could see Unsinkable maintain his 100 per cent record for Ger Lyons.
Unsinkable landed a major gamble on his first start for the Co Meath trainer at Leopardstown last October when he overcame a slow start and a wide passage.
Moore is on Easter in the Group Three Park Express Stakes but this filly, who is 25 to 1 for the Oaks in June, faces a big task against older horses.
Avenue Garbriel has a record of running well fresh and a mile on soft ground looks good for Paul Deegan’s 1,000 Guineas fourth.
