RACING/CURRAGH SUNDAY:SHEIKH MOHAMMED'S €10,000 supplementary fee gamble to get Casamento into tomorrow's Juddmonte Beresford Stakes at the Curragh should pay off and provide trainer Michael Halford with the biggest win of his career.
In the past this Group Two feature has unveiled future talent such as Sea The Stars, Azamour and Assert and Casamento will be short odds to follow in their footsteps.
It’s not ludicrous to think he could have overhauled Pathfork in another 50 yards of the National Stakes earlier this month and Halford reports he has thrived since that contest.
“He deserves to be favourite. It was a tremendous performance and this looks a good opportunity,” Halford said.
“He’ll probably get further but doesn’t lack pace. He’s very exciting.”
Pat Smullen teams up with the colt for the first time this weekend and there appears to be something of a second-division feel to Casamento’s opposition although Jim Bolger’s Naas winner Music In the Rain could prove an exception to that.
Tomorrow’s main support event is the Group Three CL Weld Park Stakes which sees David Wachman’s Chrysanthemum attempt to cement her place in next year’s Oaks betting after a Listed success on her debut.
She was 25 to 1 on that occasion and it could be worth reserving judgment on an event which saw plenty coming through in the closing stages. Banimpire faded to fifth that day but could get closer this time if ridden with more restraint.
Aidan O’Brien has Clearwater Bay and Bright Horizon in the Hacketts Cesarewitch but his son Joseph has been engaged by Noel Meade for Fisher Bridge who should relish a stamina test.
Meade can also strike at Clonmel where Gran Torino has a major shout in the bumper while Cyborg can successfully return to jumping in the novice hurdle.
