O'Brien to saddle three in quest for 12th Irish 2,000 Guineas win

If you’re missing the excitement of last week’s Preakness (G1) at Pimlico, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. The upcoming weekend is a busy one on the international stage, highlighted by spring classics in Ireland and Japan.

Let’s take a quick trip around the world and highlight four top-level prizes on the agenda:

Saturday, May 22

Curragh, Ireland, Race 4: Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (G1, 10:15 a.m. ET)

A dozen talented sophomores will square off in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the first Irish classic of the year. The favorite is the accomplished Lucky Vega, winner of the 2020 Phoenix (G1) and third in England’s 2,000 Guineas (G1) to kick off 2021.  In the latter event, Lucky Vega was only beaten half a length by Poetic Flare, and Lucky Vega will be dangerous at the Curragh if he improves at all in his second run of the season.

But trainer Aidan O’Brien has won the Irish 2,000 Guineas a record 11 times, and he’s saddling a trio of challengers for the 2021 renewal. The multiple Group 1-placed Wembley is the shortest price among European bookmakers, even though 2020 Criterium International (G1) winner Van Gogh is technically more accomplished. But American racing fans are bound to be most familiar with Battleground, runner-up in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).

The above-mentioned Poetic Flare add further depth to the field, though completing the Guineas double will be a tricky task. Just 15 days after his Newmarket heroics, Poetic Flare finished sixth in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (G1, French 2,000 Guineas) in France, and now he’s wheeling back six days later to compete in his third classic in the span of 22 days. If Poetic Flare can turn the trick, he deserves a round of applause for a remarkable spring campaign.

Sunday, May 23

Tokyo, Japan, Race 11: Yushun Himba (G1, 2:40 a.m. ET)

A deep field of 18 three-year-old fillies will vie for victory in the Yushun Himba, also known as the Japanese Oaks. The 2,400-meter race is stacked with talented prospects, but none are more exciting than Sodashi, a rare white Thoroughbred undefeated in five starts.

So far, Sodashi has been unstoppable and sensational. She’s already won four group stakes, including the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) and the Oka Sho (G1). In the latter race—the first leg of the Japanese Fillies Triple Crown—Sodashi tracked a fast pace before hanging on to win by a neck in the course-record time of 1:31.10 for 1,600 meters.

Stretching out another 800 meters in distance is obviously a question mark for Sodashi, but the raw talent she’s displayed hints we might be looking at a superstar in the making. She’ll be widely expected to deliver another sharp victory in the Yushun Himba, which would leave the Oct. 17 Kikuka Sho (G1) as the last step for Sodashi to sweep the Japanese Fillies Triple Crown.

Curragh, Ireland, Race 3: Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1, 9:40 a.m. ET)

The only non-classic we’re highlighting this week is the Tattersalls Gold Cup, an early-season Group 1 prize for older horses racing 1 5/16 miles. Aidan O’Brien has won the race three times in a row (plus a record nine times overall), and he figures to extend both streaks while saddling three of the eight starters in Saturday’s renewal of the race.

Leading the O’Brien charge is Broome, who has really come to hand this spring with three consecutive victories. He was clearly best in the 1 1/4-mile Mooresbridge (G2) at the Curragh earlier this month and retains the services of internally acclaimed jockey Ryan Moore.

But although Broome is in hot form, his stablemates are more accomplished overall. Tiger Moth was beaten just a head in the 2020 Irish Derby (G1) and later finished second in the 2020 Melbourne Cup (G1) racing 3,200 meters in Australia. Serpentine boasts an even more illustrious resume by virtue of a runaway victory in the 2020 Epsom Derby (G1).

The only other runner attracting meaningful wagering support is Cayenne Pepper¸ last seen finishing 10th in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. The four-year-old placed second in multiple Group 1 races at the Curragh last year, including the Irish Oaks (G1), and can factor if she takes a step forward off the layoff.

Curragh, Ireland, Race 4: Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas (G1, 10:15 a.m. ET)

The fillies’ equivalent to the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the Irish 1,000 Guineas is shaping up to be a battle between father and son trainers. Aidan O’Brien will saddle three in the one-mile classic, including the improving Joan of Arc, who won the Irish 1,000 Guineas Trial (G3) two weeks ago. Longshots Empress of Josephine and Friendly also represent O’Brien in the entries.

But Aidan O’Brien’s son Joseph arguably holds a stronger hand with his trio of fillies. Pretty Gorgeous was among the most accomplished juveniles of 2020, cracking the exacta in all five of her starts while ending the season with a triumph in the Fillies’ Mile (G1) at Newmarket. Pretty Gorgeous will be joined at the Curragh by stablemates Thinking of You and Sense of Style, third and sixth in the Irish 1,000 Guineas Trial.

Outside of the O’Brien trainees, key contenders in the Irish 1,000 Guineas include Fev Rover, who finished third in England’s 1,000 Guineas (G1), and Miss Amulet, whom American racing fans will recall from her third-place effort in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).