Followers of OTI runners worldwide can prepare now for a late-night this coming Sunday (and potentially a late commencement of work this Monday) with three starters expected at the Irish Guineas Festival at the Curragh. While our focus will be on international star True Self, with Aesop and Mirann providing additional entertainment on the support card, this feature meeting is sure to contain high-class racing across the two-day carnival.
True Self heads to the Curragh on the back of a let-up following her devastating win at Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) earlier in 2021. She aims for a hat-trick of victories, given her previous run to Riyadh was in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington in November 2020. Rarely is a hat-trick attempt spaced over six months, but such is the genius of WP Mullins.
True Self is set to contest the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup, run over 2100m and with competitors vying for the majority share of the €300,000 purse. There she will face the might of the Aidan O’Brien team, winner of the race in nine of the 21 editions held thus far, including the most recent three. Of the 15 nominations, Aidan has seven, and the final make-up of his contingent is sure to affect the chances of the others.
The Tattersall’s Gold Cup is scheduled to start at 11.40 pm Sunday night (AEST), and expectations are that the track may be rain-affected, which will not ideally suit True Self if significantly so.
Just over an hour later, at 12.50 am, Aesop and Mirann are entered to both contest the Premier Handicap over 2000m. These combatants renew acquaintances, having last met in April and with Aesop the victor on that occasion. This time, however, Aesop will not be the beneficiary of a weight allowance of more than one stone.
Mirann, for champion jockey cum-trainer Johnny Murtagh, has always shown the ability to be winning such Premier Handicaps and he appears well placed to do that on Sunday. Burdened by a huge impost first-up in April, he will gain some welcome weight relief and be fitter for the run. Soft going should not be of concern for him. OTI has Melbourne Cup aims for this horse later this year, and as such, a forward showing on Sunday would not surprise.
Aesop, of course, will be one of his formidable opponents. Jessie Harrington was bullish on his first-up chances at Cork, and he did not let us down. The 4yo has trained on well, and his career is on an upward curve. Like True Self, he would not like the course to become overly cut up. A run at Royal Ascot is on the cards for this progressive stayer should his form continue.
While Australian-based owners, unfortunately, cannot be at the Curragh this Sunday for this magnificent festival, we will have our eyes glued to the screens for these two races in particular. A victory in either race would make the Monday morning alarm that little bit easier to accept.
