The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections for 14th September 2024

The Mandarin’s Irish Champions Weekend Saturday Racecard from Leopardstown & Selections from Doncaster

Leopardstown

Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle Stakes (Listed) (Fillies) 1.10
Chantez
Aidan O’Brien sends out three for the opener, and Bubbling looks the stable first string with Ryan Moore up top. She was impressive enough when winning at Galway back in July, with 5 lengths of daylight between her and the field. However, Ger Lyons’s Chantez was equally good when winning here over course and distance last month, so experience of this track gets her the vote. Colin Keane is right at the top of his game, and can mark up Chantez in Black Type here.

KPMGChampions Juvenile Stakes (Group 2) 1.40
Green Impact
This Group 2 looks a straight showdown between Delacroix and Green Impact, with a marginal preference for the latter. This pair clashed here over course and distance in a maiden in July, with Green Impact landing the spoils in a one and a half length win. Delacroix did go in next time out, in a 7 furlong maiden at The Curragh on faster ground. Aidan O’Brian’s Bernard Shaw is an interesting one in this field of just the four, and may give Green Impact the most to think about in a trappy Group 2.

Tonybet Solonaway Stakes (Group 2) 2.15
Diego Velazquez
Diego Velazquez was highly touted when winning his first two starts as a two year old, but couldn’t cope with the heavy ground at Doncaster in the Futurity Trophy Stakes in his final start. However, he finished fourth in the French 2,000 Guineas on his return to action to show he’d trained on, though after that the 10 furlongs in the French Derby did seem to stretch him a bit. Back at a mile now, and with British raider Maljoom running under a penalty for his second in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, every chance of landing this. The ultra consistent Mutasarref looks a super each-way angle, but Diego Velazquez is the one to beat.

Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares) 2.50
Porta Fortuna (nap)
Donnacha O’Brien holds the key to the feature with his stable star, Porta Fortuna. She won the Cheveley Park Stakes at two, before a half-length second to Hard To Justify in the Fillies Turf at Santa Anita at the end her season. She began this term with a fine runners-up spot in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, before a brace of Group One wins in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Falmouth Stakes back at Newmarket. Porta Fortuna is as hard as teak, and should prove too good for Irish 1,000 Guineas winner, Fallen Angel from Karl Burke’s in form Spigot Lodge yard, while Aidan O’Brien’s Ylang Ylang completes the shortlist. Porta Fortuna to bring up the Group One hat-trick, with Fallen Angel keeping her honest.

Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1) 3.25
Economics
With Aidan O’Brien sending out four of the eight, the master trainer’s making a big bid for this massive prize pot. However, William Haggas’s British raider, the Night Of Thunder colt, Economics, can spoil the party for the Ballydoyle squad. After scoring in a maiden at Newbury Park in April, Economics served it up to Charlie Appleby’s hot favourite, Ancient Wisdom, by 6 lengths in the Dante at York. He proved that was no fluke when a 2 length winner of the Prix Guillame d’Ornano at Deauville, and deserves a bite of the cherry at the top table. Los Angeles is smart, though might find this on the sharp side, while Auguste Rodin does have the odd off day, and has to give 6lbs to his stablemate and the selection, while Japanese raider Shin Emperor is an interesting each-way chance. Economics to make the trip over worthwhile, with Auguste Rodin the big danger if in the right mood.

Tonybet ‘We’re Here To Play’ Stakes (Group 3) 4.00
Sumiha
A chance is taken on Dermot Weld’s Sumiha for this Group 3 contest. She’s been kept to this mile and a half trip this season, with a couple of runners-up spots in Listed races, before getting to the front last time out at Cork in the Munster Oaks. Kept fresh since then, and with a Group 1 entry later this year in the British Champions meeting at Ascot, she surely has more to come. Dual code performer, Trustyourinstinct rates the obvious danger, while British raider Klondike is another going the right way, but Sumiha is still unexposed in this grade so gets the nudge.

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Petingo Handicap (Premier Handicap) 4.35
Chemistry
This is wide open, but Aidan O’Brien’s Chemistry looks as good a chance as any. Unexposed after just the three starts, this Kingman colt goes for the hat-trick after winning at The Curragh and here, when promoted to first having been hampered, so no surprise if there’s more to come. Willie Mullins has been targeting these valuable handicaps for some time now, so Plontier, Spasiba and Lot Of Joy all make the shortlist, while Chemistry’s stablemate, Fighter, looks cracking each-way value. Chemistry to brew up a win for Aidan O’Brien.

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Sovereign Path Handicap (Premier Handicap) 5.10
Cerulean Bay
A gamble is taken on David O’Meara’s British raider Cerulean Bay for this Premier Handicap. He’s been in a rich vein of form, landing back to back wins at Thirsk last month, so if taking to new surroundings could make hay for the four-timer, where ground conditions do not seem to matter to this three year old New Bay gelding. He’s up 4lbs, but is now five wins from twelve starts on the flat and quite possibly a Group horse in handicap company. Fellow British raiders Garfield Shadow and Cuban Tiger appeal as each-way chances, but Cerulean Bay gets the nod for the win.

HKJC World Pool Autumn Fillies & Mares Handicap 5.45
Quadruple
Ger Lyons’ Quadruple continues to impress after making it two wins from her last four starts when scoring at The Curragh last month. This Frankel filly is proving too good in handicap company and will surely be putting some Black Type into the form book soon enough. Joseph O’Brien’s Evening Blossom won over course and distance last time out, and has improved with each run this term, so has not reached her ceiling yet and enters calculations. Jessica Harrington’s September Leaves also makes the shortlist with Keithen Kennedy’s 7lb claim a handy offset, while Charlie Johnston’s British raider Arisaig is under Tom Marquand so has to be considered. Quadruple to score in the closer.

Donaster

Betfred Champagne Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings) 1.50
Chancellor
Horses for courses here, as Chancellor returns to Town Moor in a bid for a track hat-trick. This Kingman colt was a winner on his debut under rules here in July, winning by over four lengths with plenty in hand, and confirmed that early promise when seeing off Ralph Beckett’s Brave Mission back here last month. Hardly thrown in going into this Group 2, with Hugo Palmer’s Wolf Of Badenoch looking the obvious threat, while Aidan O’Brien’s Aftermath is an interesting outsider, and this Justify colt is sure to improve from his first run where he was really getting into his stride to chase home Mukaber at Newbury Park. Chancellor to take the opener on St Leger day.

Betfred Portland (Heritage Handicap) 2.25
Shagraan
It’s a quick turnaround for Mick Appleby’s Sioux Nation gelding since scoring last week at Haydock Park, but he’s in a fine run of form and can go in again here. Coming out of Stall 17 could be a lucky omen, as this has produced plenty of winners here over the minimum trip, but dangers lurk everywhere, including Archie Watson’s Albasheer and John & Thady Gosden’s Cover Up, Jim Goldie’s consistent American Affair and the ever present Vintage Clarets. Shagraan though, is knocking them out for fun and can land this.

Betfred Park Stakes (Group 2) 3.00
Poet Master
This line-up wouldn’t disgrace a Group One, so it’s a fitting lead into the final Classic of 2024. Poet Master is our selection, where he can write his own lines coming out of Stall 1, despite recent stats showing high draws doing the business. The brilliant Kinross and John & Thady Gosden’s Lead Artist head the list of dangers, but Karl Burke has done so well with his sprinters this season that Poet Master has to head the shortlist. Al Shabab Storm is progressive, so is taken to make the frame with Kinross and the selection, but Poet Master gets the win vote.

Betfred St Leger Stakes (Group 1) 3.40
You Got To Me (nb)
The last Classic of the season can go to Ralph Beckett’s You Got To Me, who looks to be crying out for this step up in trip. This Nathaniel filly has just got better and better with each run this term, going on from a win in a Listed Oaks Trial at Lingfield in May to fourth in the Epsom Classic before winning the Irish version and then a fine second when within a length of Content in the Yorkshire Oaks. The ante-post favourite, Illinois, certainly warrants plenty of respect, but unbeaten stablemate, Jan Brueghel, may turn out to be the one to give You Got To Me the most to think about. David Menuisier’s Sunway can be classy on his day, while Owen Burrows Deira Mile is the each-way value, but You Got To Me is the one to follow

The Mandarin