Johnny Murtagh couldn’t hide his admiration for Curracloe as she won the Darley Fillies Stakes in impressive fashion.
It was a first Group success for Baaeed as a sire, despite Curracloe beginning her career only three weeks ago with a win at Gowran Park. Curracloe travelled strongly in behind the leaders, coping with the rain softened ground. Once angled out for a run, she immediately took off under Ben Coen, drawing well clear from the runner up.
Murtagh was beaming after such a dominant display, and suggested Classics could be on the agenda. Speaking to Racing TV, Murtagh said: “She is a very nice filly. For ours to win first time out the way she did, she’s a bit special.
“It was a beautiful race for her today. I was a bit worried about the ground. But as Ben said to me this morning ‘the good ones seem to go on any ground, Johnny’. And we think she’s a good one.
“She quickened up really well when she got there. She was a little bit unbalanced on the ground but she’s just probably good. She was able to cope today but I think you’ll see a much better filly on faster ground. Today was important, another test passed. She’ll probably have harder steps along the way but we were very happy with the way she won today.”
With no immediate entries, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her put away for the remainder of the campaign. Like Baaeed himself, his stock will likely come into their own as three-year-olds which makes Curracloe all the more exciting. Murtagh concluded: “She strikes me as a Guineas filly. Those long cold nights in the winter will feel a bit shorter with her to look forward to!”
Baaeed off the mark in Stakes company
Curracloe was the sixth winner sired by Baaeed whose progeny are beginning to come to hand. The brilliant son of Sea The Stars was un-raced at two, before going on to win ten successive races. He failed to finish career unbeaten when stunted by soft ground on Champions Day.
Baaeed’s progeny are unlikely to flourish as juveniles, but he’s already produced some potentially smart sorts. Coaxed, out of the Group 1 winner Persuasive, was third in the Prestige Stakes at Goodwood last month. Al Qayed is one to keep an eye on at Bath tomorrow, who like Baaeed was, is trained by William Haggas and lines up in a race won last year by the subsequent Juddmonte International winner Item.