Irish Champion Stakes 2013

6.50 Leopardstown

Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1)  (3YO plus)

Winner €434,500

Advice 1 pt win Al Kazeem (9/4 general)

Al Kazeem: Career threatened by serious injury but back better than ever and now the leading the 10 furlong ranks in Europe, having won three Group 1’s this year, most impressive when drawing away from Declaration of War in fine style; Disappointing third in Juddmonte International when going for a 4 timer, behind Treading Leather and Declaration of War in tame fashion; Ground there given as an excuse – said not to like it to firm – so should enjoy this slower surface and may be worth chance to show best again.

Declaration Of War: Always shown promise and now established himself as high class Group 1 horse, fourth in incredibly strong renewal of Moulin and producing new carrer best when winning Juddmonte International, beating Trading Leather and Al Kazeem in gutsy style; Could still have yet more to offer but best form all come on firmish surface and recent rain taken zip out; Still set to offer a big challenge.

Parish Hall: No end of promise as 2 year old, winning Dewhurst in gutsy style before issues meant he missed classic season; Returned in fine style in April but well behind Camelot a month later, form that leaves him with too much to do here.

Euphrasia: Group 3 winner two starts back but this is a different level altogether.

The Fugue: Made up for many unlucky days and circumstances with arguably career best performance when destroying opposition in Yorkshire Oaks latest, crusuing into lead and pulling away; Capable of going head to head with the very best, as she showed when third in Prince of Wales’s behind Al Kazeem despite going widest and coming latest of all; Can clearly take a hand here, but rain exactly what she didn’t need here.

Kingsbairns: Extremely promising pair of runs at 2, decimating opposition in Navan maiden and then running out a ready and promising winner of Racing Post Trophy (Trading Leather second); Looked set for good things this year, but has been kept away from the track with several problems (although the ground has been considered too quick for him on occasion); Huge tunapped potential but hardest possible ask of him first time out.

Trading Leather: Represented his age group with pride, amongst the very best this year, third in Irish Guineas, winner of Irish Derby and then second in King Goerge and Juddmonte; Rain as big a negative for him as any, if not more, but must be given respect and could still have more to offer.

VERDICT: A cracking renewal although one greatly changed by the weather, with rain having slowed a surface that was set to be ratting quick at the beginning of the week and taken out the zip in the ground that Declaration of War and The Fugue just thrive on, leaving the door open for AL KAZEEM to make amends for a below par showing in the Juddmonte that his connection put down to the ground. That may not have been entirely to blame, but the return to s slower surface should suit him far more than those two and Trading Leather, while this looks to be too big a task on Kingsbairns’ much awaited seasonal debut.