Rising Wind

Rising Wind was the filly to take out of the one-mile listed race for juvenile fillies at The Curragh on Sunday. Slowly away and squeezed out of it a little before they had gone a furlong, Chris Hayes found himself back towards the rear of the 10-runner field after they had gone two furlongs. The early pace set by the two Ballydoyle fillies Luxurious and Gemstone wasn’t overly quick, which wasn’t overly helpful to Lady O’Reilly’s filly, nor was the fact that she got into a little bit of a schmozzle as they started the turn for home. Tapped for toe a little when they picked it up as they straightened up for home, she was ridden along and out the back, about five lengths off the leaders and behind a wall of horses passing the two-furlong pole, but she found plenty for pressure. She picked up nicely and went bravely among horses on the far side, and running on really well when she was switched outside to get to within a length of Gemstone – who had enjoyed the run of the race – at the line.

This was just Rising Wind’s second ever run. She won her maiden on her racecourse debut over a mile at Listowel on soft ground last month, and she needed every yard of the trip, being ridden along from early and no better than fourth entering the final furlong before getting up to win by a head from fellow fast-finisher Obligation, who was impressive in winning his maiden at Tipperary two weeks ago. Rising Wind sprang a 20/1 shock that day, she obviously wasn’t that well fancied, which suggests that she may not have been showing Kevin Prendergast that much speed at home. It isn’t really that surprising that she is much more about stamina than speed, given that she is by Shirocco, who excelled over a mile and a half on soft ground, out of Right Key, a half-sister to top hurdler Starluck, who won a Group 3 race over a mile and a half and a listed race over a mile and six furlongs. She obviously handles easy ground well, she will be of interest if she races again this season, and she is an exciting middle distance prospect for next term.

10th October 2010

© The Irish Field, 16th October 2010