Sherpa

Sherpa was a little unlucky not to finish closer than he did in the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes.

Settled in joint third place of the six runners behind a fast pace set by Toronto, he came under pressure early in the home straight. He started to stay on from the two-furlong marker, but he ran into a bit of a cul de sac inside the final furlong and had to be switched outside Gold Maze. By then, Crossfirehurricane had hit the front on the near side and, while Sherpa stayed on again, it never looked likely that he would catch the winner. He would have finished closer though had he not had to check his run late on.

It was a fine run by the Zoffany colt on his seasonal debut and his first run since transferring from Aidan O’Brien to Donnacha O’Brien. Winner of his maiden over seven and a half furlongs on soft ground at Roscommon last August, he didn’t run after that last season, and it appeared that he appreciated the step up to 10 furlongs here. His dam’s sole win was gained over a mile, but she ran in the Oaks and this 10-furlong trip looked like a good trip for Sherpa. He could get a mile and a half on this evidence. This was just his fourth run, so he should progress.

The Curragh, 12^th June 2020