Harrington dreaming of Derby glory after Champions Weekend win

Jessica Harrington is dreaming of supplementing her remarkable CV with a Derby next year after Green Impact stayed on strongly under Shane Foley to bag the Group 2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes at 5/2 by a half-length from 5/6 favourite Delacroix on the first day of the Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown.

Harrington is a Classic-winning trainer that established her reputation over jumps and has also won a Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle among a slew of Grade and Group 1s, but she would be in a very select group if she could add a 12-furlong Classic to her resumé.

Green Impact, bred and owned by Marc Chan, was in the ideal position throughout, with Foley tracking Ryan Moore on the Aidan O’Brien hotpot that they had beaten over this course in a July maiden.

The son of Wootton Bassett dug deep to confirm his superiority, much to the delight of his trainer.

“It’s lovely to get one on the board for this weekend because it’s very tough and very competitive racing,” said Harrington.

“He was always a lovely horse. Very laidback and very easy to train. He’s a very big horse and I think we haven’t seen the best of him yet. He’s going to be put away until next year.

“We can dream all winter. He’s a big horse and he needs time to fill out his frame and he’ll be a really nice horse next year. I suppose we’ll start at a Guineas and see from there.

“I’d love to win a Derby! He’s out of a Galileo mare (Emerald Green) so there’s no reason he won’t get a mile and a half. I still think he’s a bit of a weak horse this year and will be better next year.” Foley concurred.

“He’s a gorgeous big horse,” said the Kilkenny pilot. “Had a lovely run in the Curragh first time out, duly obliged here after and did that well. He’s a horse to look forward to next year.

“There were no hiding places there, with a good headwind as well. He did it well.

“This is a massive weekend for Irish racing. We build up to this. It’s the main aim for most of the year and it’s nice to get one on the board early.” The penultimate Irish Stallion Farms EBF Sovereign Path Handicap was won by Dance Night Andday for red-hot trainer Ross O’Sullivan, with Ronan Whelan delivering a power-packed finish to deliver the four-year-old from the clouds in the colours of owner-breeder Peter Jones.

Backed into 12/1 from a morning price of 25/1, the Buratino filly picked the pocket of the Jack Davison-trained Gleneagle Bay to prevail by a head and land the €90,000 pot.

“It’s just magic,” declared an ecstatic O’Sullivan. “What a race. She’s a very good filly. She hasn’t missed a beat all year. She’s won her first two races and got her black type.

“The deciding factor to go for this was the money. She got black type in a listed race in Cork but you couldn’t turn down that pot. She worked very well during the week but when she was drawn 20, it’s very hard to do it from there but Ronnie gave her a peach of a ride.

“Turning in, I thought she’d run on well. The camera flashes to her and she’s getting closer and closer and I thought she’d be placed and then she got there. It was a great race to watch and we’ll watch it plenty more times. You couldn’t write it really. It’s been a great year.

“Her mind is very good. She has to ride out first lot because she’ll get annoyed if she isn’t but after that, all she does is eat and sleep. To go back from listed to handicap companhy is a big help but she’ll go back to stakes company now and hopefully she’ll make a good broodmare in the future.” Another Kildare-based trainer got on the scoresheet, as Nathan Crosse gave an exhibition of pace-setting on board the Johnny Feane charge Vera’s Secret to claim the concluding HKJC World Pool Autumn Fillies Handicap.

“She relaxed in the hood. Nathan gave her a beautiful ride and she’s very talented. She did things right today. She was going quick enough and they left her alone in front. She has a lovely, big action and her forte is her cruising speed. She put that to good use today and she quickened up well off the bend.” The second day of the Festival takes place at the Curragh on Sunday.