Tribal Beat back at Leopardstown for Amethyst
Tribal Beat aims for a second G3 victory over a mile at Leopardstown, Ireland, on his first appearance of the year in the Amethyst Stakes (14.10 hrs local time) on Sunday, May 7.
The Jim Bolger-trained four-year-old quickened impressively to beat subsequent G2 scorer Cougar Mountain by a length and three quarters in the G3 Desmond Stakes over course and distance in August, 2016.
He makes his first outing since coming home last of seven in the G2 Boomerang Stakes, also over a mile at Leopardstown, in September.
Regular jockey Kevin Manning takes the ride again on the Street Cry colt, who faces five rivals headed by Cougar Mountain, the 2015 Boomerang Stakes winner Custom Cut and multiple G1 winner Gordon Lord Byron.
Jimmy Hyland of Godolphin commented: “The forecast ground should suit Tribal Beat and he is training very well.
“We are expecting a big run on his seasonal return.”
Bolger and Manning also team up in the two principal races for three-year-olds on Sunday's card, with Dubai Sand lining up in the six-runner G3 Derby Trial (15.20 hrs local time ) over a mile and a quarter.
The Teofilo colt gained success in the nine-furlong Listed Eyrefield Stakes at Leopardstown in October and was hampered when coming home fifth in the G3 Ballysax Stakes, run over the same course and distance as the Derby Trial, on April 8.
The opposition is headed by Capri, Yucatan and Douglas Macarthur, all G1 placed last year.
Bean Feasa, a Dubawi half-sister to Teofilo, goes for the six-runner G3 1,000 Guineas Trial (14.45 hrs local time) over a mile after coming home second in a Gowran Park maiden over a furlong and a half further on April 30.
Jimmy Hyland added: “Dubai Sand was disappointing last time out and we feel that he needed the run.
“Jim Bolger reports that he has come out of that race very well and we are looking for an improved performance.
“Bean Feasa was runner-up at Gowran Park on soft ground, which wouldn’t have suited her, so it was a very creditable run in the circumstances. She should go close on faster ground this time.”
