Homeless Songs destroys the field and storms to Irish 1,000 Guineas triumph

Sunday: Curragh, Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas

Homeless Songs produced a scintillating performance under Chris Hayes to give Dermot Weld his fifth Irish 1,000 Guineas, the daughter of Frankel spreadeagling her opponents in the final furlong in winning the Tattersalls-sponsored 2022 edition by five-and-a-half lengths.

It was Weld's 20th Irish Classic in a season where the string have been very slow to come to hand with one winner in March, one in April, and prior to this, one in May. Homeless Songs had provided the stable with their sole winner in April when a taking winner of the Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial, and the temptations of Newmarket and Longchamp were bypassed to stay close to home instead.

It was a decision which could not have worked out any better. All through the contest, the eye was drawn to how well Homeless Songs was travelling under Hayes, and the turn of foot she showed to get to the front was of the highest class. She was cut to 9-4 joint-favouritism from 8-1 by Paddy Power for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot in the wake of this performance.

Weld said: "Every Classic is very special and every Classic is very difficult to win. She is a very special filly. I have won this race with a number of good fillies and she rates right up there.

"My main concern coming in here was whether she could carry that speed over a mile, but she relaxed beautifully for Chris and he gave her the most perfect ride. We'll see how she comes out of this race, but the Coronation Stakes would have to be a definite possibility."

Homeless Songs and Dermot Weld after the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 GuineasCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Hayes had previously partnered Search For A Song to win the 2019 Irish St Leger for Weld and owners Moyglare Stud Farm, and he said: "She's an amazing filly. I rode her in a bit of work last year and thought she was the nicest two-year-old I had ridden all year. I was delighted to get the call to ride her and am very grateful to Mr Weld and all the team at Rosewell.

"The horses have not really been hitting the boards this year, but they are getting there and maybe this is the turning point."

He added: "We were drawn on the best of the ground. She has an extraordinary turn of foot and the last thing I needed was to be looking for gaps, she enjoys having a bit of room and you saw what she can do. My only concern was getting a clean run of things. She is a special filly."

The supporting cast had no chance with the winner, but good races were run by several of them. Aidan O'Brien saddled the second and third. The 11-4 favourite Tuesday went one place better than her third in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, while third-home Concert Hall ran a solid trial for the Cazoo Oaks as she stayed on well close home.

O'Brien said: "They ran good races and just ran into one. Tuesday ran a lovely race. We'll see where we are but we might look at Epsom with her. Concert Hall came home well. We'll see how she comes out of the race but there is a very strong possibility she will go to Epsom."

For Champion Hurdle, Gold Cup and Champion Chase-winning trainer Henry de Bromhead, standing in the parade ring before a Classic, having a runner with a chance, was a new departure.

Watch: Homeless Songs rampant in Irish 1,000 Guineas win

The De Bromhead-trained Star Girls Aalmal was the dark horse in the race for many a judge, and she ran a fine race to finish fourth under Billy Lee. Indeed, she travelled through the race as well as Homeless Songs before the winner's turn of foot settled things, only losing out in the battle for the placings close to the line.

"She ran a blinder," said De Bromhead, adding: "Billy was delighted with her. She was a bit unfortunate to get a bump near the end and it might have cost her third, but we're lucky to be here and we're delighted.

"She's still a frame of a filly and is going to improve. It's fantastic to be involved in an occasion like this, it's a real thrill. She's in the Coronation Stakes and we will look at all our options."

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