Giant Sequoia seeking to enhance Derby claims at the Curragh

Derby favourite Giant Sequoia bids to enhance Aidan O’Brien’s phenomenal record in the Coolmore Stud City Of Troy Tom Cooper Irish EBF Futurity Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.

The son of Frankel was beaten into third place as a long odds-on favourite for his debut at Irish headquarters in early June, but recouped losses with an impressive display that saw him shoot to the head of ante-post lists for next year’s premier Classic at Epsom.

Giant Sequoia is the first homebred colt to run under John Stewart’s Resolute Racing banner, having joined with the Coolmore partners to race the exciting youngster, and the American businessman is looking forward to paying his first visit to the Curragh this weekend.

“Giant Sequoia is fantastic, especially because he’s our first homebred to race,” said Stewart.

“He’s running at the Curragh and myself and Chelsey (wife) are planning on coming over. It will be my first visit to the Curragh and I’m looking forward to it.”

Giant Sequoia – who is out of O’Brien’s Oaks runner-up Pink Dogwood – is bidding to become the Ballydoyle handler’s 19th winner of the Futurity and his 12th in the last 14 years.

He is joined by his Tyros Stakes-winning stablemate Florida Bay, Joseph O’Brien saddles both Green Dreamer and Nail House and Fozzy Stack is represented by Nola Soul, who makes his first appearance since landing the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

“He’s in good shape since Ascot. There’s probably scope for improvement off the run, seeing as he hasn’t run for a while, but we’re happy with him,” said Stack.

“He’s not 100 per cent wound up, but he’s fit enough to do himself justice at the same time hopefully.”

Paddy Twomey’s City Of Dubai completes the six-strong field.

Five juvenile fillies get their chance to shine in the preceding Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes, with all eyes set to be Alpha Centauri’s exciting daughter, Alpha.

By Sea The Stars, Aidan O’Brien’s youngster was narrowly beaten on her introduction but has made no mistake the last twice and will be a warm order to complete the hat-trick in another Group Two dominated by her trainer, with 14 victories to his name.

Ibelieveicanfly joins her stablemate, with Joseph O’Brien responsible for the other three runners – Blonde Over Blue, Dancing Destiny and Green Empress.

Later in the afternoon more immediate Classic clues are on offer in the Comer Group International Irish St. Leger Trial Stakes.

Likely contenders for this Group Three event include Twomey’s Carmers, Joseph O’Brien’s Ascot Stakes winner Kizlyar and Aidan O’Brien’s Queenstown, who makes his seasonal debut having been off the track since filling the runner-up spot in the Group One Prix Royal-Oak at Saint-Cloud last October.