Just The Judge storms to victory in the Irish 1000 Guineas

Just The Judge eases clear in the Etihad Airways Irish 1000 Guineas. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Just The Judge recorded a first Classic success for both her owners, Qatar Racng, a subsidiary of British Champions Series sponsor, QIPCO Holding, and for young trainer, Charlie Hills, when she stormed to an impressive victory in the Etihad Airways Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh yesterday.

Always travelling well just behind the leaders, she swept into the lead inside the final furlong and stayed on well to record a length and half success over Rehn’s Nest.

"A first Classic winner feels pretty good although I´m probably more relieved than anything else," said Hills afterwards.

"Jamie gave her a beautiful ride. He had her in the right position all the way and made his move at the right time.

"I’d imagine she will go for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot once she is okay.

"It is twenty-six days until the Coronation and that is a good gap between the two races."

Van Der Neer, who carried Britain’s hopes in the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas on Saturday never landed a blow, however, and finished a long way behind the impressive winner, Magician, in eighth place.

Magician was following up on his Dee Stakes victory, run over a mile and a quarter as opposed to the Irish Guineas mile, at Chester earlier in the month and easily defeated his rivals at The Curragh.

It was trainer Aidan O’Brien’s ninth Irish 2000 Guineas success and there’s a chance that Magician could strengthen the O’Brien challenge in Saturday’s Investec Derby as he tries to follow up on Camelot’s victory 12 months ago. With Dawn Approach to beat, that won’t be easy, however.

Camelot himself was a big disappointment in the Tattersalls Gold Cup over a mile and a quarter at The Curragh yesterday.

He was comprehensively beaten by the Roger Charlton-trained Al Kazeem, ridden by James Doyle.

Doyle said: "Roger always said he’d get him back and it is great to see it all coming together. He is a horse with a lot of class."

O’Brien said of Camelot: "He ran well, he probably got a little bit tired and met a very fit horse on the day.

"He leaned a little inside the last but that’s the first time he’s been asked to really race since he had his big colic operation.

"We’ve just been bringing him along gently and Ascot is still the plan."