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13 Dec 2018

New kids on the Champions Series block: Iridessa

Iridessa is one to keep in mind for the QIPCO 1000 Guineas and Investec Oaks. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Will Jospeh O’Brien enjoy a first British Classic success in 2019? We turn the spotlight onto the filly who gave him another breakthrough victory this year.

Horse: IRIDESSA

Form: 1531. Trainer: Joseph O’Brien

Joseph O’Brien achieved a plethora of big-race wins as a jockey before giving up fighting an unequal battle with the scales and turning to training.

He has quickly established himself among the best around in his second vocation, too, although he has yet to enjoy a QIPCO British Champions Series success or Classic triumph in Britain.

Perhaps Iridessa will put that right for him in 2019.

She provided O’Brien with his first Group 1 win as a trainer in Britain when landing the bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket in the autumn.

She was sent off at 14/1, but her previous defeats had come over 7f and the daughter of Derby winner Rule The World clearly relished the stiff mile.

Hermosa and Pretty Pollyanna, the next pair home, gave the form substance and the other five runners finished well strung out.

Minding, trained by Joseph’s father, Aidan, won the Fillies’ Mile on her final start as a two-year-old before going on to win four QIPCO British Champions Series races the following year – including the QIPCO 1000 Guineas and Investec Oaks.

Iridessa, out of an unraced dam, clearly has some way to go before being mentioned in the same breath but she has clearly inherited plenty of stamina from her sire and deserves to be on any shortlist for the Investec Oaks, for which she is a general 16/1.

Coral and Ladbrokes make her 20/1 for the QIPCO 1000 Guineas. Given the open nature of the race – the layers are going 10/1 the field – there will be worse each-way bets.