Hula Angel led home an English one-two and a bonanza for the bookmakers when giving the father and son combination of Barry and Michael Hills their second Entenmann's Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh yesterday.
Successful with Nicer in 1993, the Hills team comprehensively turned around the form of the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas, where Hula Angel had finished only sixth. Wince, who won that classic, started a very warm 5 to 4 favourite but could only struggle into fifth.
"She is not quite sound and might have ripped a muscle," said Wince's trainer Henry Cecil immediately afterwards. The veterinary officer later declared Wince to be post-race normal but this was a race destined for the longshots.
The 16 to 1 winner beat the 25 to 1 Mick Channon-trained Golden Silca by a neck, with a head back to the best of the Irish, the 40 to 1 Dazzling Park. The 25 to 1 Crystal Downs was best of the Aidan O'Brien quartet in fourth.
It was that quartet that dominated the early stages, and while Wince made a challenge on the inner, the real action was on the outside. Dazzling Park and Crystal Downs threw down challenges but it was the English fillies that finished best.
"She was looking around at the end," said Michael Hills to his father, who was training his fifth Irish classic winner. "The ground was too fast at Newmarket but her form with Valentine Waltz gave her a great chance," he added.
"I've had 47 losers since Chester and it's great to break the run in a classic. The Coronation Stakes at Ascot is on the agenda and she'll get 10 furlongs. The Nassau is an option there," said Hills senior of Hula Angel, who is owned by Australian Jim Fleming, a former chairman of the Sydney Turf Club.
Jim Bolger was pleased with the run of Dazzling Park who he declared was "rusty" on her Leopardstown seasonal debut. "We'll have a look at the Coronation, but we'll certainly sit down and think of the Oaks too," said Bolger. That was a view backed up by rider Kevin Manning, who reported: "They quickened by her but she fought back and wants further."
The old rivals, Sunspangled and Edabiya, finished together again, although the latter didn't get the clearest of runs. Edabiya will now be trained for the Irish Oaks.
Wince's connections had had better luck in the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup with the Japanese-bred Shiva, who maintained her unbeaten record by overpowering the favourite, Daylami.
"She has had knee problems and this is only the third race of her life, but I've always thought her a Group One horse and potentially she is one of the best in Europe," said Cecil, who will train her next for the Prince Of Wales Stakes at Ascot. Second Empire, who faded to last after making the early running, was found to be slightly lame afterwards.
The Michael Tabor colours were carried to success in the opener by a two-year-old whom Aidan O'Brien described as "a very special horse". Bernstein made most to win by five lengths and never broke sweat.
"Even doing a swinging canter, he needs a four-year-old to lead him. What can I say, he is special. He knows he is good, he has loads of confidence and he would rather walk over you than around you. He has that air," said O'Brien, who says he is in no rush with the Storm Cat colt.
Apparatchik got a dream run up the rail to take the Airlie Silver Stakes for John Oxx; and another Curragh trainer, Edward Butler, landed the Hannan Handicap with Patricia's Dream.
