Moore Switches to True Love for Irish Thousand Guineas

Ryan Moore has switched to One Thousand Guineas (G1) winner True Love (IRE) in the May 24 Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1) at the Curragh, with Newmarket-winning jockey Wayne Lordan taking over on Precise (IRE). Moore rode Precise when she finished seventh as the 9-5 favorite, 5 lengths behind Ballydoyle stablemate True Love, who claimed classic glory by 1 3/4 lengths under Lordan. Aidan O'Brien warned punters before Newmarket that Precise might need the run after she had a hold-up in the spring, and the trainer has said she has improved plenty for her first outing. However, Moore has opted for True Love in the Irish One Thousand Guineas and will get back on board the No Nay Never filly, who has been drawn in stall 1, after partnering her to victory on her comeback at Leopardstown last month. Precise and True Love, the joint highest-rated juvenile fillies in Europe last year, have proved difficult to split in the betting for the Irish One Thousand Guineas with both trading around the 7-4 mark this week. O'Brien, who also runs Beautify (IRE) in the race, is bidding for a 12th success in the Curragh classic, with Moore looking for a fifth win in the race. Leading the opposition to the Ballydoyle pair in the final field of 12 is Fred Darling Stakes (G3) winner Sukanya (GB) for Jack Channon, who will be aiming to emulate his father, Mick, who won his only classic in this race with Samitar (GB) in 2012. Sukanya had been touted as a potential contender for Newmarket, but Channon set his stall out for the Curragh at an early stage and has stuck to his guns. The Charlie Appleby-trained Abashiri (GB), who was fifth in the Guineas at Newmarket, and Nell Gwyn Stakes (G3) runner-up America Queen (IRE) also feature in the lineup. Minnie Hauk faces seven in GOld Cup Last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) runner-up Minnie Hauk (IRE) returns to the highest level at the Curragh Sunday against seven rivals in the Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1). The 4-year-old filly, who completed the Oaks double last year, made a successful comeback over the same course and distance in this month's Mooresbridge Stakes (G2). Britain has assembled a strong challenge to the favorite with Almaqam (GB), Bay City Roller (IRE), Royal Rhyme (IRE), and Saddadd (IRE) declared for the group 1 contest. Ed Walker has opted to give stable star Almaqam, who beat Ombudsman (IRE) in last year's Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3), his comeback in the race. Bay City Roller, a group 1 winner in Germany last year, already has a run under his belt, having just lost out by a neck to Lambourn (IRE) in the Huxley Stakes (G2) at Chester, a race in which Royal Rhyme was fifth. The progressive Saddadd, who returned with victory in the Gordon Richards Stakes (G2) at Sandown, is tested at the highest level for the first time.