Malex being targeted at Irish 2000 Guineas
- Tom Reed
- 19 April 2022
Michael O'Callaghan's Malex could be a contender for the Irish 2000 Guineas in May.
Michael O'Callaghan has all eyes on the Irish 2,000 Guineas with the promising Malex should he come though his trial at the Curragh in good order.
The three-year-old son of Kodiac took a 20 runner maiden at the Curragh in late March, with the second placed Boundless Ocean of the Jim Bolger yard going on to win at Leopardstown.
The Kodiac colt won a 20-runner seven-furlong maiden at the Curragh on debut last month and the runner-up has since franked the form with victory at Leopardstown.
Connections of Malex hope to run the colt in the Tetrarch Stakes at his local track on May 2.
O'Callaghan said: "He beat Boundless Ocean first time out and that one has won since. He will go to the Tetrarch, a mile Guineas trial at the Curragh, and he was added into the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the second entry stage.
"Hopefully he will run well and we will go from there if he runs a big race there.
"He has come out of his race at the Curragh very well. He is lovely, big horse and still a big baby.
"He has improved since the Curragh and he will improve for another run as well."
He added: "To do that first time out against horses rated 100, takes a bit of doing.
"He figured things out during the race and he came home well and looks like he will stay a mile no problem. I would say he will go further in time, I'd say probably a mile and a quarter.
"The Irish Guineas trip should suit him.
"We'll get the Guineas out of the way and we'll know a lot more after that. A lot of what we are doing now is pre-empting things and guessing, but he has to go and do it now. We'll learn a lot more about him in the Tetrarch and we'll go from there, but I don't think he is ground dependant."
The Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas has a first prize of €285,000 and takes place at the Curragh on May 21. A stellar field will line up for the test of up and coming colts.
