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    Renaissance Stakes – Our 1-2-3 Verdict For Sunday’s Group 3 At The Curragh

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    September 24, 2022

    Eight runners go to post for the first of the Group 3’s at the Curragh on Sunday 25th September – the Renaissance Stakes.

    British trainers have won four of the last five renewals and have the market leader this year with 2021 winner Art Power bidding for back-to-back wins in the race.

    Find out who we’re siding with in our 1-2-3 prediction for the race ↓

    1st – Art Power (1/1)

    ART POWER bolted up in this race last year and looks a solid option to win it again this year. Tim Easterby’s star has been racing in better races since but dropping back down to Group 3 should see him back in the winners enclosure. 

    After winning this last year, he signed off for the season with an impressive fourth in the G1 Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot, doing best of those to race on the near side. His reappearance run came in the G2 City Of York Stakes and didn’t do badly, finishing fourth again but was only just over three lengths off the winner. The most recent run was his most disappointing, finishing a distant ninth in the G1 Sprint Cup, but the drop down to Group 3 here should see him back to his best. 

    He should be a class above his rivals here, and if he puts in a similar effort to last year he’ll win this. He rates as one of the more confident bets on Sunday.

    2nd – Sam Maximus (11/2)

    It could be a 1-2 for the Brits as we’re siding with SAM MAXIMUS to chase home Art Power. James Horton’s colt has been some solid form to his name and he’s fancied to finish best of the rest. 

    His Listed win last time out was the trainers first success in Listed company, and it was a good performance, with a couple of runners winning since to boost the form:

    • Manaccan (3rd) – won a Listed contest next time out and placed in the G3 World Trophy Stakes after. 
    • Summerghand (5th) – Won the Ayr Gold Cup next time out. 

    The application of a first time visor could give him a bit of an edge and although he might be no match for Art Power, he’s the biggest danger to him and he can chase the favourite home.

    3rd – Just Beautiful (7/1)

    JUST BEAUTIFUL disappointed on reappearance in the G2 Boomerang Mile, but she’s entitled to come on for that run and will appreciate the drop to Group 3 company here.

    That was her first run in over a year, and she was slightly hampered in the run-in which put paid to any chance she had, and jockey Billy Lee eased up on her in the final strides. Prior to her break she won five of her seven races, including winning the G3 Sceptre Stakes at Doncaster on her final run of 2021. 

    She will need to improve to finish ahead of Art Power and the chances are Sam Maximus will also prove too good, but she’s capable of a big performance and if stripping fitter for her recent reappearance run, this drop back to Group 3 company could be enough to see her run into the final place.

    RACING TIPS PREDICTION

    1st – Art Power

    2nd – Sam Maximus

    3rd – Just Beautiful

    *Odds Correct At Time Of Posting – 3pm Saturday 24th September*