Ones to Watch – Curragh

The overnight meeting at the Curragh in Ireland produced two very impressive juvenile debut winners, one that looks a potential stakes-winner for Lonhro and the other is a full brother to Coolmore's royally bred Cox Plate contender Highland Reel.

A homebred for Juddmonte Farms, the Dermot Weld trained Lonhro filly Raymonda opened her account with a dominant two and three-quarter length win over a big field of 14 fillies in the seven furlong maiden.

UK Racing Post offered a positive assessment – RAYMONDA is a well-related, backward filly with a nice bit of ability. She was sharp enough to get quite prominent and looked to be travelling the best from 2f out. She met a tough challenger in the runner-up but seemed pretty professional and was well in control in the closing stages.

Black type will be important for Raymonda, who is a half-sister to Brooch and Caponata. She looks to have her share of pace and can stay at least 1m next season. She should pay her way at stakes level.

Raymonda is the third winner from stakes-winning Dansili mare Daring Diva, whose first two winners are Group II winner Brooch and stakes-winner Caponata.

Daring Diva is a full sister to Group I winner Emulous, who was also trained by Dermot Weld, so Raymonda looks a very exciting prospect to keep a watch on next year.

Also making a keen impression in winning the juvenile colts maiden over a mile by three and a half lengths was the Aidan O'Brien trained Galileo colt Idaho, the latest winner for Australian bred Group I place-getter Hveger, the sister to Group I stars Elvstroem and Haradasun.

Idaho also received high prasie from UK Racing Post – IDAHO is a brother to Highland Reel and possibly more of a middle-distance horse than that colt. He was not especially strong in the market and any amount of the yard´s horses can be beaten first-time out but he produced a performance that marked him down as a genuine Derby prospect for next season.

Though he took his time to get going, the manner of his effort in the second half of the race was really taking. A big-striding horse that resembles his father in ways, he looks to have Classic potential. The 33s available for Epsom looks worth a bet, with no outstanding candidate at this time.

Bought by MV Magnier for 750,000 guineas at the Tattersalls October Book One Yearling Sale last year, Idaho is the third winner for Hveger and is a full brother to Group I Arlington Secretariat Stakes winner Highland Reel and half-brother to Group I placed Valdemoro.