Aidan O'Brien

Christophe Soumillon was forced into switching mounts, taking up piloting duties aboard Killarney maiden winner Benvenuto Cellini (Frankel) after TDN Rising Star Montreal (Sea The Stars) was scratched, in Saturday's G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes--formerly known as the Golden Fleece Stakes--and the rider continued on a winning roll as the son of Newspaperofrecord (Lope De Vega) stepped forward to claim a career high in the one-mile contest. His tally earned him a spot in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar at the beginning of November. "He's a...

Coolmore and Westerberg's €1.7-million Arqana August sale topper Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica) backed up a TDN Rising Star performance at the Curragh last month with a first black-type triumph in Saturday's Listed Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle Stakes at Leopardstown. "I was quite confident when I saw the attitude she had going down to the start and she was really professional," said winning jockey Christophe Soumillon. "She was a little impatient in the stalls and didn't jump out properly. I had to change plans because she was quite far...

Coolmore's Aidan O'Brien-trained G1 Phoenix Stakes fourth Puerto Rico (Wootton Bassett) was a five-race maiden heading into Saturday's G2 Betfred Champagne Stakes and made all for a breakthrough success in the seven-furlong contest at Doncaster, becoming the first to achieve the feat since Bog Trotter in 1990. "You'd have to be very happy with him and he'll stay further, too," commented Coolmore representative Kevin Buckley. "He'd had a couple of nice runs recently and he did it nicely today. It looked like a very decent race and Sean [Levey] gave...

The Curragh's Group 1 bonanza on day two of Irish Champions Weekend has attracted an aggregate 38 declarations after final fields for the track's four elite-level contests were confirmed Friday morning. Illinois (Galileo), with Christophe Soumillon booked to ride, is one of two Aidan O'Brien entries, the other being Queenstown (Galileo), and heads a field of nine in the G1 Comer Group International Irish St Leger. The undefeated G2 King Edward VII Stakes victor Amiloc (Postponed) is one of three overseas nominees. Ballydoyle has three of the six runners, headed...

Coolmore's first-crop sire St Mark's Basilica may not catch Starman, but he is making a name for himself in the rankings nonetheless as his son Piazza San Marco became his 12th winner and second TDN Rising Star at Galway on Tuesday. Not seen since finishing down the field at Fairyhouse in early June, Ballydoyle's grandson of Peeping Fawn made every yard on his return under Ronan Whelan in the extended mile maiden to open his account by 3 1/4 lengths from Hamiyan (Wootton Bassett). There was another three lengths back...

Wayne Lordan, who was facing a 10-day suspension for using his whip in the incorrect place aboard Precise (Starspangledbanner) at Goodwood last month, has lost his appeal. His ban will begin on September 9 and last through September 18. In addition, he was fined £1,250 after being found in breach of the rules by the whip review committee following his winning effort on the Aidan O'Brien-trained filly in the G3 Prestige Stakes. Lordan admitted he had used his whip in the wrong place once aboard Precise, he contested the committee's...

Aidan O'Brien outlined plans for some of his stable stars at a Ballydoyle open morning on Monday where it was revealed that Minnie Hauk would chart a direct path to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Christophe Soumillon was likely to fill in for the injured Ryan Moore.  It was announced on Saturday that Moore will be sidelined for an indefinite period of time after being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his femur. Wayne Lordan is the yard's second rider, but he is currently due to be suspended...

Off the mark by eight lengths over six furlongs at The Curragh earlier this month, Ballydoyle's Mission Central (No Nay Never) came back to the same course and distance to collect Saturday's G3 Heider Family Stables Round Tower Stakes. Always in control on the front end under Wayne Lordan, the 11-8 favourite kept finding to score by 3/4 of a length from The Publican's Son (Beau Liam). "Wayne said he was still green. He said he was there at halfway and he was waiting," Aidan O'Brien said. "He said he...

Justifying 10-11 favouritism in The Curragh's opening mile maiden on Saturday, Ballydoyle's Hawk Mountain (Wootton Bassett) made all under Wayne Lordan deputising for the stricken Ryan Moore. Always comfortable setting his own tempo, the son of the dual Group 1 winner Hydrangea (Galileo) who was fifth on debut here earlier this month saw off Mr Vettori (Lope De Vega) to score by 1 1/2 lengths. ✅ Off the mark Hawk Mountain (Wootton Bassett x Hydrangea) opens the account at the second time of asking for team Ballydoyle @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/PGo9dlH8vP —...

G2 Great Voltigeur runner-up Carmers (Wootton Bassett) is one of 15 horses remaining in the G1 St Leger at Doncaster next month at the latest entry stage. Trained by Paddy Twomey, he represents Fiona Carmichael. A winner at Ballinrobe at first asking in May, Carmers added the Listed Yeats Stakes to his haul at Navan later that month before claiming Royal Ascot glory in the G2 Queen's Vase in June. The Great Voltigeur was his first defeat. "We were very happy with him at York last week, finishing second in...

Goodwood's G3 Prestige Fillies' Stakes looked a strong contest on paper beforehand and that ultimately played out as the cream rose to the top with Ballydoyle's Precise (Starspangledbanner) enjoying the bragging rights on Sunday. Sent off the 5-2 second favourite for the seven-furlong race which forms part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, the Cork maiden winner tracked the pace under Wayne Lordan before accelerating impressively to get to the front a furlong out. Pressed by Cheveley Park Stud's previously unbeaten 13-8 market-leader Moon Target (Cracksman)...

Completing The Curragh's Futurity-Debutante double on Saturday for Aidan O'Brien and Wayne Lordan, Composing (Wootton Bassett) justified 4-5 favouritism without any hint of concern in the Group 2 contest. Always happy tracking Suzie Songs (Starspangledbanner) in second, the Silver Flash winner took control two out and forged a straightfoward 2 1/2-length success from that Moyglare filly to bring up a 15th renewal for her stable. "She's a lovely straightforward filly and when she got there she was very laid-back and very professional," the master of Ballydoyle said. "If all is...