Aidan O'Brien

Listed winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Ocean Atlantique (American Pharoah) will run in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on July 5 instead of the G1 Epsom Derby the day prior, Racing Post reported on Saturday. A winner at second asking at Saint-Cloud, Ocean Atlantique was second in the May 14 G3 Prix la Force and rebounded to take the Listed Prix de Suresnes by five lengths on May 31. If successful, the bay would be the first Andre Fabre-trained Prix du Jockey Club hero for Coolmore partners...

It was labelled as wide-open, but in the end Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh proved anything but as Aidan O'Brien was in dominating form yet again with Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) leading home a remarkable stable one-two-three-four. Sent off the clear 2-1 favourite coming back eight days after his emphatic win in the G2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, the bay was always travelling with supreme ease anchored towards the rear by a confident Seamie Heffernan. Cutting through the pack and getting an ideal split...

Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}-Chelsea Rose {Ire}, by Desert King), winner of the 2018 G1 St Leger, has been retired from racing and will enter stud next year under Coolmore's National Hunt banner. Bred by Barronstown Stud and raced by the Coolmore partners, Kew Gardens indicated an affinity for middle distances with a win in the 2000 metre Listed Zetland S. at two. He earned a first pattern victory in the G2 Queen's Vase S. at Royal Ascot before successfully dropping down to a mile and a half in the...

G1 Irish Derby ARTHUR'S KINGDOM (IRE) (Camelot {GB}-Madeira Mist {Ire}, by Grand Lodge) Bred by Skymarc Farm, Arthur's Kingdom was a €260,000 Goffs Orby yearling purchase by MV Magnier. The G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and G2 King Edward VII S. runner-up is out of the GIII Dance Smartly H. winner Madeira Mist and therefore a three-quarter brother to triple GI Canadian International winner Joshua Tree (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). CHIRICAHUA (IRE) (Camelot {GB}-Dowager {GB}, by Groom Dancer) Bred by Lynch Bages and Rhinestone Bloodstock, Chiricahua was bought by Gaelic Bloodstock for...

4.15 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, f, 6fT FRIENDLY (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) was not foaled until May 15th, so improvement can be expected in due time but it is interesting that Aidan O'Brien has opted to go so soon with the 12th progeny out of the speedy Massarra (GB) (Danehill). All of her full-siblings Mars (Ire), Gustav Klimt (Ire), Wonderfully (Ire), Cuff (Ire) and Blissful (Ire) and her half-sister Nayarra (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) were able to make their mark in black-type company at different levels and this chestnut relative of...

A field of 15 have been declared for Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh, with Aidan O'Brien responsible for six. The master of Ballydoyle's main chances appear to be last week's G2 Queen's Vase winner Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) and G2 King Edward VII S. runner-up Arthur's Kingdom (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the largest field since 1977. Santiago has been done no favours by the draw, having been posted wide in 11 while Joseph O'Brien has a trio engaged headed by Scott Heider's unbeaten G3 Gallinule...

Dusseldorf is the latest track to stage a European Classic on Sunday, with the 100th running of the G2 German 1,000 Guineas featuring an overseas challenger in the G3 Firth of Clyde S. and G3 Oh So Sharp S. winner Rose of Kildare (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}). Ninth in the G1 1,000 Guineas Newmarket June 7, the Mark Johnston raider encounters Gestut Karlshof's No Limit Credit (Ger) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) who beat Gestut Ebbesloh's Democracy (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) by a neck in the G3 Schwarzgold-Rennen at Cologne May 17....

   After the quintet of thrilling Group 1 contests this week at Royal Ascot, Saturday sees a triple treat as the G1 St James's Palace S., G1 Coronation S. and G1 Diamond Jubilee S. provide the ultimate closing act. It is the St James's Palace which entices the most, with the May 6 G1 2,000 Guineas second and third Wichita (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) re-enacting their Classic encounter as TDN Rising Star Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) joining in for good measure. On last year's form,...

Ryan Moore will probably not ride an easier winner than Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) all week after the Ballydoyle's latest Classic prospect spreadeagled the field in the G2 Queen's Vase. Signing off 2019 with a defeat of the useful Sunchart (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) over a mile at Listowel in September, the bay was always on an even keel here settled worse than mid-division throughout the early stages before coming on strong as the pressure intensified. Moving to the lead with grace two out, the 10-3 shot stayed on powerfully after...

Fifth on debut over six furlongs at Naas June 8, Battleground (War Front) took a step forward to win the Listed Chesham S. as the 11-4 favourite for a 73rd Royal winner for Aidan O'Brien. Always travelling strongly tracking the pace under Ryan Moore, the first foal out of the brilliant Arc heroine Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) took over from March Law (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and stayed on strongly to beat that rival by 2 1/2 lengths, with the sole filly Seattle Rock (GB) (Fastnet...

Bouncing out of Leopardstown's G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial, Ballydoyle's Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) demonstrated the buoyant health of his stable by landing a strong renewal of the G3 Hampton Court S. on Wednesday. Second eight days ago racing against the bias at that Foxrock venue, Laurie Macri and Coolmore's 10-3 second favourite was delivered from rear by Ryan Moore with a surge to overwhelm the 9-4 favourite First Receiver (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) in the final yards. With full momentum as he crossed the line, the son of...

With Ballydoyle off the mark at the 2020 Royal Ascot meeting, Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) bids to continue the momentum on Wednesday in a fascinating renewal of the G1 Prince of Wales's S. Impressive in the G2 King Edward VII S. over 12 furlongs at this meeting 12 months ago, having been third in the G1 Epsom Derby following an interrupted preparation, the bay enjoyed a fruitful campaign thereafter when taking the G1 Grand Prix de Paris in July and York's G1 Juddmonte International in August. Fourth in a vintage...