Ballydoyle

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...

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...

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 —...

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...

Making it win number 18 for Aidan O'Brien in Saturday's G2 Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Tom Cooper Irish EBF Futurity Stakes, Constitution River (Wootton Bassett) dominated the Curragh contest from start to finish to stake his Classic claims for 2026. Sent on by Wayne Lordan, the 5-6 favourite who had followed an encouraging debut second at Newmarket with a win at Galway turned it on two out to dismiss Geryon (Lope De Vega) by two lengths. "He's a lovely colt and was good and professional," Lordan said of the stable's...

Having won the Oaks and Irish Oaks, Minnie Hauk (Frankel) completed the heralded treble on Thursday in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks with the minimum of fuss. Held up behind as Wayne Lordan set the tempo on the Ribblesdale winner Garden Of Eden (Saxon Warrior), the 8-15 favourite moved up to take control two out and draw away from her main rival Estrange (Night Of Thunder) for a resounding 3 1/2-length success. "She's very straightforward and professional and does everything very smooth," Ryan Moore said of the winner, who also won the...

Providing instant justification and reward for the investment by Sam Sangster Bloodstock, Ballydoyle's Diego Velazquez (Frankel) edged a thriller from Notable Speech (Dubawi) in Sunday's G1 The Aga Khan Studs Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville. Always happy playing a prominent role away from the fence under Christophe Soumillon, the 12-1 shot stayed on to wrest the lead from Dancing Gemini (Camelot) with 100 metres remaining and found the line a head in front of the fast-closing Godolphin runner, who was 3/4 of a length behind in third. "He's always...

5th-Dundalk, €18,000, Mdn, 8-15, 2yo, 8f (AWT), 1:38.02, st. PIERRE BONNARD (IRE) (c, 2, Camelot {GB}--Sultanina {GB} {G1SW-Eng, $303,395}, by New Approach {Ire}), one place behind the yard's subsequent TDN Rising Star Montreal when fourth on debut at Leopardstown last month, raced in front of the main pack behind the clear early leader. In front approaching the final furlong, the 6-5 favourite stayed on strongly to score by 2 1/4 lengths from Shaihaan (Night Of Thunder). "He's a lovely horse," Ballydoyle's representative Chris Armstrong said of the son of the...

Former Irish Champion Flat Jockey and two-time Classic-winning rider Tommy Murphy died at a hospital in Cashel on Wednesday. A rider and later an assistant trainer to the late Vincent O'Brien, he was 88. Murphy rode his first winner in 1954 in Ireland and spent six years riding in England before beginning a 10-year stint with Clem Magnier in Co Meath. Successful twice in the Galway Hurdle and also at the Cheltenham Festival, he joined O'Brien's stable in 1974. His brace of Classic scorers were in 1977--Lady Capulet (Sir Ivor)...

Now that the summer is high, St Mark's Basilica's stud career is readying for take-off and Saturday saw Coolmore's freshman have his first TDN Rising Star in Ballydoyle's exciting Diamond Necklace. Partnered by Wayne Lordan in The Curragh's Grand Hotel Malahide Irish EBF Fillies Juvenile Race, the half-sister to Magic Wand (Galileo) and Chicquita (Montjeu) who was the €1.7million Arqana Deauville August topper swooped on Ryan Moore's pick Minerva (Frankel) inside the final furlong for a smooth 1 1/2-length success. "She'd been working lovely and is very exciting for next...