Content (Ire)
DEL MAR, California--In Saturday's GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar, the Europeans come to town riding a five-year win streak having taken the hardware and the bragging rights with thanks. Yet, lest we forget that this is horse racing on the turf and that means even the most deserving favorites can be vulnerable. To put it in sports betting terms, the Filly & Mare Turf could be deemed what we call a 'trap game' in the business. That means a seemingly stronger opponent underestimates...
Ascot's Qipco British Champions Day took its final shape on Thursday morning, with the middle-distance heavyweights Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) heading a 12-strong cast for Saturday's £1.3-million G1 Qipco Champion Stakes. Isa Salman Al Khalifa's G1 Irish Champion Stakes winner and The Aga Khan's G1 Juddmonte International runner-up are joined by the G1 Irish Derby third Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), one of two for Ballydoyle, and another French raider in Iresine (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) who gives to provide Marie Velon with a...
Having confessed my love for one dual Nunthorpe winner, Borderlescott (GB), in a TDN feature published during York's Ebor Festival, it now seems only fair to revisit the story of another, the force of nature that was Mecca's Angel (Ire), successful on the Knavesmire in 2015 and 2016 and now one of the most exciting young broodmares on the planet through the exploits of her daughters, Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). For former owner David Metcalfe it's the story that just keeps on giving, even...
Continuing Aidan O'Brien and Coolmore's incredible week, Content (Ire) put the icing on the cake on Thursday by bringing up the long-awaited 100th individual group 1 winner for the legendary Galileo (Ire) in the G1 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks. Close to sealing that deal when an unlucky second to You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the G1 Irish Oaks last month, the daughter of the high-class sprinter Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was merely postponing the celebrations to this meeting at which her dam captured two editions...
Eight distaffers will contest Thursday's G1 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks after two of the 10 overnight contenders were withdrawn before Tuesday morning's declaration stage. Valmont and Newsells Park Stud Bloodstock's G1 Irish Oaks heroine You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is set to renew rivalry with Curragh runner-up Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). That Aidan O'Brien representative will be accompanied by stablemate and Irish Oaks 13th Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}). The latter had earlier accounted for the reopposing Lava Stream (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in Royal Ascot's G2...
Irish Oaks runner-up Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has been supplemented to the G1 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks, bringing the field to 10 as of Friday. The Aidan O'Brien-trained filly joins stablemate and G2 Ribblesdale Stakes heroine Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in the 1 1/2-mile contest on Aug. 22. O'Brien is aiming for his fourth title in the York race in the last five years. Ralph Beckett-trained fillies have been enjoying a good season, and G1 Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) will run in the...
Fourth in the Oaks and the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes, Valmont and Newsells Park Stud Bloodstock's You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}--Brushing {GB}, by Medicean {GB}) made the necessary improvement on Saturday to clinch the G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at The Curragh. Reserved by Hector Crouch in mid-division throughout the early stages in contrast to the forceful ride she was given at Royal Ascot, the well-supported 15-2 shot moved to the front a furlong out with the 3-1 favourite Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in hot pursuit. Where Content had met...
In the absence of Ezeliya (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks already had an open feel before Ryan Moore decided to give up the ride on the winner of one of this Classic's key pointers in Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}). Two of the last five Irish Oaks heroines had captured the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes en route, so the rejection of such a promising and unexposed winner of that Royal Ascot feature can only point to the strong claims of his pick from the Ballydoyle trio. Much more...
By Heather Anderson & Adam Houghton The Coolmore partners have a strong presence in the G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks, with Ballydoyle's Aidan O'Brien saddling three contestants in the 14-horse field. Highest on ratings is Group 3 winner Content, who is one of three among the 3-year-old fillies aiming to give her late, great sire his 100th worldwide Grade/Group 1 winner. The 1 1/2-mile Classic is not all about the former kingpin, however, as Camelot's G3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes winner Dare To Dream also lines up. The G2 Ribblesdale one-two Port...
A total of 14 fillies will line up for Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks, with Ballydoyle responsible for two live contenders in the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes winner Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes third Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), with Ryan Moore siding with the latter on Thursday. Wayne Lordan will partner Port Fairy, due to renew rivalry with Elwick Stud's supplemented Lava Stream (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) who was runner-up in that Royal Ascot contest. Moore explained his decision on his betfair blog, "Content...
Ribblesdale Stakes runner-up Lava Stream (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) has been supplemented for the G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday, along with course winner Hanalia (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Trained by David O'Meara, Lava Stream was rated just 74 at the start of the season, but she has since been successful in a handicap at Doncaster and a Listed contest at Goodwood before faring best of the rest behind Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB})--the ante-post favourite for Saturday's Classic--at Royal Ascot. Beaten just a neck...
Saturday's G1 Cairn Community Games Pretty Polly Stakes served up a thriller, with Juddmonte's TDN Rising Star Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}--Emulous {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) running down Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the final yards for a deserved top-level breakthrough. With abundant rain falling on The Curragh throughout the day, the Ralph Beckett-trained 4-year-old who was herself cruelly denied late in last year's Irish Oaks held the upper hand in terms of ground preference and traded as the 11-10 favourite as a result. Settled in mid-division early...