Curragh

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a half-brother to G1 Nunthorpe S. pick Royal Aclaim (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}). 1.45 Curragh, Mdn, €25,000, 2yo, 6fT POP STAR (IRE) (Sioux Nation) is a half-brother to next week's red-hot G1 Nunthorpe S. favourite Royal Aclaim (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) who debuts for Ballydoyle in this Irish...

Aidan O'Brien will rely solely on Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) in his bid to win a record-extending 17th G1 Phoenix S. at the Curragh this afternoon after stablemate Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) was ruled out of the Saturday showpiece due to to allergies. Last successful with Sioux Nation in 2017, O'Brien has won the Phoenix S. with George Washington, Holy Roman Emperor and Mastercraftsman in the past, and Little Big Bear is a 7-4 chance to follow in the hoofprints of those illustrious former Ballydoyle-trained stars....

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a daughter of superproducer Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). 1.20 Newmarket, Debutantes, £8,000, Mdn, 2yo, 7fT JALAPA (GB) (Expert Eye {GB}) is one of the first of the bluebloods to appear on a fascinating Saturday and the half-sister to Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) represents the...

Taste of Kildare will be held at the Curragh Racecourse during the Autumn Festival of Racing. Food producers and restaurants will showcase their culinary offerings at the Kildare track Sept. 24-25. The first day of Taste of Kildare, which will run on the same day as the Goffs Millions, Europe's richest race for 2-year-olds. Day 2 of Taste of Kildare will coincide with the Friends of the Curragh Day. For more information and to purchase tickets see www.tasteofkildare.ie

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Observations features a daughter of Princess Highway (Street Cry {Ire}). 1.40 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, f, 7fT ETERNAL SILENCE (War Front) is a rare Moyglare Stud homebred to race for the Jessica Harrington stable, and a significant one as a daughter of the G2 Ribblesdale S. winner and...

They have reached dizzy heights as breeders and now Gillian and Vimal Khosla are concentrating on achieving big-race success as owners with Fennela (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a daughter of their outstanding broodmare Green Room (Theatrical {Ire}), in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks. The Khoslas know a thing or two about breeding top-notchers. Green Room is the dam of three Group 1 or Classic winners and the owner-breeders behind the 20-year-old blue hen are hoping there is still more to come.  Lord Shanakill (Speightstown) was the first horse to...

An Emily Upjohn (GB)-shaped hole has been blown into the G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks after John and Thady Gosden were forced to rule the daughter of Sea The Stars (Ire) out of Saturday's Group 1 contest at the Curragh. As short as 2-5 with some betting firms, Emily Upjohn will miss the Curragh Classic after the Gosden team were faced with travel complications ahead of the journey across the Irish Sea. The Jessica Harrington-trained Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo) has hardened into a general even-money favourite for the Irish Oaks in Emily...

Bernd and Ute Schone may sound an unlikely couple to be putting County Offaly in lights. However, the husband-and-wife team, who hail from Germany but have based themselves in the village of Rhode for over a decade, boast the rare achievement of breeding a Group 1 winner after their graduate La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}) stormed to Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly S. glory at the Curragh on Sunday.  Ute Schone, who runs the farm alongside her husband Bernd, described La Petite Coco's Group 1 victory as "a...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Observations features the return of a son of Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 13.40 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, c/g, 7fT Coolmore and Westerberg's once-raced AUGUSTE RODIN (IRE) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), a son of MG1SW distaffer Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), got caught in traffic and shaped with promise when second...

The Curragh's G1 Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly S. takes centre stage on Sunday and it is a strong renewal, with the G1 Prix d'Ispahan and G2 Dahlia S. winner Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) tackling several others who have pretensions at attaining that level. This is the first time that the 5-year-old will tackle a mile and a quarter, but her emphatic display over nine furlongs and 55 yards in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan at ParisLongchamp on May 29 suggests it is time to try. Trainer Ed Walker is hoping...

The Curragh, IRELAND--Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby revolved around Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and he didn't disappoint. The fact that Colin Keane was handed the ride at the expense of Rob Hornby, who was aboard the colt at Epsom, provided a fascinating sub-plot to the race and both men emerged from the weekend with reputations not only intact but enhanced. Westover was the winner the Curragh needed and his victory tees up a fascinating rematch between himself and the Derby hero Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the...

Following a quiet few days in the aftermath of Ascot and Chantilly, things get moving again on Saturday with The Curragh staging one of the most interesting renewals of the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby for some time. A race that has from time to time in recent years been under the shadow of the European Pattern Committee's guillotine has pulled a trick out of the hat this year to ensure it keeps its exalted status for the immediate future at least. Aidan O'Brien has come to tick off...