Irish Derby

Coming into 2021, there was little Frankel (GB) hadn't yet accomplished in his rise to the top of the stud ranks. In four crops of racing age he could already claim a world's highest-rated horse, a champion middle-distance horse and champion 2-year-old, Group 1-winning milers and stayers, and an Oaks winner. This weekend, the Juddmonte sire exceeded even his own lofty standards by siring Godolphin's Irish Derby winner Hurricane Lane (Ire), and thus giving him victory in both the English and Irish Derbys following on the heels of Adayar (Ire)...

Europe's most famous maiden Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) will face 10 rivals in Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh after Thursday's confirmation stage. Amo Racing's G1 Epsom Derby runner-up was supplemented at a cost of €75,000 by Richard Hannon this week and is the foremost representative of the June 5 blue riband, with the third Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and fourth Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) set to re-oppose for Charlie Appleby and Jim Bolger, respectively. Hurricane Lane is in three,...

Likely favourite High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is among 17 remaining in Saturday's G1 Irish Derby following Tuesday's entry stage. Last year's G2 Beresford S. winner High Definition looks to hand his trainer Aidan O'Brien his 15th Irish Derby score, a task that could also be assigned to his stablemates Van Gogh (American Pharoah), Wordsworth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Sir Lamorak (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Also among the 17 remaining entries are G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) and the G1 Cazoo Derby second and third...

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby meeting on June 26 is expected to be the first racing fixture in the country to welcome up to 1,000 fans, the Taoiseach Micheal Martin confirmed Friday evening. Horse owners are expected to be allowed on course beginning June 7. The Irish Field was first to report the news. "We expect to be in a position to welcome owners back on track with effect from June 7," HRI Chief Executive Brian Kavanagh told the publication. "This would be a brilliant outcome as owners have...

Trainer Aidan O'Brien has announced plans for two of his 3-year-old stars of 2020, G1 Investec Derby upsetter Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G1 Irish Derby hero Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}). Serpentine will make his next start in the G1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at ParisLongchamp on Arc Trial day Sept. 13. "The lads [owners Coolmore] wanted to keep him at a mile and a half, with a view that he could go for the Arc or something like that," O'Brien said. The Grand Prix de Paris replaces the...

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...

In this topsy-turvy season, Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh has a large field including six well-regarded maidens who have been unable to open their account before the big day largely due to its proximity to the real start of the current campaign. Half-chances are situated everywhere in the line-up, but this one-off renewal could be an open-and-shut case if Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) is able to replicate his success in Royal Ascot's G2 Queen's Vase eight days previously. Aidan O'Brien's horses have a remarkable record...

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...

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...

Dubai Duty Free has extended its sponsorship of the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby by a further two years, and added five additional races to its sponsorship portfolio, which will see prizemoney at this year's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival on June 26 to 28 rise to €2.25-million from €2-million. In 2021, all races at the festival will be worth a minimum of €100,000. The Dubai Duty Free Village in the Curragh garden will this year provide a new entertainment venue with an array of food and beverage...

Goffs on Thursday released the catalogue for its flagship Orby yearling sale, with 472 yearlings set to be offered on Oct. 1 and 2. This year, Orby celebrated a second consecutive Oaks winner when Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) was victorious in the G1 Prix de Diane. Bred by Kilcarn Stud, Channel was an €18,000 private purchase at Orby in 2017 by Meridian International. The year prior, G1 Investec Oaks winner Forever Together (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) had been bought by MV Magnier for €900,000. One of the highlights of this year's...

Sunday's 150th renewal of the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh had looked for a while as if it could be a target for many of the season's leading fillies, but after Monday's declaration and Friday's confirmation stage the representation has been whittled down to just one: the G1 Epsom Oaks winner Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Had it not been for owner Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's decision to supplement on Monday there would have been none of that sex lining up, as the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine...