Jessica Harrington

Leading bloodstock agent Mark McStay has labelled the ITM Barrier Trials as one of the most important innovations on the Irish racing scene for a number of years but implored more trainers to get behind the initiative ahead of the return of the concept at Naas on Monday.  This year marks the fifth running of the ITM Barrier Trials, with trainers like Joseph O'Brien, Gordon Elliott, Gavin Cromwell, Jessica Harrington, Henry de Bromhead and Donnacha O'Brien heavily represented across a 10-trial card that features races over six and seven furlongs...

Jessica Harrington revealed on Monday that she is leaning towards skipping the 2,000 Guineas in favour of the French equivalent with last year's G1 Futurity Trophy winner Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), with Green Impact (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) reported to be the stable's most likely representative at Newmarket. Green Impact won two of his three starts as a two-year-old, including September's G2 Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown when last seen, beating last month's G3 Ballysax Stakes winner Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) by half a length. On that form...

Have you ever fancied gaining an insight into how trainers like Jessica Harrington or Johnny Murtagh prepare their horses to win big-race riches all over the globe? Or perhaps you'd like to better understand the breeding industries and take a peek behind the scenes at some of the biggest stud farms in Ireland?  The recently-launched Horse Country, which is funded by Failte Ireland, Horse Racing Ireland and the Kildare and Tipperary County Councils, will offer such experiences to interested parties and its CEO Laura Magee spoke of her excitement about...

Jessica Harrington has described Classic contenders Green Impact (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) as two of the most exciting colts that she has had to look forward to for some time and revealed that the latter would get his campaign underway in a 2,000 Guineas--but the legendary trainer hasn't decided whether she will go to England, Ireland or France.  While Hotazhell is viewed as a Guineas prospect, Harrington admitted that she is "dreaming" that Green Impact can develop into a Derby horse this season....

Group 1-placed sprinter Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) will continue his career in Australia after the majority owners in the four-year-old, Bronsan Racing, switched the colt from Jessica Harrington to the stable of Michael Freeman Down Under. Twice a winner at Group 3 level, Givemethebeatboys was purchased by Bronsan Racing for £1.1 million at the Goffs London Sale on the eve of Royal Ascot. He had previously been sourced by Con Marnane, who retains an interest in the colt, for just €11,000 as a yearling.  Neil Sands commented, "The decision...

The four-time Group 1 winner City Of Troy (Justify) has been named Cartier Horse of the Year at the 34th Cartier Racing Awards in London on Wednesday evening. Trained by Aidan O'Brien for the Coolmore partners Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, who received four awards on the night, City Of Troy was last year's Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt. No horse other than Frankel (GB) has won both those titles in successive years. Winner of the Derby, Coral-Eclipse and Juddmonte International this year, City Of Troy takes the Cartier Horse...

Successful in the G3 Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown and second in The Curragh's G2 Futurity Stakes over seven furlongs, the Silverton Hill Partnership's Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}--Azenzar {GB}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) showed that a strongly-run mile holds no fears as he conquered Saturday's G2 Beresford Stakes back at the Kildare venue. Positioned off the pace set by Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Trinity College (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) by Shane Foley, the 2-1 joint-favourite wore down that rival a furlong from home before asserting to beat Tennessee Stud (Ire)...

Handed the unenviable task of taking on the might of Ballydoyle in Leopardstown's G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes on Saturday, Marc Chan's homebred Green Impact (Ire) (Wootton Bassett (GB}--Emerald Green {GB}, by Galileo {Ire}) proved up to the task to provide his owner-breeder with a red-letter day. The first horse bred by Chan, the Jessica Harrington-trained relative of Power (GB) and Footstepsinthesand (GB) was sent up by Shane Foley to track Aidan O'Brien's second-string Bernard Shaw (Into Mischief) throughout the early stages with the stable's 5-6 favourite Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi...

Over a decade on from Pathfork recording a memorable Group 1 triumph in the National Stakes at the Curragh, the American-based Bonnie and Tommy Hamilton of Silverton Hill Farm are dreaming of further big-race riches in Europe with Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}).  If it has been a while between drinks for the Hamiltons in Ireland, Hotazehll appears as though he was worth the wait. Like Pathfork, Hotazhell is trained by Jessica Harrington.  He announced himself as a pretty serious colt with genuine Classic aspirations when landing the G3...

Coming off a Curragh maiden success last month, the Silverton Hill Partnership's Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}--Azenzar {GB}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) was on top at the end of Leopardstown's G3 Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes to provide the Jessica Harrington stable with a double on Thursday. Settled in the wake of the Ballydoyle pace-setter Swagman (Ger) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) throughout the early stages, the 100-30 second favourite was sent upsides that rival by Shane Foley at the furlong pole and asserted to score by 1 1/2 lengths, with...

Tackling Leopardstown's often-informative Frank Conroy Irish EBF Maiden with vital experience, Marc Chan's homebred Green Impact (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Emerald Green {GB}, by Galileo {Ire}) made that edge count as he denied a pair of Ballydoyle bluebloods to open his account in the mile contest. Slowly away before rushed up to shadow the leader in second, the Jessica Harrington-trained 11-8 favourite was committed by Shane Foley approaching the furlong pole and stayed on strongly to account for Ryan Moore's pick of the Aidan O'Brien-trained duo Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) by...

Providing a timely boost to the G1 Poule d'Essai Pouliches prospects of Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), John Hennessy's Sea The Boss (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}--Shaella {Ire}, by Casamento {Ire}) captured Saturday's G3 Al Shira'aa Racing Irish EBF Jannah Rose S. at Naas to set her course towards the Irish Oaks. Only eighth behind that Ballydoyle peer in the G3 Staffordstown Stud S. at The Curragh when last seen in October, the Jessica Harrington trainee who was also behind Content when fourth in Leopardstown's Listed Ingabelle S. in September enjoyed...