Leopardstown

Leopardstown's Saturday card belonged to Aidan O'Brien and Jack Cleary and their winning sequence included a bright prospect for the 2025 Classics in Christmas Day (Camelot) in the nine-furlong G3 Mongey Communications Eyrefield Stakes. Coming off a maiden win at Gowran Park last month, the 13-2 shot was delivered from the pack to deny A Boy Named Susie (Starspangledbanner) on the line and prevail by a short head. "He's progressed from run to run and he took great confidence from the win the last day," Ballydoyle's representative Chris Armstrong explained....

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred 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 full-brother to multiple Group 1 winner and Classic heroine Lake Victoria (Frankel). 4.50 Leopardstown, Mdn, 2yo, c/g, 7f 30yT DRUIDS GLEN (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) is a significant newcomer for Ballydoyle on an intriguing card, being a full-brother to the yard's outstanding Irish 1,000 Guineas, Breeders'...

Capping another red-letter day for Coolmore and Team Ballydoyle and a memorable one for Christophe Soumillon, Delacroix (Dubawi) justified favouritism in style in Leopardstown's G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes. He also punched his ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar on November 1. Sent off the well-supported 2-1 market-leader, the Eclipse hero sat a way off the strong pace before delivering a jaw-dropping killer kick between the three and the two as if he had just jumped in. In command before his chief rival Anmaat (Awtaad)...

Wathnan's Fallen Angel (Too Darn Hot) loves nothing more than a trip overseas for a big prize and the grey was in the winning mood again on Saturday in Leopardstown's G1 Coolmore America Justify Matron Stakes. Fresh from regaining her mojo in Deauville's Prix Rothschild last month, the Moyglare and Irish Guineas winner who had been second to Porta Fortuna in this 12 months ago outstayed Exactly (Frankel) in the run to the line to prevail by half a length. Atsila (Phoenix Of Spain) was 3/4 of a length away...

Ryusei Sakai is savouring a second tilt at the G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday, with last year's third Shin Emperor (Siyouni) featuring among 12 horses standing their ground after Tuesday's confirmation stage. Japanese raider Shin Emperor, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, delighted connections in an early workout on Tuesday, with Sakai saying afterwards, "He worked this morning on the Curragh Racecourse with his partner horse and he felt very well, very comfortable. I was very happy with the gallop. He is a more mature and stronger horse...

A total of five horses who took part in the ITM Irish EBF Barrier Trials at Leopardstown earlier this week will go under the hammer in a Tattersalls Online Barrier Trials Pop-Up Sale from September 3-4. The sale begins at noon September 3 and closes one day later at 12 p.m. Three of the lots will be consigned by Diego Dias on behalf of Star Bloodstock: juvenile gelding Kenough (Kendargent) (lot 3), a smart trial winner and a full-brother to listed winner and Group 2-placed Strassia and to stakes winner...

One of those Ballydoyle juveniles who can make giant strides from start one to two, Montreal (Sea The Stars) looked every inch a 2026 Derby prospect as he stormed to an eight-length maiden success at Leopardstown on Thursday. Always happy on the front end under Wayne Lordan, the 6-4 favourite who had been third over this mile trip and track last month set sail in the straight to put healthy daylight between him and the Jessica Harrington-trained Strikewhileitshot (Too Darn Hot). "They went steady the last day and Ryan said...

Thursday, Leopardstown, post time: 18:23, BAHRAIN TURF CLUB DESMOND STAKES-G3, €36,000, 3yo/up, 8fT Field: Chicago Critic (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Johan (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}), Lord Massusus (Ire) (Markaz {Ire}), Mutasarref (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Dance Night Andday (Ire) (Buratino {Ire}), Jancis (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), Alakazi (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}). TDN Verdict: Course specialist Mutasarref should be a tough nut to crack, having won arguably a better renewal of this 12 months ago. Chicago Critic is capable when in the mood, as he proved when taking the course-and-distance Listed Amethyst Stakes...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a son of Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita. 5.20 Leopardstown, Mdn, 2yo, c/g, 8fT CLARET (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is one of two Ballydoyle runners in this and the second-string, but as the sixth foal out of the Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita has much to commend him....

Thursday, Leopardstown, post time: 18:23, BAHRAIN TURF CLUB DESMOND STAKES-G3, €36,000, 3yo/up, 8fT Field: Chicago Critic (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Johan (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}), Lord Massusus (Ire) (Markaz {Ire}), Mutasarref (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Dance Night Andday (Ire) (Buratino {Ire}), Jancis (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), Alakazi (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}). TDN Verdict: Course specialist Mutasarref should be a tough nut to crack, having won arguably a better renewal of this 12 months ago. Chicago Critic is capable when in the mood, as he proved when taking the course-and-distance Listed Amethyst Stakes...

Able to control Thursday's G3 Saudi Cup Silver Flash Stakes from an early stage, Ryan Moore turned that luxury into sheer dominance as the hot favourite Composing (Wootton Bassett) duly extended the admirable record of Aidan O'Brien in this year's juvenile Pattern races. Soon in front, the Curragh maiden winner dictated on her own terms and kicked turning for home to put her stamp on Leopardstown's seven-furlong contest. Skydance (Night Of Thunder) was 3 1/4 lengths behind the 4-9 favourite in a slowly-run affair which was over two seconds slower...

Thursday, Leopardstown, post time: 18:27, SAUDI CUP SILVER FLASH STAKES-G3, €36,000, 2yo, f, 7f 57yT Field: Balantina (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), Brownstown (GB) (Cracksman {GB}), Composing (Ire) Wootton Bassett {GB}), Red Autumn (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Skydance (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Smexy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Aidan O'Brien has farmed this and Composing could easily be his 15th winner after her success in a Curragh maiden that is working out well. Skydance has shaped well in two starts over shorter, with the latter being a third in...