Leopardstown

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. Friday's Observations features Godolphin homebred Words Of Truth. 3.00 Newbury, Mdn, £12,000, 2yo, c/g, 6fT WORDS OF TRUTH (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is one of the key members of a fascinating race which hosts several Royal Ascot hopefuls. Representing the Charlie Appleby stable which has started brightly with...

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 16:25, EMIRATES POULE D'ESSAI DES POULAINS-G1, €650,000, 3yo, c, 8fT Field: Ridari (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), Sahlan (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Selenien (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}), Misunderstood (Fr) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), Dos Mukasan (Fr) (Golden Horde {Ire}), Aomori City (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Reach The Sky (Fr) (Calyx {GB}), Detain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Jonquil (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Heybetli (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), Zarraf (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Luther (GB) (Frankel {GB}), TIpinso (Fr) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Houquetot (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Hotazhell...

Leopardstown's opening fillies' maiden on Wednesday has produced some luminaries in recent times and Robert Moran's Catalina Delcarpio (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) looks another as she surged to TDN Rising Stardom. Well-supported into 11-4 second favourite for the 10-furlong test, the Paddy Twomey-trained 400,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase tanked along in the hands of Billy Lee behind the leaders off the moderate pace. Full of running turning for home, the relative of the Oaks third High Heeled (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) surged to the front upon command approaching...

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. Wednesday's Observations features a seven-figure son of Gun Runner. 2.18 Leopardstown, Mdn, €15,000, 3yo, c/g, 10fT GUN CARRIAGE (Gun Runner) is one of a trio from Ballydoyle here and probably the third-string on jockey bookings, but given that he was a $1.25-million purchase at Keeneland September is very much...

The Irish EBF Barrier Trials are soon to return with three dates approved from May to August, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) announced on Wednesday. Naas will again host the first day on Monday, May 26 on the inside track over six and seven furlongs, with Dundalk staging the middle fixture on Monday, July 7. The final date is set for Leopardstown on Wednesday, August 27, again over six and seven furlongs. As in the past, each fixture will be restricted to named and unraced two-year-olds and three-year-olds with stalls certificates....

Ballydoyle's Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was fully expected to mark his seasonal debut with a win in Sunday's G3 P. W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown and the 4-7 favourite did not disappoint. Always comfortable on the front under Ryan Moore, last year's G3 Autumn Stakes winner and G1 Futurity Trophy runner-up kicked decisively two out to settle matters. At the line, the leading Derby prospect had 2 1/4 lengths to spare over stablemate Lambourn (Ire) (Australia {GB}), with Tiberius Thunder (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) 1 1/4 lengths...

Coming back to the scene of her debut win, Juddmonte's Swelter (GB) (Kingman {GB}) mastered some significant peers to take Leopardstown's G3 Ballylinch Stud "Priory Belle" Stakes. Off the track since scoring over a mile in July, the daughter of the G3 Nell Gwyn Stakes winner Hot Snap (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) was fine-tuned to perfection by Dermot Weld and after swooping a furlong out readily held Ballydoyle's Exactly (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to score at 6-1 by 1 1/4 lengths, with Cercene (Ire) (Australia {GB}) half a length away in third....

Starting his new term having signed off with success in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, Ballydoyle's Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) overcame rustiness to capture Sunday's G3 Ballylinch Stud "Red Rocks" Stakes at Leopardstown. Reserved early by Ryan Moore off the pace set by Arizona Blaze (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev), the 6-4 favourite arrived late to collar that rival and the eventual second Comanche Brave (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). At the line, there were two half-length margins between the Wootton Bassetts and the non-staying Arizona Blaze. "He wants to...

The Aga Khan's Studs' Tarima (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) was a warm order for Leopardstown's opener on Sunday and the half-sister to Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) and Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) read the script to open her account. Sent off the 4-7 favourite, the Dermot Weld-trained newcomer delivered a flourish from rear under Chris Hayes to take command inside the final furlong and register a 1 3/4-length success from Noli Timere (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). "Chris hadn't planned to sit quite so far back on her, but she just got turned...

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. Sunday's Observations features a full-sister to a Breeders' Cup winner. 2.00 Leopardstown, Mdn, €15,000, 3yo, f, 8fT INTENSIFY (IRE) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is the pick of Ryan Moore of a duo representing Aidan O'Brien, with the full-sister to the accomplished Newspaperofrecord (Ire) preferred over Crystal Ball (Ire) (Wootton...

Tim Husbands is to leave his position as CEO of Leopardstown Racecourse in April 2025 after five years in the role. Husbands joined Leopardstown as CEO in January 2020, having previously worked as CEO of the Titanic Experience in Belfast. On his departure, Husbands commented, "It was a real privilege for me to lead Leopardstown Racecourse over the last five years and I have been very proud of our achievements during that time-it is very much a team effort at the racecourse. I have had brilliant support both from my...

Just over a month after being granted his trainer's licence, Colm Ryan lit up the Leopardstown Christmas festival when the not unfancied Karate Kid (Ire) (Spanish Moon) ran out a most impressive winner of the 2m4f bumper--a race that has been won by subsequent Grade 1 horses Carefully Selected (Ire), Appreciate It (Ire) and Fact To File (Ire) in recent times.  This was the first time in six years where the powerful yards of Willie Mullins or Gordon Elliott weren't responsible for the winner of the race and Karate Kid...