Naas

Third in the G2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes and G3 Albany Stakes, Ballydoyle's Heavens Gate (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}--Itqaan, by Danzig) had a class edge in Monday's Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes at Naas and duly collected the valuable prize to return to winning ways. Sent straight to the forefront by Ryan Moore, the 4-6 favourite never looked likely to be caught and hit the line strong with 1 1/4 lengths to spare over Fiery Lucy (GB) (Without Parole {GB}). "She's a straightforward lovely filly who Ryan has always said could get...

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. Monday's Observations features Heavens Gate (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}). 16.50 Naas, Cond, €300,000, 2yo, 5f 205yT HEAVENS GATE (IRE) (Churchill {Ire}) takes some time out from hardcore pattern-race battle to headline the cast for this Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes which is one of the most valuable median auction races in...

A total of 54 juveniles remain in the running for the €300,000 Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes at Naas set for Monday, Aug. 5. This is the fifth edition of the lucrative prize, and nine challengers hail from British yards. Hugo Palmer, who won the race last year, brings classy Chester scorer The Flying Seagull (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) across the Irish Sea. "The Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes is a race we were keen to support having won it last year with Golden Trick (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) and it is a...

The Lexus Melbourne Cup will be at Naas Racecourse during the €300,000 Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes Day, on Monday, Aug. 5. Besides celebrating the iconic Australian race, the course will also venerate the legacy of Kildare man Robert Cooper Bagot, whose contributions helped shape one of the world's greatest races, and the experience of the Melbourne Cup. "The Race That Stops a Nation" will be run for the 164th time this year, and will offer prize-money of A$8.4 million. The trophy itself is valued at A$750,000. The trophy travels 110,000...

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 Too Darn Hot (GB) blueblood. 16.30 Naas, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, 7fT TRUTH BE TOLD (IRE) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) is Moyglare's sixth foal out of their G2 Ribblesdale Stakes winner and G1 Irish Oaks third Princess Highway (Street Cry {Ire}), with her progeny including the...

Jockey John Velazquez made an appearance at Naas in Ireland late on Wednesday afternoon as he attempted to take home his first winner on the Emerald Isle. The Hall of Famer, who has never ridden on Irish soil before, signed on to guide Dermot Weld trainee De Janeiro (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the third race which was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET--a six-furlong maiden for 3-year-olds and up. His mount finished off the board. Before appearing at Naas, the filly ran third at Fairyhouse for Newtown Anner Stud Farm...

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. Wednesday's Observations features the return of Elizabeth Jane (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). 19.30 Naas, Listed, €52,500, 3yo, f, 10f 84yT ELIZABETH JANE (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) has not been seen since gaining a TDN Rising Star tag at Leopardstown in October, but still has Classic credentials having been pitched back into...

Aidan McGarry is the new general manager of Naas Racecourse, the directors of the facility announced on Thursday. He will start in the position on June 20. Over the past three years, McGarry managed Navan Racecourse, where he introduced the Navan Racing Festival. He was also involved in former roles with Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM). Dermot Cantillon, chairman of Naas Racecourse, said of the University of Limerick and National College graduate, "On behalf of the board of directors and the staff of Naas Racecourse we...

Star Bloodstock, the consignment that unearthed talents like Malavath (Ire), A'Ali (Ire) and more, is set to wind down its breeze-up operation and concentrate entirely on producing future top-notchers on the racetrack instead.  The shift in focus has reaped immediate rewards with the aptly-named Make Haste (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}), a leading Royal Ascot contender after posting a stunning debut success at Naas for trainer and breeze-up consignor Diego Dias, being snapped up by Gainesway and LNJ Foxwoods.  Bought by Byron Rogers, Star Bloodstock and Dias at the Tattersalls Book...

Showing that he retains all his ability, AMO Racing and Giselle De Aguiar's G1 Phoenix S. and G2 Railway S. winner Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Frida La Blonde {Fr}, by Elusive City) made virtually all on his seasonal bow in Sunday's G3 Goffs Lacken S. at Naas. Last seen finishing third in the seven-furlong G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. at The Curragh in September, the 2-1 second favourite who was racing under a three-pound penalty demonstrated his early speed to take control under David Egan and stayed on strongly...

Naas stage some potentially key Royal Ascot pointers on Sunday, with the feature G3 Goffs Lacken S. seeing the reintroduction of AMO Racing and Giselle De Aguiar's G1 Phoenix S. and G2 Railway S. winner Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Failing to see out the seventh furlong of the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. when last seen at The Curragh in September, he faces last year's G3 Marble Hill S. winner Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) who has a race under his belt having won Navan's Listed Committed S....

HONG KONG, CHINA -- Follow this, if you will. A filly bred in America and purchased for a very reasonable sum as a yearling is exported to Ireland, punches above her weight at the races and is sold to Australia for her second career. A few years after her arrival, she is covered there by a notable successful Northern Hemisphere shuttle stallion, the resulting foal makes trips through the sales ring in Australia and New Zealand and goes on to become arguably the best animal to ever look through a...