Seamie Heffernan

While Aidan O'Brien was drawing a blank at Ascot, the stable was celebrating a 13th winner of Leopardstown's G3 Richmond Homes Killavullan S. on Saturday as Glounthaune (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) came forward from his sixth placing in Saturday's G1 Dewhurst S. Having only his second start in that Newmarket feature and his first since his winning debut at The Curragh Apr. 17, the 5-1 shot who sports the Evie Stockwell silks was settled behind the leading trio early by Seamie Heffernan and worked his way to the front with 100...

After a shift in tone on Saturday, Team Ballydoyle continued to reach a pitch with their 2-year-old crop at The Curragh on Sunday as the regally-bred Concert Hall (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) built to her own crescendo in the G3 Weld Park S. As if the juveniles at Rosegreen have been moved stealthily towards a peak for the all-important autumn scene, the daughter of the G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Was (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) put two uninspiring efforts behind her to deliver on her early promise under Seamie Heffernan. Held up in...

Aidan O'Brien's crop of juveniles had looked short of the usual standard up to Saturday, but five minutes of action across Newmarket and The Curragh changed the conversation with the hugely exciting Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) doing his bit for Ballydoyle in the G2 Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford S. Not seen since winning in style on debut in a conditions event over this mile trip at Killarney July 14, the imposing Westerberg-Coolmore representative was the subject of heavy support into 8-13 favouritism for this prize Aidan O'Brien had already won...

As Derby week heads towards the blue riband itself, Aidan O'Brien launched one who could conceivably be a headline act for the 2022 version in Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) who proved enormously impressive at The Curragh. Sent off the 7-4 favourite for the card's opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for colts and geldings over seven furlongs, the full-brother to the stable's multiple group winner Broome (Ire) who cost 575,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 was quick to dispute the lead with the experienced Barud (GB)...

Jim Bolger had been at it on Saturday, but 24 hours later it was his former prodigy Aidan O'Brien who was filling the first two places in a Curragh Classic as Empress Josephine (Ire) narrowly denied Joan of Arc (Ire) in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas for another Galileo (Ire) forecast. Runner-up in Gowran Park's Listed Victor McCalmont Memorial S. over an extended nine furlongs last time May 5, the winner who is a full-sister to Minding (Ire) was anchored towards the rear early by Seamie Heffernan and travelled...

On a day when Ballydoyle showed its strength, the regally-bred 3-year-old filly Empress Josephine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) brought up a treble for the team at Naas in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over a mile. A full-sister to the high-class G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Minding (Ire), the February-foaled bay was sent off the 3-1 joint-second favourite and raced behind the early leaders under cover. Needing racing room in the straight, she was out in good time to carry Seamie Heffernan to the front a...

Seamie Heffernan will ride Princess Zoe (Ger) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}) in Sunday's G1 Prix Royal-Oak, with regular rider Joey Sheridan serving a 12-day ban for his use of the whip on the 5-year-old mare during her half-length win in the G1 Prix du Cadran on Oct. 3. The Cadran was the pinnacle of a meteoric rise for the Tony Mullins-trained grey; Princess Zoe was purchased from Germany earlier this year off a mark of 64 and has since won five straight races and is now rated 109. "She's as fit...

Coolmore's once-raced Monday (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who posted a Sept. 3 debut fourth over this seven-furlong trip at Punchestown in her only prior start, stepped forward to shed maiden status in Saturday's Listed Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle S. at Leopardstown. She was smartly away from an inside gate and dictated at a modest tempo along the fence after the initial strides of this black-type bow. Unflustered until scrubbed along off the home turn, the 12-1 chance refused to buckle and kept on strongly under a final-furlong drive to hold...