Tattersalls Gold Cup

It seems hard to believe now that the form of the Ballydoyle stable was being questioned prior to the 2,000 Guineas, before Gstaad (Starspangledbanner) acted as the pivot to a major upturn and sequence of wins in key races in early May. That he slammed Godolphin's genuine Group 1 performer Distant Storm (Night Of Thunder) and the rest by upwards of eight lengths in that Newmarket Classic and still managed to be convincingly beaten is the remarkable story of this year's renewal and he gets the chance to excel in...

Aidan O'Brien's pair of Gstaad (Starspangledbanner) and True Love (No Nay Never) headline the confirmations for the first Irish Classics of the season at the Curragh this weekend. Gstaad filled the runner-up spot behind Bow Echo (Night Of Thunder) in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier this month and, with George Boughey keeping his charge fresh for Royal Ascot, the Starspangledbanner colt is the odds-on favourite to gain compensation in Saturday's Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas. A maximum field of 13 will go to post, with Karl Burke's G3 Greenham Stakes...

It was announced on Monday that Tattersalls will continue as the title sponsors of the prestigious Irish Guineas Festival at the Curragh from 2026 until 2028. The partnership ensures that the Irish 2,000 Guineas, Irish 1,000 Guineas and Tattersalls Gold Cup will offer total prize-money of at least €500,000 each. "Tattersalls have been longstanding supporters of Irish racing and the Curragh Racecourse, having sponsored the Tattersalls Gold Cup since 1985 and the Irish 2,000 Guineas and Irish 1,000 Guineas since 2013 and 2015 respectively," said Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony. "The...

Few people will go through life fortunate enough to say they have had anything to do with a Group 1 winner--fewer still with one who cost just €18,000 as a foal. But back in 2018, when not many were in a hurry to get behind the little-known Adlerflug (Fr) (In The Wings {GB}), one of the ill-fated sire's most talented sons went through the ring at Arqana for that paltry sum. It was Gerry Burke's eye and pocket who saw something in Alenquer (Ger) long before the horse confirmed himself...

A deal has been struck for globetrotting star State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}--Repose by Quiet American), who added to his truly unique record of Group 1 triumphs when battling to Prix Ganay glory at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, to stand at Rathbarry Stud once his racing days are finished. Trained by Joseph O'Brien, State Of Rest won the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational S. before beating the best of the Australians in the G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley last season. His reappearance win at ParisLongchamp hardened his reputation as one...

The Tattersalls Irish 2000 and 1000 Guineas and the Tattersalls Gold Cup will all receive significant prize-money hikes for 2022. The two Classics will be raised from €400,000 to €500,000, while the purse for the Gold Cup has also been raised by €100,000 to €400,000. The three Group 1 contests are set to be run at the Curragh's three-day Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival from Friday, May 20 to Sunday, May 22. "The Curragh has had a long and successful partnership with Tattersalls who have been sponsors with us since 1984,"...

G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Lancaster Bomber (War Front-Sun Shower {Ire}, by Indian Ridge {Ire}) has died age seven at Drakenstein Stud in South Africa, the farm announced via Twitter on Tuesday. "It's with a sad and heavy heart that we say goodbye to Lancaster Bomber today," the tweet read. "He collapsed this morning in his paddock from a suspected heart attack. He was a young stallion with a bright future, and we are very sad that we will not see the best of him. Rest In Peace." Trained by...

Now that the abnormally dry Spring has given way to an ongoing wet spell, Sunday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh looks poised for John Oxley's Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}) to re-impose herself on a division she had largely mastered by the end of 2020. Labelled a 'TDN Rising Star' on her impressive debut at Bellewstown in July, she remained unbeaten on ground softer than good thereafter, adding this track's G2 Debutante S. and Newmarket's G1 Fillies' Mile to her tally. Second to Shale (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})...

Champion 3-year-old filly Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) could make her anticipated 4-year-old debut in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh on May 23, according to trainer Aidan O'Brien. Love enjoyed a perfect--albeit abbreviated--campaign last year, winning the G1 1000 Guineas, G1 Oaks and G1 Yorkshire Oaks. She was removed from consideration for the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October on account of deteriorating ground just prior to O'Brien's entire fleet being scratched due to a feed contamination. "We're looking at the Tattersalls Gold Cup with Love,"...

Tattersalls will continue its sponsorship of the Irish 2000 and 1000 Guineas and the Tattersalls Gold Cup in 2021. The Irish Guineas Festival at The Curragh takes place on May 22 and 23 this year. Prizemoney for the Tattersalls Irish 2000 and 1000 Guineas will be €400,000 apiece, while the Gold Cup will be worth €300,000. Edmond Mahony, chairman of Tattersalls, said, "The Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival is a hugely important part of the Tattersalls global sponsorship portfolio and demonstrates our sustained commitment to supporting the racing and breeding industries...

Despite the delayed start to the flat season, Ireland will maintain its full group-race programme for 2019, Horse Racing Ireland revealed on Tuesday when it published the group and listed races and premier handicaps for the year. The majority of the country's Group 1 races remain in their original spots with the exception of the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, which moves to July 26 and is now open to horses aged three and up; it was previously for 4-year-olds and older. Racing resumes in Ireland behind closed doors on June...