The Curragh

One of the most valuable staying contests of the European season will be staged at the Curragh on Sept. 25 when the Irish Cesarewitch is run for a total prize find of €600,000. A group of supporters of Ireland's flagship racecourse have united under the banner of 'Friends of the Curragh' to back the prestigious two-mile contest in a three-year sponsorship commitment. The race will now take place earlier than usual, with permission having been granted by the European Patter Committee to move the G3 Loughbrown S. to a later...

A total of 16 participants will line up for the 2022 Corinthian Challenge Charity Race Series, announced officials from the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund. The riders taking part are: Jane Davis, Neil Durkan, Peter O'Reilly, Joan Tyner, Craig Kileff, Laura Bennett, Stan Begley, Sonya Mc Aleer, Maia O'Connor Kridichart, Michelle O'Brien, Darren Harrison, Marie Vallet, Laura Burnett, Fiona Dowling, Emer Lawlor and Dean Ryan. After a two-year break, the series is comprised of three races held at The Curragh, Gowran Park and Leopardstown Racecourses in July, September and October, respectively....

Kept back from the 1000 Guineas and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Moyglare Stud's TDN Rising Star Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was finally let loose on unsuspecting victims lined up for what appeared to be a competitive edition of the G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh on Sunday. Travelling like the best filly the whole way settled in rear of mid-division by Chris Hayes, the 11-2 shot who had offered tantalising insight into what was to come when taking the seven-furlong G3 Ballylinch Stud 1000 Guineas Trial at...

The William Haggas show had another stirring episode at The Curragh on Sunday as M M Stables' Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) came out on top of a thrilling finale to a G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup which will be recalled for some time. Last year's G2 King Edward VII S. winner had lost a front shoe when a gallant sixth in the Mar. 26 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic when last seen, having readily beaten Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) previously in the G3 Winter Derby at Lingfield Feb. 26, and was...

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. Sunday's Observations features a daughter of Grade I winner Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). 1.40 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, f, 6fT NEVER ENDING STORY (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is another significant Ballydoyle newcomer on this important weekend, being the first foal out of the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational winner Athena (Ire)...

There is something about Galileo (Ire) and the Curragh's hallowed strip of running ground that made such a perfect fit as his star rose inexorably throughout the last two decade or so and, while several of the track's signature races bear his name as sire, the G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas does so markedly. Six of the last 11 and the last three winners of the fillies' Classic all carried his stamp and, of course, they all hailed from the colony of class assembled at Rosegreen. Aidan O'Brien and Coolmore's...

The Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas field boasts several well-pedigreed entrants that are related to other filles and mares that shone in this Classic, including Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), whose older full-sister Empress Josephine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) secured the 2021 edition and her Aidan O'Brien stablemate Lullaby (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), whose dam is a full-sister to Irish 1000 Guineas second Ishvana (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Pricy €2-million buy Purplepay (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) makes her first start for Lael Stables since her tour of the Arqana December sales ring, however she...

With Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) setting it up for him, Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) carried the heavy burden of hope into Saturday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh but with William Buick at his coolest the trinity of Guineas victories was completed with a degree of comfort. While the winning performance was not much more than workmanlike as the champion juvenile of 2021 grafted to deny the outsiders New Energy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) and Imperial Fighter (Ire) (The Gurkha...

Already a dual winner prior to Saturday's G3 GAIN Marble Hill S. at The Curragh, Ballydoyle's Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) was the picture of professionalism as he made all under Ryan Moore to assume the mantle of generation leader. Already hardened by the experience of battle in this track's May 2 Listed First Flier S., the 5-2 second favourite set out to dictate on this first foray over six furlongs and relished the extra distance as he shook off the even-money market-leader Tough Talk (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) to stretch...

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 pricy Mendelssohn half-brother to stakes winner Jo Jo Air (Scat Daddy). 1.35 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, c/g, 6fT CONGO RIVER (Mendelssohn) is the choice of Ryan Moore of the Ballydoyle duo in the maiden won two years ago by Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never). A...

The emphasis is on speed on Saturday, with a quartet of Europe's six pattern races being sprints and only one taking place beyond a mile. Glinting in the midst of them is the jewel that is the first of the Curragh's 2022 Classics, the €500,000 G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas. With a distinct form edge, it seems on paper to be simply be a case of going through the motions for Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) with Godolphin's Guineas treble hanging tantalisingly within reach. However, this is a tough...

Last seen finishing a close-up fourth in Doncaster's G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy in October, Ecurie Ama Zingteam's acquisition Hannibal Barca (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) made his debut for his owners and the Joseph O'Brien stable a successful one in Friday's G3 Heider Family Stables Gallinule S. at The Curragh. Sent off the 7-4 favourite, the bay was keen under restraint early held up towards the rear by Shane Crosse before being angled out at the top of the straight. Reeling in Lyrical Poetry (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and hitting the...