The Curragh
Narrowly denied in the GII New York S. earlier this month, Shapoor Mistry's Thundering Nights (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) was able to come out on top of another tight finish on Sunday when garnering The Curragh's G1 Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly S. Settled behind the leading trio early by Shane Crosse, the 16-5 shot seized the advantage approaching the final furlong and held off the strong challenge of TDN Rising Star Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) to score by a neck, with 2 1/2 lengths back to the 11-4 favourite...
Likely favourite High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is among 17 remaining in Saturday's G1 Irish Derby following Tuesday's entry stage. Last year's G2 Beresford S. winner High Definition looks to hand his trainer Aidan O'Brien his 15th Irish Derby score, a task that could also be assigned to his stablemates Van Gogh (American Pharoah), Wordsworth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Sir Lamorak (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Also among the 17 remaining entries are G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) and the G1 Cazoo Derby second and third...
Brian Kavanagh, whose 20-year tenure as chief executive officer of Horse Racing Ireland comes to an end upon the conclusion of his latest term in September, will in November take up the role of chief executive officer of The Curragh. Kavanagh takes over from Pat Keogh, who has been in the role since July of 2019. Padraig McManus, chairman of the board of The Curragh, said, "The board are looking forward to welcoming Brian into his new role as CEO of The Curragh Racecourse and training grounds, and look forward...
Thirty minutes after Ballydoyle's Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) earned TDN Rising Star status at The Curragh, there was another who filled the eye at that venue to also gain that tag in Peter Brant's newcomer Dr Zempf (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Sent off the 5-2 second favourite for the six-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race, the Ger Lyons-trained grey who cost 420,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 travelled with distinct ease in rear under Colin Keane with the pace hot throughout the early stages. Cruising between...
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 a full-brother to MGSW Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}). 4.30 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, c/g, 7fT POINT LONSDALE (IRE) (Australia {GB}) is a full-brother to the current Ballydoyle stalwart Broome (Ire) who cost 575,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1. Described as a sharper type...
Breeders' Cup winner Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will skip an intended start in the G2 Prix Corrida in France on Wednesday and the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. a day later has also been mooted, according to trainer James Fanshawe. "She's fine," he said. "She was just a bit quiet at the weekend, and it's a long trip to France, so that's why we decided not to go. We decided to give her a bit more time. It's just looking at her--she was just not her usual bouncy self. So...
Beaten three times by Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) already this term, Tom Hendron and Finbar Cahill's Helvic Dream (Ire) (Power {GB}) had been inching closer each time and chose the big occasion to turn it around as he denied that Ballydoyle rival in a thriller for the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup on Sunday. Benefitting from the heavily rain-eased going at The Curragh, the 4-year-old who emanates from the Noel Meade stable better known for its national hunt runners travelled smoothly on the inside in mid-division throughout the early stages. Filling...
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 half-sister to Group 1 winner Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}). 1.30 Curragh, Mdn, €17,500, 2yo, f, 6fT HEART TO HEART (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}) was withdrawn from her intended debut at Dundalk earlier this month which was won by fellow Ballydoyle trainee and 'TDN Rising...
Already proven at The Curragh, having won the five-furlong May 3 Listed First Flier S., the Fozzy Stack-trained Castle Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) made light work of Saturday's G3 GAIN Marble Hill S. over six. Anchored in rear early and a touch detached as Chris Hayes exuded confidence, the 5-2 second favourite cruised down the outer of his hard-ridden peers and after striking the front approaching the final half-furlong quickened clear for an impressive two-length defeat of the well-backed 15-8 favourite Masseto (GB) (Territories {Ire}). "It's not often you see...
Heavy rain in Ireland in the last 24 hours has left the Curragh racecourse partly waterlogged, forcing a 7.30am inspection on Saturday ahead of the first of two Classic race days this weekend. The racecourse's chief executive Pat Keogh confirmed that the course is currently unraceable. He said: "We got a lot more rain than we anticipated overnight. We were forecast 15 millimetres at the most in the last 24 hours, and we got 35 millimetres. It's come completely out of left field, unfortunately." He added, "The track would not be raceable...
Group 2 winner Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}), who ran third in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 2, will likely make her next appearance in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas on May 23. Runner-up in the G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. at second asking in July, the Richard Fahey-trained bay took a listed at Sandown later that month, before winning Deauville's G2 Shadwell Prix du Calvados on Aug. 22. The Nick Bradley Racing silksbearer ended her season with a fourth in the G1 Qatar Prix...
The Curragh is all action on Monday, with the G2 Coolmore Sottsass Irish EBF Mooresbridge S. the key component of a fascinating card. Aidan O'Brien has opted to wait longer to unleash Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and instead puts forward the reinvigorated Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who looks to be in a good place this year with wins on soft ground in the Listed Devoy S. at Naas Mar. 28 and on a much slicker surface in the Apr. 17 G3 Alleged S. over this 10-furlong trip. Beaten around half...