The Curragh
Friday's card at The Curragh sees the Niarchos family's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Albigna (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) getting back down to business in the G3 Snow Fairy Fillies S. Last seen finishing sixth in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas here June 13, the homebred who was also successful in the G2 Airlie Stud S. and fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf during last term was jarred up during the mile Classic and has been found an ideal reintroduction by Jessie Harrington. "It's a comeback race, so...
MGSW A'Ali (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) is bound across the Irish Sea and will contest the G1 Flying Five S. at The Curragh on Sept. 13. The Shaikh Duaji Al Khalifa colourbearer a trio of Group 2s as a juvenile, added the G3 Coral Charge S. to his haul on July 5 and was also first past the post in the July 19 G2 Sapphire S. in Ireland. He could only manage fourth to Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the G1 Nunthorpe S. at York on Aug. 21. "He...
Aidan O'Brien had a duo engaged in Saturday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over a mile at The Curragh and enjoyed a one-two as the middle-distance types begin to emerge from the stable's crop of juveniles. While the market favoured Wordsworth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the full-brother to the G1 St Leger and G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Kew Gardens (Ire) ultimately had to give best to the stable's second-string High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who swooped late to score with authority at 7-1. Held up in rear early by...
While York's Ebor Festival wraps up with its £250,000 feature handicap on Saturday, The Curragh stages the G2 Galileo Irish EBF Futurity S. and G2 A.R.M. Holding Debutante S. for the budding Classic contenders of 2021. Twelve months ago, Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was finishing fifth to Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) in the Debutante which underlines what these vital staging posts can play host to. While Aidan O'Brien was unable to extend his record tally of a dozen winners despite having that ammunition, the fillies' contest...
The appeal lodged by connections of Aloha Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) for her demotion from second to third for interference in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at The Curragh was dismissed by the Appeals Body, The Irish Field reported on Tuesday. Aloha Star's jockey and trainer, Chris Hayes and Fozzy Stack, respectively, gave evidence, as did The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire})'s pilot Oisin Orr. The Lir Jet was promoted to second after there was contact from Aloha Star during the running of the race. It was determined...
Shadwell's MG1SW Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who won the 2019 edition of the G1 Nunthorpe S., is doing well ahead of a title defense in the Aug. 21 York contest. Trainer Charlie Hills is upbeat ahead of the big day, especially as the bay sports a two-for-two record in 2020. He opened his 6-year-old account with a win in the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot on June 16, and then added his fourth G2 King George Qatar S. at Goodwood on July 31. "He had a nice...
Aloha Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus})'s connections have appealed their filly's demotion from second to third place in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. on Sunday. Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) won the race, and The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}) was promoted to second. A winner of the G2 Airlie Stud S. in July, the bay sports a record of two wins in five starts. She is entered in the Tattersalls Online August Sale which opens on Wednesday. "We've lodged an appeal, so we'll leave it at...
Godolphin's unbeaten Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal) faces his first major test of 2020 in a strong renewal of Sunday's 6 1/2-furlong G1 LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville. Facing the older sprinters for the first time, last year's G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. winner also meets Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) who was a neck behind him when runner-up in the Middle Park at Newmarket in September. There was no sign that his delayed start to the season had meant a diminishing of his ability when...
Sunday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. card at The Curragh has been given the green light to proceed despite lockdown measures being tightened in Kildare after a spike in coronavirus cases. Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland, said, "We have had confirmation racing can continue behind closed doors, that was part of the government announcement. We have detailed safety procedures in place. The protocols are strong and they have been well-adhered to since racing resumed and it's important everyone keeps following them." For the next two weeks, restrictions in...
American-based owner Scott Heider and his family will sponsor the G3 Round Towner S., The Curragh announced on Thursday. The six-furlong contest for 2-year-olds will be held on Aug. 28. Heider's yellow and red colours are under the Heider Family Stables banner. They have been carried to victory by Kitten's Joy colt Crossfirehurricane in the G3 CoolmoreTen Sovereigns Gallinule S. in June. "It's just been a fantastic experience for us," Heider reflected, on his five-year involvement with Irish racing. "We love our partnership with Joseph O'Brien and we've been very...
Group 3 winner Steel Bull (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}), owned and trained by Michael O'Callaghan for his first two starts, will contest the Aug. 9 G1 Phoenix S. at The Curragh under new ownership, as he was purchased privately by Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez, Racing Post reported on Monday. The son of Macarthurs Park (Ire) (Equiano {Fr}) will be supplemented to the six-furlong feature. For O'Callaghan, the £28,000 Goffs UK Breeze Up juvenile broke his maiden by 2 1/2 lengths at first asking at Naas on July 22. He followed up in the...
G2 Norfolk S. winner The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}), beaten a head when second in the July 19 G2 Prix Robert Papin, is set for next Sunday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at The Curragh. The Qatar Racing colourbearer was originally slated for the Aug. 21 Nunthorpe S. against elders, but trainer Michael Bell said that is likely off the table now. "The Lir Jet worked well this morning," Bell said. "He is likely to go to Ireland now for the Phoenix S. as plans have been made...