The Curragh

Completing The Curragh's Futurity-Debutante double on Saturday for Aidan O'Brien and Wayne Lordan, Composing (Wootton Bassett) justified 4-5 favouritism without any hint of concern in the Group 2 contest. Always happy tracking Suzie Songs (Starspangledbanner) in second, the Silver Flash winner took control two out and forged a straightfoward 2 1/2-length success from that Moyglare filly to bring up a 15th renewal for her stable. "She's a lovely straightforward filly and when she got there she was very laid-back and very professional," the master of Ballydoyle said. "If all is...

Making it win number 18 for Aidan O'Brien in Saturday's G2 Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Tom Cooper Irish EBF Futurity Stakes, Constitution River (Wootton Bassett) dominated the Curragh contest from start to finish to stake his Classic claims for 2026. Sent on by Wayne Lordan, the 5-6 favourite who had followed an encouraging debut second at Newmarket with a win at Galway turned it on two out to dismiss Geryon (Lope De Vega) by two lengths. "He's a lovely colt and was good and professional," Lordan said of the stable's...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred 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 son of a Belmont Oaks heroine. 1.42 Curragh, Debutantes, 2yo, 7fT CIRCLE OF LIFE (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a notable newcomer for Ballydoyle in the maiden the stable won with Officer and Continuous in the last three years. Out of the Belmont Oaks winner Athena,...

Space Blues had made a strong start to his stud career in 2025 and his son Power Blue took it to the next level on Saturday when causing a surprise in The Curragh's feature G1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes. Handed an easier task by the withdrawal of Ballydoyle's Coventry winner Gstaad (Starspangledbanner), Amo Racing's Marble Hill runner-up was also able to benefit from the drop off of his comprehensive Railway conqueror True Love (No Nay Never) to land the spoils by 1 1/2 lengths at 10-1. "It's unbelievable--he has got bigger...

Now that the summer is high, St Mark's Basilica's stud career is readying for take-off and Saturday saw Coolmore's freshman have his first TDN Rising Star in Ballydoyle's exciting Diamond Necklace. Partnered by Wayne Lordan in The Curragh's Grand Hotel Malahide Irish EBF Fillies Juvenile Race, the half-sister to Magic Wand (Galileo) and Chicquita (Montjeu) who was the €1.7million Arqana Deauville August topper swooped on Ryan Moore's pick Minerva (Frankel) inside the final furlong for a smooth 1 1/2-length success. "She'd been working lovely and is very exciting for next...

1st-Curragh, €20,000, Mdn, 8-9, 2yo, 7fT, 1:23.64, gd. GERYON (IRE) (c, 2, Lope De Vega {Ire}--Oboe, by Mizzen Mast), sent off at 18-1 for this hotly-contested maiden, travelled smoothly without cover just off the pace throughout the early stages. Joining Kensington Lane (Starspangledbanner) inside the last half a furlong, the newcomer asserted to score by 1 1/4 lengths. "We have two colts that we like, this fella and Res Ipsa who ran at Leopardstown on Thursday," trainer Ger Lyons said. "Res Ipsa fluffed his lines so I suppose it took...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred 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 the well-bred Hawk Mountain. 1.45 Curragh, Mdn, 2yo, 7fT HAWK MOUNTAIN (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) debuts for Ballydoyle in a maiden which has been won in recent times by Delacroix, Diego Velazquez, Al Riffa and Thunder Moon and is a key player as a son of...

Putting an unplaced seasonal debut effort at Royal Ascot behind him on Sunday, Ballydoyle's Diego Velazquez (Frankel) proved that the seven-furlong trip of The Curragh's G2 Romanised Minstrel Stakes was well within his repertoire. Sent off the 11-8 favourite despite the Queen Anne no-show, last year's G2 Solonaway Stakes and G3 Meld Stakes winner made Ryan Moore work relatively early but gave what was required to score by a neck from the three-year-old East Hampton (Cracksman). "He had a tough comeback run and it didn't work out at Royal Ascot,...

1st-Curragh, €20,000, Mdn, 7-20, 2yo, 7fT, 1:30.21, g/y. SUGAR ISLAND (IRE) (f, 2, Dubawi {Ire}--Heaven On Earth {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), sent off at 9-2 with Ryan Moore's original mount Signora (Frankel) withdrawn, raced close to the early leader in this maiden won in 2020 by the stable's Oaks heroine Snowfall. In front passing two out, the granddaughter of Lillie Langtry (Danehill Dancer) stayed on to prevail by half a length from Cayton Park Stud's fellow newcomer Saint Agatha (St Mark's Basilica). "Ryan said she was very green, but found...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred 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 Frankel and multiple group winner Heartache. 1.20 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, f, 7fT SIGNORA (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) lines up as Ballydoyle's first string in this maiden won in 2020 by their Oaks heroine Snowfall, bidding to put her Albany flop behind her. Third...

It might not have resembled a Classic on paper, but Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at least produced a stirring finish as Minnie Hauk (Frankel) overwhelmed her only serious rival Wemightakedlongway (Australia). Giving the impression as she had at Epsom that she does only just enough, the 2-11 favourite had 1 1/4 lengths to spare over the Oaks fourth, with Ballydoyle's pacemaker Island Hopping (Wootton Bassett) 2 1/2 lengths back in third. "She wasn't doing a whole lot--I just had to wake her up to get past Dylan [Browne McMonagle], a...

THE CURRAGH, Ireland -- The sun came out as he came in. Lambourn, a dual Derby winner, just like his sire before him, and his grandsire before that.  He had to work for it, mind. This was no procession as at Epsom. This time his lead was contested much of the way by Sir Dinadan until Serious Contender looked just that. Turning in, with Ryan Moore already having to coax a little, Lambourn looked far from certain to claim his second Classic. These races are never easily won though, and...