By Heather Anderson
Entries have been released for the Longines Irish Champions Weekend, slated for Leopardstown Sept. 9 and The Curragh Sept. 10, with Aidan O'Brien's dual Guineas hero Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Irish/English highweight Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) heading the list for the G1 QIPCO Irish Champions S. at the former venue. Other stars signed on are last year's winner Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}, top miler Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Japan's Horse of the Year Kitasan Black (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}). The highlight on the second day of Irish Champions Weekend is the G1 Comer Group International St leger, with last year's one-two, Wicklow Brave (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}) and Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) both in the entries for the Sept. 10 feature. Overall, both races have received 67 entries each, which is an increase from 2016.
Out of 33 Irish-trained entries for the Irish Champions S., Aidan O'Brien will field 20. Besides the aforementioned Churchill and Minding, G1 1000 Guineas/G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is set to compete, as is Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the winner of the G1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket. His countryman Dermot Weld is two-fisted, fielding 2014 Irish Champions S. hero The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and recent GI Man O' War S. victress Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).
The first French winner at Irish Champions Weekend last term, Almanzor (Fr) leads a five-strong French contingent, including G1 2000 Guineas third-place finisher Al Wukair (Ire) (Dream Ahead), G1 Prix d'Ispahan hero Mekhtaal (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and G1 French 2000 Guineas winner Brametot (Ire) (Rajsaman {Fr}).
Kitasan Black gains an automatic place in the Irish Champions S. on the back of his win in the G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin in early April and he is in fine form, winning the G1 Tenno Sho for the second year in a row.
“Kitasan Black returned to my barn at Ritto last week,” said trainer Hisashi Shimizu. “I have entered him in the QIPCO Irish Champion S., as this race is still an option as his first start in Europe.”
Britain fields 28 entries in the Irish Champion, the same number as 2016, led by G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. winner Ribchester for trainer Richard Fahey. Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) could represent John Gosden, who also has MG1SW Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling). Saeed bin Suroor has signed on six entries, with Best Solution (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) taking part.
Besides Wicklow Brave, trainer Willie Mullins has entered G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Max Dynamite (Fr) (Great Journey {Jpn) in the Irish St Leger. O'Brien enters Idaho (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Capri (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and Venice Beach (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) among others, while Big Orange (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) for Michael Bell and Dartmouth (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) for Sir Michael Stoute are other notable St Leger entries.
Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland, said, “It is hugely encouraging that the entries the both the QIPCO Irish Champion S. and the Comer Group International Irish St Leger have once again shown an increase on the previous year. It is a mark of how far Longines Irish Champions Weekend has come in a short space of time and we are committed to further growing the event as it cements its important position on the international racing calendar.”
For the complete entries of the G1 QIPCO Irish Champion S., click here. For the entries for the G1 Comer Group Irish St Leger, click here.
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