Aidan O'Brien

Star stayer Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is set to spearhead the Ballydoyle team at Goodwood next week when he lines up in the G1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup on the opening day of the meeting, Tuesday, July 30. The six-year-old spent the first few months of last season on the sidelines due to injury, denying him the opportunity to try and defend the Goodwood Cup crown he won so memorably when beating Stradivarius (Ire) and Trueshan (Fr) in a thrilling contest in 2022. However, this year he's set to return...

Even the most reverent of Ryan Moore's legions of fans would have put his task on Tower Of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) down as a hopeless one at the top of the straight in Saturday's G2 Curragh Cup, but one of the world's finest demonstrated yet again that he is master of the clock as he delivered the 13-8 second favourite virtually on top of the line. Held up in rear throughout the early stages as the fellow Ballydoyle runner Grosvenor Square (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) set off in isolation, the...

TDN Rising Star Sea The Stars (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) suffered his lone career defeat when fourth in the 2008 renewal of the Curragh's Juddmonte Chaldean Irish EBF Maiden and his son The Lion In Winter (Ire), a €375,000 Goffs Orby yearling, restored family honour in the seven-furlong contest by delivering a stunning closing burst to earn a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette of his own in this year's edition. The 11-2 chance tracked the leaders from off the pace, racing eighth, through the early stages of this debut. Cajoled closer...

In the absence of Ezeliya (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks already had an open feel before Ryan Moore decided to give up the ride on the winner of one of this Classic's key pointers in Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}). Two of the last five Irish Oaks heroines had captured the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes en route, so the rejection of such a promising and unexposed winner of that Royal Ascot feature can only point to the strong claims of his pick from the Ballydoyle trio. Much more...

Such an eye-catcher when fourth in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at ParisLongchamp in May, Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Sweepstake {Ire}, by Acclamation {GB}) who failed to stay the mile and a half of Royal Ascot's G2 King Edward VII Stakes roared back to form dropping to nine furlongs in Thursday's G3 Meld Stakes at Leopardstown. Kept wide early by Ryan Moore, the 8-11 favourite took up a prominent position and when sent for home two out stretched his rivals to breaking point en route...

A total of 14 fillies will line up for Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks, with Ballydoyle responsible for two live contenders in the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes winner Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes third Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), with Ryan Moore siding with the latter on Thursday. Wayne Lordan will partner Port Fairy, due to renew rivalry with Elwick Stud's supplemented Lava Stream (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) who was runner-up in that Royal Ascot contest. Moore explained his decision on his betfair blog, "Content...

Aidan O'Brien trainee Lambourn (Ire) (Australia {GB}--Gossamer Wings, by Scat Daddy) made a winning debut in Wednesday evening's Irish EBF Median Sires Series Race at Killarney and was the main beneficiary as winner elect Green Triangle (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) crashed through the rail when looking nailed on for victory. 2nd-Killarney, €25,000, Mdn, 7-17, 2yo, 8f 40yT, 1:43.12, gd. LAMBOURN (IRE) (c, 2, Australia {GB}--Gossamer Wings {MGSP-Eng & SP-Ire}, by Scat Daddy) raced off the pace in eighth after a sluggish getaway in this debut. Bustled along before halfway, the 6-1...

The Coolmore partners' City Of Troy (Justify) will likely face a truly international field in the £1.2-million G1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York on Aug. 21. Durezza (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), a Japanese Classic winner, will travel to the Knavesmire to tangle with the Ballydoyle G1 Derby hero next month, York's CEO William Derby confirmed on Wednesday. "We're obviously delighted to hear the news from Ballydoyle that City Of Troy is likely to run in the Juddmonte International--obviously there's a long way to go with horses, but to have Europe's highest-rated...

Aidan O'Brien dominates the entries for the G1 Betfred St Leger, which takes place at Doncaster on Saturday, September 14. Of the 25 entries, O'Brien is responsible for no fewer than 14 of them, headed by G1 Irish Derby hero Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and the unbeaten Jan Brueghel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). They could be joined at Doncaster by two of the stable's Royal Ascot winners in G2 Queen's Vase scorer Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})--last seen filling the runner-up spot in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris--and Port Fairy...

MV Magnier has described the Japan Cup as "the main aim" for Auguste Rodin (Ire) where the six-time Group 1-winning son of Deep Impact (Jpn) will bid to bridge a gap of almost two decades to the last European-trained winner of the race.  Speaking at the JRHA Select Sale in Japan last week, Magnier firmed up plans for Auguste Rodin, who is the culmination of over 10 years of Coolmore breeding mares to Japanese-based stallions.  He also confirmed that Coolmore has supported Kitasan Black (Jpn), the sire of Equinox (Jpn),...

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. Monday's Observations features the half-brother to a dual Classic winner. 17.18 Killarney, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, 8f 20yT SARATOGA (IRE) (Camelot {GB}) is the 10th foal out of Dialafara (Fr) (Anabaa), who has proven such a rich font of class for Coolmore in producing Galileo's dual Classic winner Capri (Ire)...

Peter Brant and Coolmore's Whistlejacket (Ire) (No Nay Never--Adventure Seeker {Fr}, by Bering {GB}) led home the stands' side group when fourth in last month's G2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot and found plenty in the closing stages to secure an ultimately impressive tally in Thursday's G2 Kingdom Of Bahrain July Stakes at Newmarket. Breaking on the lead and remaining there throughout, the 11-10 favourite came under pressure when threatened on both sides passing the quarter-mile marker and kept on powerfully, despite drifting left on the climb, to prevail by...