Aidan O'Brien

Donnacha O'Brien is looking forward to taking on the boys with Porta Fortuna (Ire) when she bids for her fourth top-level victory of the campaign in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar on Saturday, November 2. The daughter of Caravaggio has been on a roll since returning to action this season with a narrow defeat to Elmalka (GB) in the 1,000 Guineas, subsequently reeling off a Group 1 hat-trick in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket and Matron Stakes at Leopardstown. All roads now lead...

Ballydoyle's Bounty (Ire) (No Nay Never--Rosdhu Queen {Ire}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) had little to beat in the six-furlong maiden at Naas on Sunday and made no mistake to open his account in style. Runner-up on debut in a Curragh maiden last month, the son of the 2012 G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine was contained on the front end throughout the early stages by Wayne Lordan and went through the race untroubled en route to a bloodless 4 1/2-length success from Iceford (Ire) (Beckford {GB}) as the 2-9 favourite. The...

Making amends for his debut flop, Ballydoyle's 2million gns Tattersalls October Book 1 topper Galveston (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Bizzarria {GB}, by Lemon Drop Kid) led at every step to break his maiden at Naas on Saturday. Sent off at 100-30 for the mile contest, he was sent on by Gavin Ryan and stayed on dourly up the straight to record a half-length success from Local Lad (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}). "He's a big, strong colt and was very good from the gates today to put himself into a good position...

Paying further tribute to his much-missed dam Tepin (Bernstein), Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) showed he had inherited her battling qualities as well as her class to capture the G3 Emirates Autumn Stakes at Newmarket. Runner-up over this mile trip in Leopardstown's G2 Champions Juvenile Stakes last month, the 15-8 favourite travelled with greater zest than on his previous three starts tracking the pace before being committed by Ryan Moore two out. Challenged by the Ralph Beckett-trained Stanhope Gardens (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) from there, the market-leader was...

City Of Troy, arguably the most talked-about horse in training, will retire to Coolmore Stud in Ireland after his date with destiny in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on November 2.  The highest-rated son of Justify, City Of Troy produced one of the most impressive Derby-winning performances in recent times and followed up on his Epsom heroics with victory in the Coral-Eclipse and Juddmonte International. Aidan O'Brien's star will not race beyond his three-year-old campaign and, in a statement issued by Coolmore on Saturday, the trainer commented, "He's...

Saturday's G1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes favourite The Lion In Winter (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has been ruled out of the seven-furlong feature by Aidan O'Brien after suffering a bruised foot. Ryan Moore will now take the ride on the Curragh maiden winner Expanded (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), with Godolphin's G1 Middle Park Stakes winner Shadow Of Light (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) now favourite with the British bookmakers.

Proving yet again that Aidan O'Brien's second string is never to be discounted in pattern races, the 25-1 shot Merrily (No Nay Never--Caponata, by Selkirk) swooped to conquer in Friday's G3 Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket. Anchored in rear early by Wayne Lordan, the relative of Sunday's Arc heroine Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) was a touch free early in response the switch in tactics from her latest fifth in the G3 Weld Park Stakes. Saving her energy for the finale this time, the $325,000 Keeneland September...

Back in 2010, when Wootton Bassett (GB) registered what would ultimately be his defining success in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, few would have predicted the considerable impact he would have on the breed. Fourteen years on, the extent to which he has grown in stature during his second career was felt in the same Qatar-sponsored race as his son Camille Pissarro (Ire) stepped up to reward Coolmore's faith and investment in the sire's raw material. Up to seven furlongs and fitted with blinkers for the first time, Ballydoyle's TDN...

Coolmore and Westerberg's G3 Stanerra Stakes victrix Grateful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Tepin, by Bernstein), who hit the board in last month's G2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster, made the necessary transition under an inspired ride from Christophe Soumillon to secure a career high in Saturday's G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu at ParisLongchamp. She became the fourth winner on the card for a dominant Aidan O'Brien. Employing patiently tactics and settled off the tempo for most of this 14-furlong marathon, the 207-10 chance made relentless headway out wide in the straight to...

Ballydoyle's star stayer Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Polished Gem {Ire}, by Danehill) went unbeaten through six contests in 2022 and completed an exact replica of that campaign with a pillar-to-post triumph in Saturday's G1 Qatar Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp. That 2022 season included an extravagant win in this marathon event, but it was a more straightforward affair this time around. The 1-5 favourite, fresh off a second success in the G1 Irish St Leger, went straight to the front and sent an even tempo for the most part. Gearing up...

Coolmore's G1 St Leger runner-up Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Danedrop {Ire}), by Danehill), winner of Royal Ascot's G2 Queen's Vase back in June, fired the opening salvo of ParisLongchamp's Arc weekend and delivered a battling performance to prevail in the 15-furlong G2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay. The 2-5 favourite, who had also placed in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and G1 Grand Prix de Paris, went straight to the lead and held sway until turning for home. Under pressure when headed briefly by Trafalgar Square (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) with 300 metres remaining,...

Maintaining the theme of first-season sires having their first black-type winner at Dundalk on Friday evening, Castle Hyde Stud's resident Arizona (Ire) (by No Nay Never) was off the mark in that sphere as his son Right And True (Ire) captured the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Star Appeal Stakes. Off the mark at the fifth attempt over a mile at Listowel last month, the 13-2 shot was in front initially before being steadied by Ronan Whelan to take a lead from fellow Ballydoyle runner Bernard Shaw (Into Mischief). Mastering...