Al Aasy (Ire)

Making it another Irish Champions Day winner that was easy to find on paper, the third pattern-race winner for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore came in the G3 Paddy Power S. registered as the Kilternan S. courtesy of Adelaide River (Ire) (Australia {GB}). Always comfortable in a clear lead, the 11-8 favourite by virtue of the class edge he held having been runner-up in the G1 Irish Derby and G1 Grand Prix de Paris turned the screw from the top of the straight and may have been idling late as...

Very few elite contests are won in the style that Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) displayed in last month's G2 Dahlia S., but Becky Hillen's star mare has to do it again at the next level in Saturday's G1 Yulong Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh. Granted more ease in the ground, trainer George Boughey is intent on pitching her against the best of the Irish in the 10-furlong test. "I've never seen her look so well and she's been training super, so it's all systems go as long...

One of the season's elite older horses is in action at Newmarket on Thursday as Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) headlines the opening card of the three-day July Festival. Runner-up in the June 4 G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom last time, Shadwell's progressive 4-year-old stays in his home town for the 12-furlong G2 Princess of Wales's Tattersalls S. at the meeting at which he first served notice of his talent when taking last year's G3 Bahrain Trophy. Successful in the G3 John Porter S. and G3 Aston Park...

Derby-winning trainer William Haggas is looking forward to the G1 Cazoo Derby on June 5. The trainer, who won the race 25 years ago with Shaamit (Ire) (Mtoto {GB}), has listed winner Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to take part in the Blue Riband. "The race means exactly the same as it did 25 years ago in that it's the ultimate race for an English trainer to win or to try to win," Haggas reflected. "We've thrown a few darts at it unsuccessfully and it's a very hard race to win....

William Haggas could not have hoped for a better warm-up for the June 4 G1 Coronation Cup for the apple of his eye Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), with Shadwell's deeply-promising 4-year-old going through Saturday's G3 Al Rayyan S. at Newbury like a routine piece of work. Treating Juddmonte's 2019 G1 St Leger hero Logician (GB) (Frankel {GB}) as a mere lead-horse, the 10-11 favourite who had won comfortably on fast ground in the course-and-distance G3 John Porter S. Apr. 18 sauntered by that rival two out. Unextended...

Shadwell's Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who won the G3 Finest Surprise S. at Newbury on Apr. 18, will back up in the G3 Al Rayyan S. there on May 15. Originally, the 4-year-old was tagged to go straight to the June 4 G1 Coronation Cup S., but trainer William Haggas determined that his charge was so fresh and well, another run was needed. "I was going to wait for the Coronation Cup, but he's too well so he's going to run next Saturday in a Group 3...

Sunday's G3 John Porter S. victor Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is a likely starter in the June 4 G1 Cazoo Coronation Cup at Epsom according to trainer William Haggas. Also under consideration is the G3 Huxley S. at Chester on May 7 for the Shadwell colourbearer. "I don't think it was that good a race, but I thought he won well--he won like I hoped he would," said Haggas. "He's always been a very slick, smooth worker and a horse with a lot of talent, but he...