Ballydoyle

Fresh from an impressive tally in Royal Ascot's Listed Chesham S., Coolmore's Battleground (War Front) emulated last year's winner of that contest--Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal)--by doubling up in Tuesday's G2 Veuve Clicquot Vintage S. at Goodwood. Employing patient tactics trapped three wide in sixth after a level break in the seven-furlong contest, the 13-8 favourite made smooth headway on the bridle in the straight to challenge at the quarter-mile marker and he was driven out once seizing control soon after to deny G2 Superlative S. runner-up Devious Company (Ire) (Fast Company...

With racemares like Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), there is a sense of point-and-shoot and Wayne Lordan had little trouble in steering her to a sixth top-level success in Sunday's G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh. Sent to the front almost from the outset, the 2-9 favourite merely had to repeat her effort when winning the course-and-distance G1 Pretty Polly S. June 28 and she gave generously to issue another beating to over-matched rivals. Kicking off the home turn, she stayed on strongly as expected as stablemate Sir Dragonet (Ire)...

Coolmore's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Sussex S. hero The Gurkha (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who operated at an initial fee of €25,000, became the latest European freshman sire off the mark when Aidan O'Brien trainee Finest (Ire) graduated in Friday's Well Done To All Frontline Staff From Limerick Racecourse Fillies Maiden at Limerick. 1st-Limerick, €11,000, Mdn, 7-17, 2yo, f, 6f 150yT, 1:25.45, gd. FINEST (IRE) (f, 2, The Gurkha {Ire}--Pearl Grey {GB} {SW & GSP-Eng}, by Gone West) was caught out by the intricacies of Bellewstown when fifth...

It was a clear-record eighth G1 Investec Derby at Epsom on Saturday for Aidan O'Brien, but not necessarily with the expected one as Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) went off on his own under Emmet McNamara and did a "Slip Anchor" to score by 5 1/2 lengths. Always clear at the head of affairs, the previous Saturday's nine-length Curragh maiden winner was still dangerously out of reach swinging around Tattenham Corner and kept grinding to lead home a shock trifecta. Khalifa Sat (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}), Andrew Balding's second string behind...

Already an emphatic winner of the G1 1000 Guineas, Coolmore's Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) entered elite territory on Saturday with a nine-length romp in the G1 Investec Oaks at Epsom. While not quite in the arena of the 12-length 1983 heroine Sun Princess (GB), this winning margin equalled that of the 1996 heroine Lady Carla (GB) (Caerleon) and there have been only four fillies in this race's history to have won by further. Settled behind a duo among the main six-strong group racing adrift of the runaway pacemakers Tiempo Vuela...

Aidan O'Brien has a top squad of British-based jockeys at the ready for his team of seven potential G1 Investec Derby runners, among them William Buick, James Doyle and Adam Kirby. Ryan Moore will have first choice of whatever the Ballydoyle master opts to leave in the race, but with coronavirus health restrictions continuing to make it complicated for riders to travel across Europe, as at Royal Ascot and with the Guineas O'Brien's Irish-based riders are unlikely to travel. "We don't know what Ryan will ride. He'll always make that...

Playing host to a Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in full swing, Sunday's G1 Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh was as good as over after less than a furlong as Seamie Heffernan committed to front-running duties on the returning 2-5 favourite. Kept in training for good reason, the G1 English and Irish Champion S. and G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup heroine of 2019 showed no mercy to her opposition and took off heading to two out en route to a 4 1/2-length dismissal of the 3-year-old Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia...

It was labelled as wide-open, but in the end Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh proved anything but as Aidan O'Brien was in dominating form yet again with Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) leading home a remarkable stable one-two-three-four. Sent off the clear 2-1 favourite coming back eight days after his emphatic win in the G2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, the bay was always travelling with supreme ease anchored towards the rear by a confident Seamie Heffernan. Cutting through the pack and getting an ideal split...

2.10 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, f, 7fT SWEET MOLLY MALONE (American Pharoah) is one of two regally-bred fillies from Ballydoyle and the pick of Seamie Heffernan, which is probably the best guide as to what is expected. The half-sister to the stable's G1 Irish Oaks heroine Bracelet (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and her Grade I-winning close relative Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is joined by Divinely (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a full-sister to TDN Rising Star Found (Ire) who is partnered by Wayne Lordan while Donnacha saddles Shale (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}, a daughter...

Ryan Moore will probably not ride an easier winner than Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) all week after the Ballydoyle's latest Classic prospect spreadeagled the field in the G2 Queen's Vase. Signing off 2019 with a defeat of the useful Sunchart (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) over a mile at Listowel in September, the bay was always on an even keel here settled worse than mid-division throughout the early stages before coming on strong as the pressure intensified. Moving to the lead with grace two out, the 10-3 shot stayed on powerfully after...

Fifth on debut over six furlongs at Naas June 8, Battleground (War Front) took a step forward to win the Listed Chesham S. as the 11-4 favourite for a 73rd Royal winner for Aidan O'Brien. Always travelling strongly tracking the pace under Ryan Moore, the first foal out of the brilliant Arc heroine Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) took over from March Law (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and stayed on strongly to beat that rival by 2 1/2 lengths, with the sole filly Seattle Rock (GB) (Fastnet...

Bouncing out of Leopardstown's G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial, Ballydoyle's Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) demonstrated the buoyant health of his stable by landing a strong renewal of the G3 Hampton Court S. on Wednesday. Second eight days ago racing against the bias at that Foxrock venue, Laurie Macri and Coolmore's 10-3 second favourite was delivered from rear by Ryan Moore with a surge to overwhelm the 9-4 favourite First Receiver (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) in the final yards. With full momentum as he crossed the line, the son of...