Brilliant (Ire)

Aidan O'Brien's 2024 Flat Turf campaign got off to a perfect beginning at The Curragh on Monday as the 3-year-old filly Brilliant (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}--Plying, by Hard Spun) flew the flag in the G3 Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express S. Runner-up in the G3 Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF S. over this mile trip and track and third in the seven-furlong G3 Weld Park S. also here last term, the 7-2 second favourite was steadied towards the rear early by Declan McDonogh and crept into contention once straightened for...

No sooner is the Cheltenham Festival wound up than the Flat Turf season begins at The Curragh on Monday, leaving no time to draw breath. Offering the ultimate contrast to the recent jumping spectacles is the opening five-furlong Castle Star And Alkumait At Capital Stud Irish EBF Maiden for 2-year-olds, where a clutch of the entries are by the first-season sires Sergei Prokofiev, Verbal Dexterity (Ire), Far Above (Ire) and Arizona (Ire). It is Whitsbury Manor Stud's resident Sergei Prokofiev who could have the favourite in the Adrian Murray-trained colt...

Sent off the even-money favourite for Saturday's G3 Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF S. at a wet Curragh, Ballydoyle's Opera Singer (Justify) came home alone to reward that faith. Off the mark over this mile trip at Leopardstown in July and second over seven furlongs at this track earlier this month, the half-sister to War Front's Hit It A Bomb and Brave Anna tracked the pace in second under Seamie Heffernan before taking control approaching two out. Stretching clear from there, the homebred registered an impressive 6 1/2-length success from stablemate...