G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby

Reversing Epsom form with Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}--Frequential {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) relished the more straightforward nature of the galloping Curragh track on Sunday to provide Aidan O'Brien with a remarkable 16th G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby. Third in the Derby, the 13-8 second favourite was always going to be better suited by this test particularly after all the rain on Saturday and enjoyed the perfect trip under Ryan Moore tracking the stable's two pace-setters. Briefly swamped by the 6-4 market-leader Ambiente Friendly...

Having surrendered to Ballydoyle's City Of Troy (Justify) in the Derby, the Gredleys' Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) has more work to do taking on a crew from that establishment on their home soil in Sunday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh. While the likes of Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) have come from Epsom to successfully represent Britain in recent years, there is always that bridge to cross coming here. There is also the significant rain that...

Bringing genuine star quality to Saturday's G1 Cairn Community Games Pretty Polly Stakes, the Gosdens' Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) makes her belated Curragh debut having missed the 2022 Irish Oaks due to a freak aviation issue. What would have happened had her flight not been cancelled that July we'll never know, but her performance in last year's G1 Coronation Cup tells us she probably would have a Classic on her portfolio. Almost certainly guaranteed to be suited by this fair, galloping track, the 5-year-old may be peaking...

The Gredleys' Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) will have seven peers to contend with in Sunday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh after the confirmations were revealed on Friday morning. The James Fanshawe trainee will renew rivalry with Ballydoyle's Derby third Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), one of four representing Aidan O'Brien alongside The Euphrates (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Euphoric (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Grosvenor Square (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). David Menuisier saddles the 2023 G1 Criterium International winner Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), while the field is...

After successfully claiming redemption in the G1 Betfred Derby on Saturday, City of Troy (Justify) has returned to his homebase at Ballydoyle and is going well since arriving late that evening. Aidan O'Brien's stable representative Chris Armstrong gave a positive report for the Derby victor, adding that the goal is to gradually build him back up to full training. "City Of Troy obviously flew over yesterday and got back last night at 10pm. He pulled out well this morning, went out, had a hand-walk and a pick of grass, had...

The betting suggested that Sunday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh was a simple equation, but in the event there was a deal of disappointment and drama en route to TDN Rising Star Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}--Rhododendron {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) completing the Derby double that had always seemed an inevitability. As the other key Derby runners White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) and Sprewell (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) failed to raise a fist, Ryan Moore first had to manoeuvre the unseating of Wayne Lordan on the...

Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) will have eight peers to overcome on Sunday in his bid to become the fifth Derby winner for Aidan O'Brien to double up in the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh. Among them are the Derby third White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) and fourth Sprewell (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), the only runners not representing the O'Brien family with the Donnacha-trained Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Joseph-trained Up And Under (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) the others taking on a Ballydoyle...

Mohamed Khalid Abdulrahim's Sprewell (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), fourth in the G1 Betfred Derby, has emerged from the race in good order and will aim for the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on July 2, trainer Jessica Harrington revealed. A winner of the G3 Derby Trial S. at Leopardstown in May, the bay was a solid fourth in the Blue Riband, and, if all goes well, will be ridden again by Shane Foley. Foley broke his collar bone riding at Gowran Park on Monday evening. "Sprewell will go to the...

Dubai Duty Free will continue their sponsorship of the G1 Irish Derby, as they renewed their partnership with the Curragh, the duo announced on Tuesday. In addition, the prize-money for the Irish Classic will increase from€1 million to €1.25 million in 2023, and five additional races will be sponsored by the airport retailer. For the first time since 2011, the Irish Derby will take place on a Sunday, with 2023's date set to be July 2. The full eight-race card will also become a permanent part of the Hong Kong...

Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby had been teed up as a match between Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Mirabilis, by Lear Fan) and Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), but in the ultimate assessment it was really a matter of no contest as Ralph Beckett's powerhouse colt overwhelmed all assembled for the Curragh Classic. Always travelling in a beautiful rhythm for Colin Keane granted a perfect lead by French Claim (Fr) (French Fifteen {Fr}), the 11-8 joint-favourite took control at the top of the straight and had already stretched into an unassailable...

Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby will be contested by seven colts and the filly Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) after Aidan O'Brien confirmed just that G1 Oaks heroine for The Curragh's €1 million Classic. Drawn in stall one as she bids to become the first of her sex to prevail since Balanchine (Storm Bird) in 1994, she meets Juddmonte's G1 Derby third Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) who will break from stall five. With Rosegreen's Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) set to go elsewhere, the...

Overnight contenders for Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish were reduced by half, leaving eight declared for the Curragh's €1,000,000 12-furlong Classic. Aidan O'Brien took the most drastic measures and reduced his team of six to just one with G1 Cazoo Oaks heroine Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) set to depart from stall one in her bid to become the first filly to prevail since Balanchine (Storm Bird) in 1994. Her chief rival, Juddmonte's G1 Cazoo Derby third Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), has drawn stall five.