Joseph O'Brien

Just three lined up for Sunday's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and it went to form as Coolmore and Westerberg's G2 Beresford Stakes runner-up Tennessee Stud (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--In My Dreams {Ire}, by Sadler's Wells) upstaged Ahmad Al Shaikh's G3 Zetland Stakes runner-up Green Storm (Ire) (Circus Maximus {Ire}) in the match it looked on paper. In a renewal marred by the dismal lack of appetite for competition among the country's trainers, the Joseph O'Brien-trained 3-5 favourite only had to follow around the British raider and wear him down 100...

With an aggregate 104 engaged at the beginning of the week, contestants for Sunday's two juvenile Group 1 contests at Saint-Cloud have been whittled down to 10 after declarations were confirmed Friday morning. The one-mile G1 Criterium International has six declared for a mouthwatering renewal which features 'TDN Rising Stars' Maranoa Charlie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), the lone French-trained runner remaining, and supplementary entry Twain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). The latter, who makes a swift return to action after debuting in style at Leopardstown last Saturday, is set to be...

Impressive Eyrefield Stakes winner Sigh No More (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) will head to the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, according to Johne Murphy, the former Munster Rugby player who heads Stride Racing.  Sigh No More provided Stride Racing with its greatest day on a racetrack at Leopardstown on Saturday when landing a 40-1 knockout punch to her rivals in that Group 3 contest.  Owned in partnership with Bronsan Racing, the Joseph O'Brien-trained juvenile has now amassed over €125,000 including bonuses for her connections, and will undoubtedly garner plenty of attention at...

The Curragh's Tuesday card started with a bang as Al Shaqab Racing's newcomer Saracen (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}--Soteria {Ire}, by Acclamation {GB}) made an impressive start to his career in the six-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. Restrained behind the front pair by Dylan Browne McMonagle throughout the early stages, the Joseph O'Brien-trained 3-1 shot who was a €500,000 purchase at Arqana Deauville August moved to the long-time leader Pickersgill (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining before staying on to score by four lengths. "He was impressive, he's a...

Starfield Stud's first-crop sire King Of Change (GB) (by Farhh {GB}) has a black-type winner after his daughter Lady With The Lamp (Ire) caused a 66-1 upset in Friday's Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Legacy Stakes at Dundalk. Third behind Powerful Nation (Ire) (Sioux Nation) over this track and five-furlong trip last month, the Joseph O'Brien-trained €14,000 Goffs Orby Book 2 purchase was held up towards the back early by Declan McDonogh. Arriving wide in a frantic finish, the daughter of the Godolphin cast-off Caring Touch (Elusive Quality) from the...

Joseph O'Brien trainee Apples And Bananas (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Simannka {Ire}, by Mastercraftsman {Ire}), fresh off a black-type breakthrough in last month's Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage at Deauville, continued on a winning roll with a battling victory in Saturday's Goffs Million at the Curragh. The 5-2 second choice was quickly into stride from the stands' side stall and gained an immediate advantage in this seven-furlong test. Comfortable on the front end until scrubbed along with a quarter-mile remaining, he was tackled by 9-4 favourite Antelope Canyon (Ire)...

Sunday's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at The Curragh had a more open look to it than the betting suggested beforehand and that proved the case as the Joseph O'Brien-trained outsider Scorthy Champ (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}--Fidaaha {Ire}, by New Approach {Ire}) stepped up to earn the bragging rights. Third behind this race's favourite Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) on his second start over this course and seven-furlong trip in the G2 Futurity Stakes last month, the 12-1 shot who had won on debut at Leopardstown in May raced...

Black Forza (Complexity), the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Sunday's $1 million National Thoroughbred League Juvenile Sprint Stakes at Kentucky Downs, had some new visitors Saturday morning at the barn area at Kentucky Downs. Jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle and owner Eleanora Kennedy were there to fetch a look at the colt, who has won two of his first three starts - the first two in Ireland and the third, the G2 Markel Richmond Stakes at Goodwood. Lauren Faulkner, assistant to trainer Michael O'Callaghan, has been with Black Forza since he got...

For the last several years, Kentucky Downs has been the track that had almost everything. Big fields, huge purses and a betting handle that increases exponentially every year. But one thing has largely been missing--European shippers. Despite an all-turf meet, the purses and the fact that Kentucky Downs is much like a European turf course, the meet hadn't really registered with European horsemen. That has changed. According to Martin Panza, the co-director of racing at Kentucky Downs, which kicks off its annual seven-day meet Thursday, as many as 16 European-based...

Joseph O'Brien trainee Apples And Bananas (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Simannka {Ire}, by Mastercraftsman {Ire}) followed up a June 29 debut sixth at the Curragh with a breakthrough score at Killarney last month and continued on the upgrade with a career high in Saturday's Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage at Deauville. Breaking well to assert for an early lead, the 2-1 favourite was comfortable on the front end until coming under pressure in the straight and kept on strongly under continued rousting inside the final 300 metres to withstand...

All the rage beforehand, Mojave River (Fr) (Mohaather {GB}--Quintessenz {Ger}, by Soldier Hollow {GB}) fared best of the debutantes contesting Thursday's valuable Arqana Series Des Pouliches at Deauville. Sent to the fore from the outset by Maxime Guyon, the Joseph O'Brien-trained 28-10 favourite asserted her superiority in the final furlong to score by two lengths from Bogota (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Mojave River, who qualified for this incentive by selling for €17,000 at the 2022 Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale, becomes the ninth winner for her first-season sire. https://twitter.com/i/status/1824055608783331730

Legendary Japanese reinsman Yutaka Take will be aboard Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, according to Japan's NetKeiba publication. Now owned by Masaaki Matsushima and the Al Riffa Syndicate, the 4-year-old colt claimed the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten in their colours on Aug. 11. Take will be making his 11th attempt in the storied contest, and first since Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in 2022. Matsushima was also involved in the ownership of the latter. "I received an...