Leopardstown Racecourse

Coolmore's Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who hit the board going one mile in his Oct. 3 debut at Newmarket last time, was sharply into stride and led from the outset of Friday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden at Leopardstown. Holding sway throughout the one-mile test, the even-money favourite was shaken up when threatened in early straight and powered clear under continued urging inside the final furlong to prevail by an impressive four lengths from O'Reilly (Fr) (Frankel {GB}), adding 'TDN Rising Star' status into the bargain. "I fancied...

The way that Tiger Moth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was backed ahead of Saturday's G3 Paddy Power 'Is It 2021 Yet?' S. was a reflection of the regard in which the Ballydoyle representative is held and he did not disappoint with a stirring display in the Leopardstown contest. Last seen finishing runner-up in the G1 Irish Derby at The Curragh June 27, the bay was 5-6 for this race registered as the Kilternan S. and stayed ahead of the main group with Ryan Moore sitting several lengths off the three early...

There was a seventh group 1 success for Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and a second renewal of Leopardstown's G1 Irish Champion S. on Saturday as the remarkable mare downed Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in a sensational renewal of the 10-furlong contest. Intent on keeping close tabs on that 8-13 favourite from the outset, Seamie Heffernan placed Ballydoyle's relentless mare at his flanks and the closer they got to the straight the more it appeared that Godolphin's colossus would struggle to divert her attentions. Ranging alongside the visitor and locking on...

Irish Champions Weekend is as much about the juveniles as the proven older horses and Alpha Racing 2020's Cadillac (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) presented himself as one of the premier members of the 2-year-old brigade when surging to an impressive success in Saturday's G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile S., a Breeders' Cup Challenge Race. Having caused a stir at Leopardstown with a nine-length debut win over seven furlongs July 1, the bay had been second in The Curragh's G2 Futurity S. last time Aug. 22 but showed this step up...

Rapidly-progressive in 2020, Fitzwilliam Racing's Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) sealed her upwardly mobile status with an authoritative success in Leopardstown's G1 Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron S. on Saturday. Providing Johnny Murtagh with a breakthrough first top-level success, the July 28 Listed Corrib Fillies S. and Sept. 2 G3 Fairy Bridge S. winner had plenty to do turning for home but produced an impressive flourish to cut down Peaceful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 100 yards from the line. Soon clear under Colin Keane, the 9-2 shot had 1 1/4 lengths to...

Leopardstown Racecourse and TRI Equestrian, with its sister brand, TRM, have extended their partnership to include the July 23 race meeting at the Dublin track. The partnership between the equine retailer TRI Equestrian and TRM, an equine supplement manufacturer, expands on their established National Hunt Finale Raceday to include a day on the flat at Leopardstown. TRI Equestrian Raceday, which will be held behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will feature the Listed TRI Equestrian Silver S., which has attracted 24 entries, including 2018 G1 Irish Derby winner,...

An entry in the G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Pretty Polly S., His Highness The Aga Khan's Eldama (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) produced a winning performance that marked her out as a touch special in Leopardstown's opening Fillies Maiden for debutantes on Sunday. Always travelling notably strongly under Oisin Orr behind the leading duo, the 2-1 favourite struck the front with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and readily asserted for a 1 3/4-length defeat of Bearberry (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), with Amiko Chow (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) a half length back in...

There was unwanted drama during Tuesday's Listed Holden Plant Rental Trial S. at Leopardstown as Ballydoyle's 6-5 favourite Year of the Tiger (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) suffered an injury in the home straight. Jim Bolger's unbeaten Ten Year Ticket (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) got up late at 8-1 to deny Aidan O'Brien's other runner King of Athens (War Front) by a neck. Also coming on strong at the end of his Curragh maiden in October when successful at 33-1, the chestnut who was bred at owner Nicky Teehan's Bluegate Stud...

Aidan O'Brien was truly cleaning up on Tuesday's Leopardstown card and the yard's rude health was further demonstrated with Love Locket (Ire) (No Nay Never) making it four wins from the first four races in the seven-furlong G3 Leopardstown Fillies Trial S. Last seen finishing a highly creditable second in a nursery over this trip at Naas in November, the 5-1 shot was soon disputing the lead under Seamie Heffernan with the rail advantage. Making a race-winning assertive move two out, the bay was still going strong at the line...

Prior to Leopardstown's G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial, Aidan O'Brien had already saddled the winner of the fillies' maiden and the first four home in colts' equivalent and so it was hardly a shock that his trio dominated the finish to Tuesday's blue riband pointer. What was surprising was that it was Michael Tabor's Cormorant (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) who held sway over the 11-8 favourite Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Iberia (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), with the grey blown by a fair wind on a day for the front-runners. Left...

The five individual trails of the 2019 Curragh Thoroughbred Trail, part of Longines Irish Champions Weekend, are now available to book online. The various Thoroughbred Trails--DK Weld, James Nash and Dick Brabazon; John Oxx and Willie McCreery; Michael Halford and Kildangan Stud; Johnny Murtagh, Conor O'Dwyer and Brendan Duke; Ken Condon and Martin Brassil--are located at The Curragh prior to racing on Sunday, Sept. 15, allowing racing fans to go behind the scenes accompanied by an expert guide, with light refreshments at The Curragh Racecourse prior to the start of...

Late last month Pat Keogh, chief executive officer at Leopardstown since 2011, took up the same position at The Curragh upon the resignation of Derek McGrath. The fast nature of that change over means that Keogh will slowly phase out of his Leopardstown role, presiding over both racecourses until the conclusion of Longines Irish Champions Weekend on Sept. 14 and 15. It is no secret that the redeveloped Curragh Racecourse, unveiled after three years of construction this spring, has undergone some growing pains which have already been addressed by racecourse...