Leopardstown

Aidan, Joseph and Donnacha O'Brien were responsible for six of the nine runners in Saturday's G3 P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax S. and it was the pair of juniors who played out the finish with the youngest prevailing after a thriller involving Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}) and Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Flaxman Stables Ireland's Piz Badile had been a half-length second to TDN Rising Star Duke de Sessa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the nine-furlong G3 Eyrefield S. here in October, but had a three-pound pull with that rival...

Another Classic trial, another TDN Rising Star in the headlines as Moyglare's Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) surged to an impressive success in Saturday's G3 Ballylinch Stud "Priory Belle" 1,000 Guineas Trial S. at Leopardstown. Things had gone awry since her debut defeat of Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio) over this seven-furlong trip and course in July, but Dermot Weld had the homebred fine-tuned for this competitive affair and all roads now lead to the May 1 G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. Held up worse than mid-division by Chris Hayes after missing...

"I'd love to win an English Guineas," Ger Lyons said after watching TDN Rising Star Dr Zempf (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) collect in Saturday's Listed Ballylinch Stud "Red Rocks" 2,000 Guineas Trial S. at Leopardstown. Always travelling easily in second throughout the early stages under Colin Keane, Peter Brant's G1 Phoenix S. runner-up took control two out and held off The Acropolis (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) to reward takers of 11-10 by half a length, with a length back to fellow TDN Rising Star New Energy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) in third....

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features the third foal out of the Group 1 winner Tiggy Wiggy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). 2.00 Leopardstown, Mdn, €12,000, 3yo, 8fT SAMUEL PEPYS (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is the third foal out of the G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine and 1000 Guineas third Tiggy Wiggy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}),...

Beginning on Friday, Mar. 11, the first 1,000 students to sign up to Gradguide's free platform will receive access to purchase their Apr. 6 Student Race Day ticket for Leopardstown at a discounted price of €20. Gradguide, which connects students and graduates with fast-growing companies across Ireland, the UK, Germany, France, Netherlands and the U.S.A., is also the new sponsor of the Listed Heritage S. at Leopardstown on Apr. 6. To sign up to Gradguide, please click here. Mark Hughes, CEO & Founder of Gradguide, said, "Gradguide is excited to...

After Saturday's exhilarating juvenile action at Doncaster and Saint-Cloud, Leopardstown pitched in late afternoon to offer up its own 2022 Classic hopeful in TDN Rising Star Duke de Sessa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the nine-furlong G3 Eyrefield S. Impressive over a mile at The Curragh when breaking his maiden Aug. 21, Newtown Anner Stud Farm's homebred had disappointed when sixth of seven over the same track dropping a furlong for the Sept. 12 G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. and had a point to prove in a deep...

13.40 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, f, 7fT Flaxman Holdings Ireland's SIERRA NEVADA (American Pharoah) is a Jessica Harrington-conditioned daughter of Listed Prix de Bagatelle victrix Visions of Clarity (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and thus a half-sister to MGISW GI Preakness S.-winning sire War of Will (War Front) and G1 Vincent O'Brien National S.-winning sire Pathfork (Distorted Humor). The homebred bay encounters a baker's dozen in this unveiling. 14.15 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, c/g, 7fT Coolmore and Westerberg's STAR OF INDIA (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}), one of two contenders representing Ballydoyle, is a...

While Aidan O'Brien was drawing a blank at Ascot, the stable was celebrating a 13th winner of Leopardstown's G3 Richmond Homes Killavullan S. on Saturday as Glounthaune (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) came forward from his sixth placing in Saturday's G1 Dewhurst S. Having only his second start in that Newmarket feature and his first since his winning debut at The Curragh Apr. 17, the 5-1 shot who sports the Evie Stockwell silks was settled behind the leading trio early by Seamie Heffernan and worked his way to the front with 100...

13.30 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, f, 8fT Coolmore and Westerberg's hitherto unraced EMILY DICKINSON (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}), one of two contenders representing Aidan O'Brien, is a half-sister to this term's G1 Irish Oaks third Nicest (Ire) (American Pharoah) out of G1 Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). She is accompanied by stablemate Thoughts of June (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is a daughter of GI Del Mar Oaks victrix and $2.4 million Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November sale graduate Discreet Marq (Discreet Cat). 14.05 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, c/g, 8fT Aidan O'Brien...

Fresh from winning the opening Listed Ingabelle S. on Saturday, Ger Lyons and Colin Keane combined to enjoy the perfect start to Leopardstown's Irish Champions Day when following up in the G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile S. with Atomic Jones (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Owned by Sean Jones, David Spratt and Lynne Lyons, the bay who had won on his sole start in a seven-furlong maiden at The Curragh June 27 was restrained early from his low draw to race with two behind. Switched outside with three furlongs remaining, the 10-1...

Ballydoyle's St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) will take on The Aga Khan's Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) and Jim Bolger's Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) and just one other in what is certain to be a tactical renewal of Saturday's G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown. As he suggested earlier this month, Aidan O'Brien has taken out all other entries for the 10-furlong contest, which is made up by last year's G3 Meld S. winner Patrick Sarsfield (Fr) (Australia {GB}). At Doncaster the same afternoon, the G1 Cazoo St Leger will see Godolphin's G1 Irish Derby and...

Longines Irish Champion S. Day will be a World Pool event for the first time, Horse Racing Ireland announced. Sept. 11 marks the collaboration between the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Tote, Horse Racing Ireland and the Racecourse Media Group at Leopardstown where racing fans from around the world will have the opportunity to bet into a single pool, ensuring larger and deeper pools, differentiated pricing, and the opportunity for unequalled value for Tote customers. Created and hosted by the Hong Kong Jockey Club since 2018, over 20 leading racing nations,...