Naas Racecourse

Aidan McGarry is the new general manager of Naas Racecourse, the directors of the facility announced on Thursday. He will start in the position on June 20. Over the past three years, McGarry managed Navan Racecourse, where he introduced the Navan Racing Festival. He was also involved in former roles with Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM). Dermot Cantillon, chairman of Naas Racecourse, said of the University of Limerick and National College graduate, "On behalf of the board of directors and the staff of Naas Racecourse we...

Aidan O'Brien trainee Fairy Godmother (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}--Scintilating {GB}, by Siyouni {Fr}) was usurped by Sparkling Sea (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) on debut at Naas last month and returned over the same six-furlong strip to exact revenge on that reopposing rival in Sunday's G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint. Ryan Moore was keen to settle the 6-5 favourite into a smooth rhythm and anchored his mount at the tail of the six-runner field through the initial exchanges of this straight dash. Easing closer onto the heels of the...

Naas Racecourse will stage a free race day on Sunday, May 19 to mark the course's centenary. The eight-race card features some Royal Ascot trials, including the G3 Goffs Lacken S. and the G3 Coolmore Stud EBF Fillies Sprint S. With a nod to the course's illustrious past, amateur dramatic groups from around the country will be in attendance on the day, stepping back in time to embrace the glamour of the 1920s by showcasing vintage attire reminiscent of the era. Racegoers are encouraged to do the same, and the...

Goffs have teamed up with Naas Racecourse and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM) to introduce a new two-year-old breeze-up sale in Ireland for 2025. The breeze will take place at Naas on Tuesday, June 3, with the sale being staged at Goffs on Wednesday, June 4. A practice breeze will also be held on the Bank Holiday Monday, June 2. Announcing the new breeze-up sale, Goffs chief executive Henry Beeby, said, "We are thrilled that Naas Racecourse has agreed to host the trackwork to enable this exciting new breeze-up sale in...

Eamonn McEvoy, who has been at the helm of Nass racecourse for almost five years, will join Tattersalls Ireland as bloodstock sales director. Prior to his tenure at Naas, McEvoy served as racing and stud manager for Rick Barnes of Grangecon Stud for eight years. Additionally, he has worked at stud farms in England, the USA and Australia, as well as Saudi Arabia, where he worked as assistant manager under the late Michael Buckley at HH Prince Sultan Al Kabeer's racing and breeding operation, playing a pivotal role in the...

The much-loved Robert Hall, who fronted Ireland's terrestrial television coverage of racing on RTE for 37 years before retiring in 2020, says he is optimistic of "a forward showing" but more importantly "something to build on" with his first horse, Frogman (Ire) (Ol' Man River {Ire}), who makes his eagerly-anticipated debut in the closing bumper at Naas on Sunday.  Frogman may be Hall's first runner but eagle-eyed observers may recognise the black and red silks that the four-year-old will carry as they are the exact colours of the old Stablemate...

RFL Steels Limited, a Naas Racecourse Business Club member, is the new sponsor of the Naas Listed Waterford Testimonial S., the racecourse announced on Thursday. Now christened the Listed RFL Steels S., it will be held on Saturday, Oct. 14. September marks 30 years at the company's current location in Naas, and the sponsorship will be part of the celebration for RFL Steels. Rory Larkin, Thoroughbred owner and managing director of RFL Steels Limited, said, "RFL Steels Limited is honoured to have the opportunity to sponsor this race here at...

Jessica Harrington-trained 3-year-old filly Ocean Quest (Ire) (Sioux Nation--Gold Zain {GB}, by Aqlaam {GB}) posted a close-up fourth in Royal Ascot's G1 Commonwealth Cup when last seen and was rewarded for her consistency with an all-the-way win in Sunday's G3 Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF Ballyogan S. at Naas. The March-foaled chestnut closed her juvenile campaign with a second in the G3 Round Tower S. at the Curragh and followed up a win in Navan's Listed Committed S. on sophomore return with a second here in the G3 Lacken S. in...

At the latest entry stage, 28 juveniles remain for the €300,000 Irish EBF Ballyhane S. at Naas on Aug. 7. Of the 28 entries, six are British-based runners, with Jungle Mate (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}), who was bred by Ballyhane Stud, representing trainer Kevin Ryan. A winner and runner-up in two starts at Hamilton and Carlisle, respectively, the gelding worked well on Wednesday morning. "Jungle Mate is in good form and did his final piece of work today and I was happy with him, so the plan is to run,"...

French sales company Arqana has renewed their sponsorship of the Irish EBF Marwell S. at Naas for another three years, the Irish racetrack announced on Friday. Arqana first sponsored the race in 2020, the year it was introduced to the Naas Flat calendar. This year's renewal takes the Deauville auction house and racetrack's association into a fourth year. The five-furlong listed contest for 2-year-old fillies carries an increased purse of €50,000 and is one of the feature races on the card at the Naas Summer Racing and BBQ Evening on...

Last year's G3 Prix de Cabourg victor The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Anna Law {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}) opened this term with a third in Navan's Listed Committed S. and led from pillar to post in Sunday's G3 Goffs Lacken S. at Naas. His eight-race juvenile campaign included three encounters with Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never), hitting the board behind that now-retired former stablemate in the G2 Prix Robert Papin, G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park. The Antarctic broke sharply and led along the far-side rail from flagfall. In...

Donnacha O'Brien trainee Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio--Too Precious {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) posted a debut win over five furlongs at the Curragh last month and punched a ticket to Royal Ascot with a determined success in Sunday's G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. Naas. She was positioned within range of the leaders in a close eighth through the early stages and tanked forward once past halfway. Shaken up at the quarter-mile marker, the 8-1 chance quickened smartly to seize control approaching the final furlong and was...