Piz Badile

Donnacha O'Brien is predicting that Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}) will strip a lot fitter for his comeback effort in the G3 Alleged S. at the Curragh on Sunday and identified the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup as the early-season target for last year's Irish Derby runner-up.  The trainer also provided an upbeat bulletin on the hugely-exciting Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who could get his season underway in the G3 Derrinstown Derby Trial at Leopardstown on May 7.  Piz Badile will face just five rivals on Sunday, including likely...

Following a quiet few days in the aftermath of Ascot and Chantilly, things get moving again on Saturday with The Curragh staging one of the most interesting renewals of the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby for some time. A race that has from time to time in recent years been under the shadow of the European Pattern Committee's guillotine has pulled a trick out of the hat this year to ensure it keeps its exalted status for the immediate future at least. Aidan O'Brien has come to tick off...

Once again Galileo (Ire) looms large over Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, featuring in the first, second or third generations of every runner. The owner/breeders hold sway, but Glory Daze (Ire) and French Claim (Fr) were picked up for €3,000 and €9,000 as yearlings, respectively. Tuesday bids to follow the example of fellow Oaks-winning fillies Salsabil (Ire) and Balanchine, both of whom went on to win the Irish Derby. TUESDAY (IRE), Galileo (Ire)--Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) Owners: Mrs John Magnier/Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith/Westerberg Breeder: Coolmore Trainer: Aidan...

Lent extra poignancy this year for being run in memory of Lester Piggott, the blue riband of the turf features colts with the whole range of backgrounds, from a £3,000 yearling to regal homebreds.   ROYAL PATRONAGE (FR), Wootton Bassett (GB)--Shaloushka (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) Owner: Highclere Thoroughbred Racing - Woodland Walk Breeder: Emma Capon Bloodstock Trainers: Charlie and Mark Johnston Sales History: A 62,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling. Pedigree Notes: He is the first foal of his Aga Khan-bred dam, a winner at up to 1 1/2 miles whose...

Connections of leading G1 Cazoo Derby hope Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses) have been provided with a massive boost ahead of Epsom after legendary rider Frankie Dettori committed to ride the Donnacha O'Brien-trained colt in the Classic on June 4. Dettori made his Derby breakthrough in 2007 aboard Authorized (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) for Peter Chapple-Hyam as well as partnering John Gosden's Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) to victory in the race back in 2015 and he will bid to win the iconic race for a third time aboard the impressive...

ROSEGREEN, Ireland--Ryan Moore will find it difficult to ride anything other than Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Cazoo Derby, according to Aidan O'Brien, who may be without the ace--Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB})--in his Epsom pack, but expects to run up to six colts as he bids for a record-extending ninth win in the race on June 4. Stone Age didn't just open the door to a tilt at the Derby in winning the G3 Derby Trial at Leopardstown on Sunday, he kicked it open and announced himself as...

Even at this early stage of the season, we can be forgiven for mentally fast-forwarding to the first weekend of June at Epsom. It is after all the best weekend of the year, featuring the best race of the year.  There are plans afoot in Newmarket - plans being mooted by the Jockey Club, no less - to dig up one of the best turf gallops on the Heath to install a new all-weather racecourse and training facility. At a time when there's concern as to having enough horses to...