Rosallion (Ire)

Confirming the serious nature of the G1 2,000 Guineas form, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Newmarket runner-up Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}--Rosaline {Ire}, by New Approach {Ire}) went one better to lead a Richard Hannon one-two in Saturday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh. Held up in mid-division by Sean Levey with the pace steady, the 10-11 favourite began his delivery two out as the stable's Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) took control and his wilting run proved perfectly-timed. Getting the yard's bragging rights only in the...

Logic dictates that the G1 2,000 Guineas is the standard when it comes to assessing the form of the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas, so in all likelihood the case for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Newmarket runner-up Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) is an open-and-shut one. The odds and all the noise from the Richard Hannon yard certainly suggest so, but this is The Curragh we are talking about and Saturday's Tattersalls-sponsored renewal will not be done and dusted until Sean Levey gets past seven peers and to the line....

Six-figure yearlings River Tiber and Unquestionable, both by Wootton Bassett, head the home defence in the first Classic of the Irish Flat season, but they face stern opposition from a pair of British raiders trained by Richard Hannon. Bargain-buy Haatem, from the first crop of the 2019 winner of this race, Phoenix Of Spain, ran a huge race when finishing third in the Newmarket equivalent, but he has work to do to reverse the form with Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's homebred Rosallion, runner-up on the Rowley Mile and a...

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's G1 2,000 Guineas runner-up Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), trained by Richard Hannon, will face seven rivals, including a trio from Ballydoyle, in Saturday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh. Bidding to become only the fifth English-trained runner to win since 2010, the year of the stable's Canford Cliffs (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}), last year's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere hero is likely to start favourite over the Aidan O'Brien-trained top-level performers River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Hannon...

Saturday's G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas went to an unbeaten colt with TDN Rising Star status, but instead of the bitterly disappointing City Of Troy (Justify) it was Godolphin's Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}--Swift Rose {Ire}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) who stepped up to conquer the Newmarket Classic. Sent off at 16-1 on his first start on turf, the Charlie Appleby-trained homebred who unusually had not raced at two and had only been to Kempton so far in his career, was kept sprung-loaded in last by a confident William Buick content...

Team Ballydoyle's crack colt City Of Troy (Justify) has 10 peers to overcome in Saturday's G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in his quest to follow the hoofprints of the wonderhorse with which he has drawn early comparison. With the stable removing all of his understudies including the similarly-unbeaten Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) on Thursday morning, the assembled cast will be the smallest for the time-honoured Rowley Mile Classic since 2017 when Ryan Moore enjoyed his last winning ride on Churchill (Ire). Three of the colts dispatched by Coolmore's...

Following Monday's confirmation stage, City Of Troy (Justify) remains the standout name among 14 colts who have stood their ground for Saturday's G1 Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Unbeaten in three starts as a two-year-old, G1 Dewhurst S. winner City Of Troy is the odds-on favourite to provide trainer Aidan O'Brien with a record-extending 11th success in the first British Classic of the season. O'Brien also has G1 National S. winner Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) still engaged, plus G2 Champions Juvenile S. hero Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and...

Twenty-one colts have stood their ground at the latest forfeit stage for the G1 Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday, May 4. They include the outstanding juvenile of 2023, City Of Troy (Justify), last seen winning the G1 Dewhurst S. on the Rowley Mile by three and a half lengths. City Of Troy is one of four entries left in the 2,000 Guineas for Aidan O'Brien, the most successful trainer in the history of the Classic with 10 wins. The potential challenge from Ballydoyle is completed by Diego Velazquez...

Aidan O'Brien hailed City Of Troy as the most exciting two-year-old he's trained as the son of Justify was named Europe's champion juvenile for 2023 when the classification was released on Tuesday. He becomes the 13th European champion two-year-old to have been trained by O'Brien, with only Johannesburg (126) achieving a higher rating among the previous 12. A Coolmore homebred out of the G1 Fillies' Mile winner Together Forever (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), City Of Troy went unbeaten in three starts as a two-year-old, culminating with a dominant display when winning...

   Beautiful sunshine bathed ParisLongchamp on its biggest day and Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere proved a fitting opener to the action with Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}--Rosaline {Ire}, by New Approach {Ire}) dominating the closing stages of this up-to-scratch renewal. Brilliant in Ascot's Listed Pat Eddery S. in July but disappointing when third in the G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster last month, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's homebred was truly on song here to provide Sean Levey with all the good vibrations in this qualifier for the GI...

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's homebred Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}--Rosaline {Ire}, by New Approach {Ire}) became his first-crop sire's third stakes winner when scooting to an impressive four-length triumph in Saturday's Listed Flexjet Pat Eddery S. at Ascot. The 11-1 chance, who annexed his June 7 debut over 6 1/2 furlongs at Newbury when last seen, raced under cover in eighth through the early fractions of this straight seven-furlong test. Making eyecatching headway on the bridle once past halfway, he cruised to the front with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining...