Shane Foley

Once viewed as one of the classiest riding prospects in Ireland, Tom 'Socks' Madden pointed to the harsh realities of competing in his home nation as the driving force behind him taking the plunge and bidding to emulate Declan Bates and Johnny Allen by turning to Australia in an effort to rejuvenate his career in the saddle.  Just over a month after he upped sticks to Australia, Madden rode his first winner for new boss Lindsey Smith aboard Glitter 'N' Gold (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}), after which he credited fellow Irishman...

Classic heroine Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is in "perfect condition" in advance of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup on Nov. 14, according to assistant trainer Kate Harrington. Racing for Zhang Yuesheng, the 3-year-old filly, who won the G2 Ribblesdale S. prior to her G1 Irish Oaks heroics, was fifth to future Arc winner Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks in August. "This morning, she galloped for about six furlongs," said Harrington, who assists her mother, Jessica. "We just wanted to get a nice breeze into...

7th-Naas, €16,000, Mdn, 9-15, 2yo, 7fT, 1:31.33, g/y. BOLD DISCOVERY (c, 2, Bolt d'Oro--Caribbean Babe, by Arch), sent off at 15-2, quickly established a clear advantage. Maintaining the gallop in game fashion in the straight, the bay hit the line strong with 2 1/2 lengths to spare over Peking Opera (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). "That was very impressive and he's a gorgeous horse," Kate Harrington said. "He only came to us in June and has always done everything so easy. Obviously his sire is a sensation in America on the dirt...

Yuesheng Zhang's Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Night Lagoon {Ger}, by Lagunas {GB}) displayed a willing attitude when annexing last month's G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot and her determination was to the fore again as she refused to yield and battled gamely to a career high in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh. Last term's G3 Flame of Tara S. victrix went off as the 5-4 favourite, in the absence of Epsom's G1 Oaks exacta Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), and...

The Hurling for Cancer charity match, the brainchild of legendary trainer Jim Bolger, will return to St Conleth's Park, Newbridge, County Kildare on Aug. 16, with a number of sporting and television stars committed to play in the 10th renewal. Bolger and dual Aintree Grand National-winning jockey Davy Russell will bring a host of household names together to take part in the celebrity hurling match, all in aid of the Irish Cancer Society.  Kilkenny's TJ Reid, Richie Hogan and Tommy Walsh, Limerick brothers Tom and Dan Morrissey, Wexford's Damien Fitzhenry...

Jessica Harrington has Classic glory in her sights with Royal Ascot scorer Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is on course for a tilt at the G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh on July 16.  A gritty winner of the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Ascot last month, Magical Lagoon will bid to make the step up to Group 1 company at the Curragh, with Harrington revealing that it's all systems go for the Irish Classic.  "That is the plan," the trainer said on Monday. "She's a very laid back...

Just over a week after selling the syndicate's flag-bearer Cadillac (Ire) (Lope De Vega) for a cool £500,000 at the Goffs London Sale on the eve of Royal Ascot, Alpha Racing are concentrated on sending out the stars of the future at the Curragh on Derby weekend, headed by G2 Airlie Stud S. contender It's Showtime Baby (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). A winner of a Dundalk maiden on debut back in April, the Jessica Harrington-trained It's Showtime Baby achieved black type when running third in a Group 3 at Naas last...

Adding to the remarkable diversity of the Platinum Jubilee Royal Ascot, Jessie Harrington became the 16th trainer to celebrate success from 17 races run by the time Yuesheng Zhang's Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) had prevailed in Thursday's G2 Ribblesdale S. Freshened for this following her second in Navan's Listed Salsabil S. over a mile and a quarter Apr. 23, the 11-4 second favourite tracked the pace in a distant third early and worked her way to the lead two out before Sea Silk Road (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire})...

One of the greatest riders in the history of the Australian turf, Glen Boss, officially brought the curtain down on his illustrious career with a final victory aboard Raeed (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the second of four legs of Friday's stc International Jockey Challenge at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh. But the veteran reinsman was outdone by his South Australia-based compatriot Caitlin Jones, with the pair finishing first and third. For her efforts, Jones earned first-place prizemoney of US$100,000. Jones, who calls Morphettville in Adelaide home, has been riding...

The Curragh's G2 Debutante S. is always a key pointer to the course-and-distance G1 Moyglare Stud S. and Sunday proved no exception as the one-two-three again filled those places headed by the Niarchos Family's Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). Only third to Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio) in that seven-furlong precedent Aug. 21, the Jessica Harrington trainee has abundant room for improvement within as a full-sister to Alpha Centauri (Ire) and half to Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) and was able to turn that around on this slicker surface. Sent up...

Jessica Harrington trainee No Speak Alexander (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}) came back off a break to finish 10th behind the reopposing G1 1000 Guineas heroine Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in last month's G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville and stepped forward to shock a stellar field in Saturday's G1 Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron S. at Leopardstown. She had previously backed up a solid five-race juvenile campaign to snag The Curragh's May 3 Athasi S. on seasonal return and hit the board back there in the May 23 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas...

Zhang Yuesheng's 2-year-old filly Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who crossed the line first in a June 28 Dundalk barrier trial, shaped with promise on the front end when fourth to Albula (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) contesting an Aug. 2 one-mile maiden at Naas in her only official start and the Jessica Harrington trainee exacted revenge on that reopposing rival by swooping late for a career high in Friday's G3 Manguard Plus Irish EBF Flame of Tara S. over the same trip at The Curragh. The 9-2 chance made an alert...