Shane Foley

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...

On the premises but off the board in a trio of group 2s in his native Britain, Al Shaqab Racing's Ebro River (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) benefitted from a change in tactics to make virtually all in Sunday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at The Curragh. In front before racing a furlong, the Hugo Palmer-trained 12-1 shot had the stand's rail to help and gave generously for Shane Foley as TDN Rising Star Dr Zempf (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) joined battle approaching the furlong pole. As that rival and the G2...

Yuesheng Zhang has built up an Irish stable with enviable horsepower while shopping with a relatively modest budget over the last few years. His stable star is undoubtedly last year's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. winner Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who looks to someday have a future at stud both in Europe and at Zhang's Yulong property in Victoria, Australia. For now, though, connections have set their sights on the May 1 G1 2000 Guineas in Newmarket, with the colt preparing at Jessica Harrington's yard in good nick....

Irish jockey Shane Foley took top honours in the stc International Jockeys Challenge in Riyadh in Friday after winning two of the four races comprising the contest, which set the stage for Saturday's card that includes the $20-million Saudi Cup. Foley beat just three home in the opening leg of the challenge, which was won by Mike Smith, who was deputizing for jockey John Velazquez whose trip to Saudi was dashed on account of travel-related issues. Foley turned things around in the next race, however, navigating Emblem Star (Take Charge...

William Buick and Shane Foley are two of the jockeys that will take part in the second STC International Jockeys' Challenge at Riyadh in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 19. The second $20-million Saudi Cup, part of the $30.5 million Saudi Cup card, is set for Feb. 20. "My first time riding in Saudi was around 12 years ago, I've been in and out since then," said Buick, who rode in the original turf trials at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in January of 2020. "Last year I came over for the turf...

Colin Keane has earned his second Irish Champion Jockey title and a century of winners when he booted home Pretty Boy Floyd (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB]) to win a handicap at The Curragh on Monday. The season is officially over in Ireland at Naas next weekend, but Keane's nearest rival, Shane Foley, is still seven winners behind. Foley was also in action on Monday, but both jockeys will not be present at Naas, because they are riding in the upcoming Breeders' Cup at Keeneland on Nov. 6-7. The highlight of Keane's...

   The trainer originally best known for many high-class jumps winners that has made an eye-catching advance on Flat racing's top contests in recent years will share her thoughts with the TDN on a monthly basis in this most unusual of seasons. The Breeders' Cup is a fantastic meeting, one that serves as an end-of-year championship between Europe and the U.S. In a year such as this it is fantastic that we are still able to go over and have those great match-ups. I had my first runner at the...