The Curragh

There will be a maximum of eight runners in Sunday's Irish Derby at the Curragh with Aidan O'Brien's Epsom third Los Angeles heading the four-strong assault on the race for Ballydoyle.  O'Brien will also be represented by Grosvenor Square, Euphoric and The Euphrates in the mile-and-a-half showpiece.  The defection of Chief Little Rock and Agenda means there will be a maximum of eight runners in a race where the supplemented Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly heads the market at odds of 11-10. A statement published on the Coolmore website read, "Ballydoyle...

Ten horses remain in contention for Sunday's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, including six trained by Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle. Only one other Irish trainer, Ger Lyons, has a colt still engaged in the race, while the three potential travellers from Britain are led by the James Fanshawe-trained Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), who was runner-up to City Of Troy in the Derby and has been supplemented for the Irish Classic. "He took Epsom well," said Fanshawe of his charge who will aim to go one better at the Curragh...

Over the next fortnight, board members of the Organization of Racing Investigators (ORI) will participate in a new exchange program, which features an intensive tour of hallowed racing sites in Ireland and England. "The new program is a continued effort by the ORI to exchange tradecraft and weigh how integrity is protected in different countries across the world," said ORI's immediate past chairman Jason Klouser. The small group, which includes Klouser, Tyler Durand, J.C. Jaramillo, Juan Estrada and David Duncan, will make stops at The Curragh, Leopardstown and Coolmore. Fellow...

Unbeaten two-year-old and G1 Derby winner City Of Troy is set to make his next appearance in the G1 Coral-Eclipse S. at Sandown on Saturday, July 6, it was confirmed in a statement on coolmore.com on Sunday. The son of Justify also had the option of running in the G1 Irish Derby the previous weekend, but his connections have decided to drop back in trip for the Sandown feature instead, with Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) set to take his place at the Curragh having finished a creditable third behind...

3rd-Curragh, €20,000, Mdn, 6-5, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:35.75, gd. GRATEFUL (IRE) (f, 3, Galileo {Ire}--Tepin {GISW-Can, G1SW-Eng, MGISW-US, $4,437,918}, by Bernstein), the third foal out of the six-times top-level-winning dual champion turf mare, had not been seen since finishing ninth in this track's seven-furlong conditions race in August in which A Lilac Rolla (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) and Opera Singer (Justify) were first and second. Racing in mid-pack early, the 13-2 shot stayed on strongly to reel in stablemate Mother Nature (Ire) (Justify) in the final strides and prevail by a...

In the space of less than an hour on Sunday, it was Too Darn Hot's world and we were all just living in it. Following the example of stablemate Darnation (Ire), who had dominated the G2 German 1000 Guineas at Dusseldorf minutes earlier to showcase the merits of Darley's second-crop sire, Clipper Logistics' Fallen Angel (GB) also put her G1 1000 Guineas flop firmly behind her to earn top trumps with a clear-cut success in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas at The Curragh. Only eighth at Newmarket, the Karl...

In rude health for Sunday's G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh, Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}--Diagnostic {GB}, by Dutch Art {GB}) readily put old rival Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the shade for a career-best success. Behind that Ballydoyle supremo in the Derby, the John Murphy-trained grey had returned this term to garner the track's G3 Alleged S. and G2 Mooresbridge S. and the backers were suitably respectful as his odds hardened to 15-8 before the off. Cruising under a confident Colin Keane with Auguste...

Reappearing for the first time since finishing eighth in the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown in September, Al Shira'aa Farms' Ocean Jewel (Ire) (Sioux Nation) showed she is a bright prospect for 2024 by taking Sunday's G2 Lanwades Stud S. at The Curragh. Held up halfway down the field early by Billy Lee, the Willie McCreery-trained 8-1 shot swooped on the front a furlong from home in this contest registered as the Ridgewood Pearl and readily asserted for a 1 1/4-length success from Goldana (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}). The even-money...

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...

   Continuing the stellar start to his stud career of Sergei Prokofiev, Amo Racing and Giselle De Aguiar's Arizona Blaze (GB) outstayed Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Camille Pissarro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) at the close of The Curragh's G3 GAIN Marble Hill S. run in memory of Theresa Marnane on Saturday. Second to the runner-up's stablemate Whistlejacket (Ire) (No Nay Never) in the five-furlong Listed First Flier S. here earlier this month, the £82,000 Goffs UK Premier graduate, who was his sire's first winner also at this venue in March,...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a Wootton Bassett (GB) half-brother to standout fillies Tenebrism (Caravaggio) and Statuette (Justify). 13.20 Curragh, Mdn, €25,000, 2yo, c/g, 6fT HENRI MATISSE (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) injects instant spark into an already talent-stacked Curragh card as the sixth foal out of the G1 Coronation S. and...

Several challengers for the G1 Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh on Sunday have already grasped that brass ring, with Group 1 winners Fallen Angel and Opera Singer both entered. Blueblooded homebreds include a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner and top-level sire The Autumn Sun (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}). Vespertilio, third in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, also returns on short rest.   A LILAC ROLLA (IRE) Harry Angel (Ire)--Mejala (Ire) (Red Ransom) Sales info: Offered by Castledillon Stud, the bay was picked up for €40,000 out...