The Curragh

Providing her first-crop sire Ten Sovereigns (Ire) with his breakthrough first black-type winner on Sunday, Anne Marie O'Brien's filly Asean (Ire) was too strong for her peers in the five-furlong Listed Qatar Racing And Equestrian Club Irish EBF Curragh S. Off the mark at the fifth attempt at Cork last month, the Donnacha O'Brien-trained 17-2 shot was anchored in rear early. Asked to sprint by Gavin Ryan a furlong out, the homebred swamped the field to gain the advantage 50 yards out before asserting to beat Alabama (Ire) (No Nay...

Providing a boost to her G3 Silver Flash S. conqueror Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Al Shira'aa Farms' Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}--Prudente {Fr}, by Dansili {GB}) sprung forward to capture Saturday's seven-furlong G2 Alpha Centauri Debutante S. in style at The Curragh. Beaten 1 1/2 lengths when second to Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star in that important staging post at Leopardstown last month, the Willie McCreery-trained €320,000 Arqana Deauville August graduate was held up in last early by a confident Billy Lee content to let it all play out...

Making light work of Saturday's G2 Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Irish EBF Futurity S. at The Curragh, Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}--Minding {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) continued the golden spell of the yard's 2-year-olds in 2023. Backed into 2-9 favouritism, the son of the brilliant 1000 Guineas and Oaks heroine who had opened his account in style over this course and seven-furlong distance last month tracked the ultimately-disappointing Spanish Flame (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) until taking command 2 1/2 out under Ryan Moore. Chased to...

In a season when even by their exalted standards Ballydoyle seem to be boasting more than the average amount of highly talented juveniles, Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Irish EBF Futurity S. at The Curragh on Saturday. Earning TDN Rising Star status when beating the subsequent Galway maiden winner and G3 Prix Francois Boutin runner-up Mythology (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) hollow on debut over this course and seven-furlong distance last month, the son of  Minding (Ire) (Galileo {GB}) is as exciting as it gets at this time...

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 Insights features the third foal of MG1SW Winter, who already claims a TDN Rising Star to her docket as a broodmare. 13.45 The Curragh, Debutantes, €17,000, 2yo, 7fT LONDON CITY (Justify) is the third foal out of the G1 1000 Guineas, G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, G1 Coronation S....

The Pat Smullen race day, which will raise funds to aid Cancer Trials Ireland, will take place at the Curragh on Saturday, Aug. 26. Racegoers will have the opportunity to attend a post-race party with the band Superfly. Pat Smullen's daughter Hannah, former amateur jockey Kate Harrington and Olympian Sue Shortt are among 15 riders participating in the 12-furlong Pat Smullen Cancer Trials Ireland charity race supported by The Grafton Hotel, who are all raising funds individually. The race is held in memory of a family member or friend who...

The Curragh's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. on Saturday looked an open affair beforehand, but Amo Racing Limited and Giselle De Aguiar's Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}-- Frida La Blonde {Fr}, by Elusive City) left no doubt as to who ruled the roost as he made virtually all for an impressive success. Having needed the judge to edge out 'TDN Rising Star' Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the course-and-distance G2 Railway S. last month, the Adrian Murray-trained €165,000 Arqana Deauville August graduate could be called the clear-cut winner some...

The Curragh stages Europe's first Group 1 contest for the current crop of 2-year-olds on Saturday and it is fair to say that a Keeneland Phoenix S. without the anticipated presence of River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is up for grabs. While Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore contingent opted to send the G2 Coventry S.-winning 'TDN Rising Star' to Deauville for the Prix Morny, the way is clear for another 'TDN Rising Star' son of that sire to step into his place. Unquestionable (Fr) has the obstacle of yet...

Sunday's meeting at the Curragh, which was cancelled due to waterlogging, will now be held on Sunday, Aug. 13, Horse Racing Ireland announced. The G2 The Minstrel S. will now be contested this Thursday, July 27, at Leopardstown and the race reverts back to entries after final forfeit stage with fresh declarations to be made by 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 25. The G3 Rathbride Fillies S. will be contested next Saturday at Gowran Park and will close for fresh entries along with the remainder of the Gowran Park meeting...

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. Sunday's Observations features a daughter of a juvenile Group 1 winner. 14.00 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, f, 7fT MAYFAIR (IRE) (Justify) debuts for Ballydoyle in the maiden won two years ago by the stable's star Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and carries obvious gravitas as the second foal out...

Making it another big day in Kildare for Ballydoyle, Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) brought up a treble for O'Brien and Moore in the G2 Comer Group International Curragh Cup on Saturday. Fourth on unsuitably quick ground in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot last month, the G3 Loughbrown S. and Listed Vintage Crop S. winner had it all falling into place after the rain and was able to wait patiently in mid-division early. Surrendering first run to market-rival Rosscarbery (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) at the top of...

It was a case of save it until the last minute as Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Daddys Lil Darling, by Scat Daddy) left hearts in mouths en route to delivering Aidan O'Brien a record seventh G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at a rain-soaked Curragh on Saturday. Failing to match her 22-length Listed Cheshire Oaks success when second in the G1 Oaks in June, the 10-11 favourite enjoyed the perfect trip until the straight and looked flat-footed and beaten as the sponsors' TDN Rising Star Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) swooped on the Ballydoyle...