Willie McCreery

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...

The G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas and the G1 Coronation S. will both be considered for Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) following her excellent run in defeat in Sunday's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at ParisLongchamp. Making her first appearance since chasing home Karl Burke's Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. at the Curragh in September, Vespertilio had a wider trip than most before running on well in the closing stages to be beaten just a head and a neck into third. Trainer...

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...

Underlining the strength of the speedier 3-year-olds this year, Al Shira'aa Farms' Ocean Jewel (Ire) (Sioux Nation) passed a stern test against the older brigade on Thursday as she captured Leopardstown's G3 TRI Equestrian Ballycorus S. Stretching out to seven furlongs, having finished third behind The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Ocean Quest (Ire) (Sioux Nation) in the G3 Lacken S. over six at Naas last month, the Willie McCreery-trained half-sister to the 1000 Guineas heroine Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) was able to use her sprinting prowess to...

SAKHIR, Bahrain--The G3 Bahrain International Trophy may have been dealt a blow with the withdrawal of the fancied Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) through injury on Monday, but Friday's highlight at the Bahrain Turf Club will still very much live up to the international part of its title. Ten runners will face the starter, the line-up including horses from Britain, Ireland, France, Denmark, Dubai, and of course Bahrain for the fourth running of the 2000-metre contest. And it's not just the four-legged stars boasting international pedigrees as the £600,000 race...

Dual group winner Insinuendo (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), who won the G3 Blue Wind S. and G2 Kilboy Estate S. last term, is a possibility for the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at on May 22. The Deegan Racing Syndicate runner was second to Group 1 winner Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the G3 Park Express S. at The Curragh on Mar. 26. Trainer Willie McCreery said, "It was her first run of the season and we were very happy with her. She came out of the race well and we're...

Three-year-old gelding Wood Ranger (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) is bound for Qatar after selling to Hassan Abdul Malik for €64,000 to top the Goffs Online Summer Sale, which concluded on Tuesday. Wood Ranger (lot 19) was sold from Willie McCreery's Rathbride Stables, having won two of nine starts including a five furlong Class 4 handicap most recently at Naas on June 23. The Aga Khan Studs was responsible for six of the 18 offerings, and its Ebasari (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) (lot 1) is set for a change of...

In total command throughout Saturday's G2 Lanwades Stud S. at The Curragh, Renzo Forni's Epona Plays (Ire) (Australia {GB}) made it a third group win in her last four starts as she dominated under an enterprising ride from Billy Lee. Earning this step up after successes in the G3 Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies S. over an extended nine furlongs at Gowran Park in September and the G3 Park Express S. at Naas Mar. 28, the 9-2 shot was always comfortable in front en route to a four-length...