Curragh Racecourse

Aidan O'Brien trainee Whistlejacket (Ire) (No Nay Never--Adventure Seeker {Fr}, by Bering {GB}) debuted with a runner-up finish in an Apr. 21 six-furlong maiden at the Curragh and made no mistake dropped down in trip for Monday's Listed GAIN First Flier S. back at the Co. Kildare venue. Sharply into stride to race on the front end from flagfall in this black-type bow, the 500,000gns Tattersalls Book 1 graduate was shaken up soon after passing the quarter-mile pole and surged clear under continued urging inside the final furlong to easily...

Al Basti Equiworld Dubai has strengthened its partnership with the Curragh Racecourse by putting its name to a variety of races staged at the track throughout the year, including the launch of the inaugural Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Future Champion Jockeys Series. The Listed Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Orby S. will carry prize-money of €45,000 when it takes place on the same programme as the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas on Saturday, May 25, while the €100,000 G3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai International S. will be staged on day two...

Ballydoyle second string Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Mecca's Angel {Ire}, by Dark Angel {Ire}), sent to post as an unconsidered 20-1 chance returning off a sub-par sixth in last month's G3 Weld Park S., stepped forward in style to claim a first stakes triumph in Saturday's G3 Staffordstown Stud S. at the Curragh. The May-foaled bay, who ran second behind the reopposing Kitty Rose (GB) (Invincible Army {Ire}) in Leopardstown's Listed Ingabelle S. on Irish Champions weekend, was the last of 10 into stride and raced under wraps in rear through...

Noel Meade trainee Caught U Looking (Ire) (Harzand {Ire}--Wild Mix {GB}, by Mastercraftsman {Ire}) posted an impressive five-length tally when shedding maiden status at Leopardstown in July and made a smooth transition to black-type company with a landmark success in an attritional renewal of Sunday's G3 Weld Park S. at the Curragh. The 4-1 chance broke smartly from the outside stall and raced without cover in fifth through the initial fractions of this third start at the seven-furlong trip. Inching closer to the leading duo from halfway, she came under...

Saturday's Bord Na Mona Recycling Irish EBF Maiden at the Curragh has been a springboard to success in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. for Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who annexed two of the last three editions. This year's renewal witnessed the emergence of another potential candidate after Aidan O'Brien trainee Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) romped to 'TDN Rising Stardom' in the seven-furlong contest. He had already caused a stir at Newmarket last October, when knocked down for 2.4-million guineas at...

Michael O'Callaghan trainee Kairyu (Ire) (Kuroshio {Aus}--Vegatina {GB}, by Lope De Vega {Ire}) was the clear-cut winner of a five-furlong Naas maiden last month and franked the promise of that debut score with an upset win upped in trip for Saturday's G3 Jebel Ali Racecourse And Stables Anglesey S. at the Curragh. Kairyu employed patient tactics from flagfall and lobbed along off the pace in sixth through the early fractions. Making smooth headway once past halfway, the 4-1 chance quickened beyond rivals to seize control approaching the final furlong and...

Aidan O'Brien had annexed six of the last 10 renewals of the Curragh's Juddmonte Irish EBF Maiden, among them 2013 winner Australia (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), and he claimed Saturday's latest edition with Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who collected a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette with a taking performance in the seven-furlong test. The eventual winner was steadily away and raced in a close-up third initially and eased into second approaching halfway. Hitting the front soon after passing the quarter-mile marker, the well-backed 5-4 favourite was never seriously threatened thereafter and...

Usurped for favouritism by 'TDN Rising Star' Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in Sunday's G2 GAIN Railway S. at the Curragh, Amo Racing and Giselle De Aguiar's G2 Coventry S. third Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Frida La Blonde {Fr}, by Elusive City) gained a measure of compensation for that Royal Ascot reversal with a thrilling victory over his main rival in Sunday's renewal of the six-furlong staging post. Bucanero Fuerte, a debut scorer over five furlongs on opening day here in March, was swiftly into stride and allowed a...

There was an abundance of pre-race hype surrounding the Aidan O'Brien-trained debutante Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Shambolic {Ire}, by Shamardal), who was hammered down to 8-13 favouritism for Friday evening's Kildare House Hotel Irish EBF Fillies Maiden at the Curragh, and she rewarded that faith with a 'TDN Rising Star' display in the seven-furlong test. Relaxed under Ryan Moore during the preliminaries, she was professional on the lead throughout and extended her margin of superiority, keeping on powerfully under mild coaxing, inside the final quarter-mile to easily account for Dollerina...

The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Flat Seminar: 'Sprinters, Stayers & Everything In Between' is scheduled for the Curragh at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, June 30. A panel of speakers consisting of Kevin Blake, Stuart Boman, Ado McGuinness, Jason Morris and John Oxx are slated to be in attendance, and the event will be hosted by Sally Ann Grassick. The seminar will cover a variety of challenges and opportunities around the Flat breeding and racing sector, the current status of Irish Flat breeding and racing and look at the changes in...

A new QuinnBet three-race handicap series at the Curragh was announced by the companies on Thursday. QuinnBet, who partnered with the racecourse on this endeavour, will award a cash prize to the staff of the trainer who accumulates the highest number of points in the three handicaps. Points are earned for filling the first five places in specific handicaps on July 23, Aug. 12 and Oct. 7. In addition, QuinnBet will present prizes to the groom in charge of the horse judged to be best turned out in their three...

Team Ballydoyle got off to a perfect start on Irish 2000 Guineas day when the once-raced Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Strawberry Lace {GB}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) powered clear of his five rivals in Saturday's Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden at the Curragh for a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette. The July 2 G2 Railway S. entry lined up as the 4-6 favourite coming back off a promising debut third in this month's Listed First Flier S. and broke sharply to seize an immediate lead upped to six furlongs...