Dundalk

Stepping up a furlong having broken her maiden at the third attempt over six at Naas Sept. 15, Charles Fipke's homebred filly Spirit Gal (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) made all to annexe Friday's Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF StarAppeal S. at Dundalk. Sent off the 4-1 joint-second favourite, the bay gave generously for Seamie Heffernan as she had last time and never let Ballydoyle's Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road) make a fight of it as she kept that 11-10 market-leader at bay to score by 2 1/4 lengths. "She is in...

Entries can now be accepted for the latest round of the Irish EBF Barrier Trials, which take place at Dundalk Stadium on Tuesday, August 30. Staged in order to provide experience for unraced 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds, the trials are run by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM) with backing from the Irish EBF and the Irish Horse Racing Board (IHRB). Recent high-profile graduates from the trials include G1 Irish Oaks winner Magical Lagoon (Ire), G1 Al Quoz Sprint winner A Case Of You (Ire), and Saturday's G2 Prix de la Nonette winner Trevaunance...

The initial session of Irish EBF Barrier Trials gets underway July 5 at Dundalk Stadium. Beginning at 1p.m. (local time), a total of 10 Trials are scheduled, comprised of tests for unraced 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds over five-seven furlongs. Operated by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM) and backed by Irish EBF and the IHRB, Trials are principally serve as formative trials for inexperienced horses. Notable Trial graduates include G1 Al Quoz Sprint winner A Case Of You (Ire) and G3 Gordon S. scorer Ottoman Emperor (Ire). Trials are available to view on...

Entries are open for Irish EBF Barrier Trials at Dundalk Stadium, to be held Tuesday, July 5, beginning at noon (local time). Operated by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM) and backed by Irish EBF and the IHRB, Trials are open to unraced 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds and are run over five to seven furlongs. Trials, principally staged to offer a platform for unraced Irish Thoroughbreds, also serve as a learning experience for inexperienced horses. Notable Trial graduates include Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint winner A Case Of You (Ire) and Group 3...

The only man in history to win the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Gold Cup and Grand National in the same season, Henry de Bromhead is not content on tightening his grip on the major jumps races and is now taking aim at the Irish 1,000 Guineas with Star Girls Aalmal (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}).  De Bromhead signed off on another memorable National Hunt season at Punchestown last month by sending out Honeysuckle (GB) (Sulamani {Ire}) to win her 12th Grade 1 and extend her unbeaten record to 16. As the Flat...

Coolmore's U S Navy Flag (by War Front) has his first winner after the Kieran Cotter-trained colt Ocean Vision (Ire) scored on debut at Dundalk on Tuesday. Sent off at 12-1, the bay broke awkwardly and played catch-up initially behind the leading quartet in the card's opening five-furlong maiden. Staying on to take command passing two out, he beat Lady Tilbury (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) by 3/4 of a length. "He actually needs six, he was all over the place early on in the race but came home strong." trainer Kieran...

The approach of Storm Eunice, which will impact Ireland and the United Kingdom on Friday, has caused some racecourses to cancel their cards as a precautionary measure. Fakenham was called off on Thursday due to the severe weather warnings, and the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board has cancelled Dundalk's Friday card, too. The storm is expected to bring high winds and, in some cases, snow. "We discussed the situation with Jim Martin of Dundalk Stadium and Met Eireann this morning and again this afternoon and we felt with the current forecast...

Ireland's leading flat jockeys will have a four-week winter break after Horse Racing Ireland restricted three Dundalk meetings in early January to apprentices or jockeys or rode fewer than 20 winners last season. The meetings are Jan. 5, 7 and 14. Jason Morris, Horse Racing Ireland's director of racing, said, "In 2021 HRI extended the break for our leading jump jockeys from 12 to 24 days during June, which was very well received. The changes announced today, which were proposed by the Irish Jockeys' Association, will mean that we will...

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. Friday's Observations features a half-brother to G1 St Leger third The Mediterranean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 16.45 Dundalk, Mdn, €14,000, 2yo, c/g, 8f (AWT) Atlantic Thoroughbreds' 140,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate ATLANTIC BREEZE (IRE) (No Nay Never), a Donnacha O'Brien trainee, is a son of MG1SP G2 Queen Mary...

Off the mark at the second attempt by five lengths at Down Royal Sept. 3, Demi O'Byrne's Snaffles (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) was one of a clutch of unexposed juveniles lining up for Friday's Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Star Appeal S. at Dundalk and ultimately proved strongest to open his black-type account in the seven-furlong test. Settled in the box seat by Shane Crosse tracking the leading duo Corviglia (Karakontie {Jpn}) and Leinster House (War Front) early, the 11-1 shot worked his way to the front with 150 yards remaining and...

Dundalk's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden had the feel of a must-watch race beforehand and Friday's seven-furlong contest lived up to expectations playing host to a new TDN Rising Star in Newtown Anner Stud Farm's Angels Wrath (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Flaunting her wares in a barrier trial here prior to this debut against some smart yardsticks, the 9-2 shot was restrained in mid-division early showing keenness under Ben Coen. Looming with menace when pulled wide in the straight, the Johnny Murtagh-trained homebred showed sharp acceleration to hit the...

Group 2 heroine Quick Suzy (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}), who won the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot, will not start in the Sept. 25 G1 Cheveley Park S. and instead target an Oct. 1 listed event at Dundalk prior to a run in the GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar in November. Purchased privately by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners prior to her Royal Ascot heroics, the filly was second in the May 16 G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. and, in her only race since...