G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby

The betting suggested that Sunday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh was a simple equation, but in the event there was a deal of disappointment and drama en route to TDN Rising Star Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}--Rhododendron {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) completing the Derby double that had always seemed an inevitability. As the other key Derby runners White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) and Sprewell (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) failed to raise a fist, Ryan Moore first had to manoeuvre the unseating of Wayne Lordan on the...

Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) will have eight peers to overcome on Sunday in his bid to become the fifth Derby winner for Aidan O'Brien to double up in the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh. Among them are the Derby third White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) and fourth Sprewell (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), the only runners not representing the O'Brien family with the Donnacha-trained Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Joseph-trained Up And Under (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) the others taking on a Ballydoyle...

Mohamed Khalid Abdulrahim's Sprewell (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), fourth in the G1 Betfred Derby, has emerged from the race in good order and will aim for the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on July 2, trainer Jessica Harrington revealed. A winner of the G3 Derby Trial S. at Leopardstown in May, the bay was a solid fourth in the Blue Riband, and, if all goes well, will be ridden again by Shane Foley. Foley broke his collar bone riding at Gowran Park on Monday evening. "Sprewell will go to the...

Dubai Duty Free will continue their sponsorship of the G1 Irish Derby, as they renewed their partnership with the Curragh, the duo announced on Tuesday. In addition, the prize-money for the Irish Classic will increase from€1 million to €1.25 million in 2023, and five additional races will be sponsored by the airport retailer. For the first time since 2011, the Irish Derby will take place on a Sunday, with 2023's date set to be July 2. The full eight-race card will also become a permanent part of the Hong Kong...

Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby had been teed up as a match between Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Mirabilis, by Lear Fan) and Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), but in the ultimate assessment it was really a matter of no contest as Ralph Beckett's powerhouse colt overwhelmed all assembled for the Curragh Classic. Always travelling in a beautiful rhythm for Colin Keane granted a perfect lead by French Claim (Fr) (French Fifteen {Fr}), the 11-8 joint-favourite took control at the top of the straight and had already stretched into an unassailable...

Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby will be contested by seven colts and the filly Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) after Aidan O'Brien confirmed just that G1 Oaks heroine for The Curragh's €1 million Classic. Drawn in stall one as she bids to become the first of her sex to prevail since Balanchine (Storm Bird) in 1994, she meets Juddmonte's G1 Derby third Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) who will break from stall five. With Rosegreen's Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) set to go elsewhere, the...

Overnight contenders for Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish were reduced by half, leaving eight declared for the Curragh's €1,000,000 12-furlong Classic. Aidan O'Brien took the most drastic measures and reduced his team of six to just one with G1 Cazoo Oaks heroine Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) set to depart from stall one in her bid to become the first filly to prevail since Balanchine (Storm Bird) in 1994. Her chief rival, Juddmonte's G1 Cazoo Derby third Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), has drawn stall five.

Godolphin's pair of 2021 Derby winners-G1 Cazoo Derby winner Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby victor Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) are both progressing well since their Classic scores according to trainer Charlie Appleby. The former, who was second in the G3 bet365 Classic Trial on Apr. 23 and the May 8 Listed Novibet Derby Trial S., turned in a solid piece of work on Saturday. The bay is pointing toward the July 24 G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. at Ascot....

One-time G1 Cazoo Derby favourite High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) excited his 10th-place finish in the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby in good order and will be given a break until the fall, according to trainer Aidan O'Brien. Named a 'TDN Rising Star' after breaking his maiden at first asking at The Curragh last August, the bay saluted by 3/4 of a length in the G2 Beresford Memorial S. there on Sept. 26 and was shelved for the winter. An unsatisfactory blood test ruled the colt out of the...