Naas Racecourse

RFL Steels Limited, a Naas Racecourse Business Club member, is the new sponsor of the Naas Listed Waterford Testimonial S., the racecourse announced on Thursday. Now christened the Listed RFL Steels S., it will be held on Saturday, Oct. 14. September marks 30 years at the company's current location in Naas, and the sponsorship will be part of the celebration for RFL Steels. Rory Larkin, Thoroughbred owner and managing director of RFL Steels Limited, said, "RFL Steels Limited is honoured to have the opportunity to sponsor this race here at...

Jessica Harrington-trained 3-year-old filly Ocean Quest (Ire) (Sioux Nation--Gold Zain {GB}, by Aqlaam {GB}) posted a close-up fourth in Royal Ascot's G1 Commonwealth Cup when last seen and was rewarded for her consistency with an all-the-way win in Sunday's G3 Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF Ballyogan S. at Naas. The March-foaled chestnut closed her juvenile campaign with a second in the G3 Round Tower S. at the Curragh and followed up a win in Navan's Listed Committed S. on sophomore return with a second here in the G3 Lacken S. in...

At the latest entry stage, 28 juveniles remain for the €300,000 Irish EBF Ballyhane S. at Naas on Aug. 7. Of the 28 entries, six are British-based runners, with Jungle Mate (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}), who was bred by Ballyhane Stud, representing trainer Kevin Ryan. A winner and runner-up in two starts at Hamilton and Carlisle, respectively, the gelding worked well on Wednesday morning. "Jungle Mate is in good form and did his final piece of work today and I was happy with him, so the plan is to run,"...

French sales company Arqana has renewed their sponsorship of the Irish EBF Marwell S. at Naas for another three years, the Irish racetrack announced on Friday. Arqana first sponsored the race in 2020, the year it was introduced to the Naas Flat calendar. This year's renewal takes the Deauville auction house and racetrack's association into a fourth year. The five-furlong listed contest for 2-year-old fillies carries an increased purse of €50,000 and is one of the feature races on the card at the Naas Summer Racing and BBQ Evening on...

Last year's G3 Prix de Cabourg victor The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Anna Law {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}) opened this term with a third in Navan's Listed Committed S. and led from pillar to post in Sunday's G3 Goffs Lacken S. at Naas. His eight-race juvenile campaign included three encounters with Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never), hitting the board behind that now-retired former stablemate in the G2 Prix Robert Papin, G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park. The Antarctic broke sharply and led along the far-side rail from flagfall. In...

Donnacha O'Brien trainee Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio--Too Precious {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) posted a debut win over five furlongs at the Curragh last month and punched a ticket to Royal Ascot with a determined success in Sunday's G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. Naas. She was positioned within range of the leaders in a close eighth through the early stages and tanked forward once past halfway. Shaken up at the quarter-mile marker, the 8-1 chance quickened smartly to seize control approaching the final furlong and was...

Entries are now open for the Irish EBF Barrier Trials at Naas Racecourse scheduled for Monday, May 29. The trials, restricted to unraced juveniles and 3-year-olds, are operated by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM) and backed by the Irish European Breeders' Fund (IEBF) and the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB). The 2023 edition will be back on turf for the first time since 2019, and all the trials will be conducted over six and seven furlongs. Notable graduates of the trials include Group 1 winner A Case Of You (Ire) (Hot...

Joseph O'Brien trainee Caroline Street (No Nay Never--Harvestfortheworld {Ire}, by So You Think {NZ}) was highly tried after notching a July 14 debut score at Leopardstown, with the highlight of three subsequent pattern-race starts being a second to Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in September's G2 Golden Fleece S. back at the Foxrock venue. Lining up for Saturday's G3 Al Shira'aa Racing Irish EBF Blue Wind S. coming back off a sixth in the Curragh's Sept. 22 G3 Weld Park S., she found plenty in the straight to lead...

Al Shira'aa Racing will be the feature sponsor with their co-sponsorship of the G3 Al Shira'aa Racing Irish EBF Blue Wind S. on May 6, Naas Racecourse and Al Shira'aa Racing announced on Thursday. The Kildare-based operation will also continue to support the Listed Al Shira'aa Racing Irish EBF Naas Oaks Trial on June 28. A stepping stone to the Oaks at Epsom, the Blue Wind has thrown high-class winners in recent years, including multiple Group 1 winner Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal). Al Shira'aa Racing is headed by Sheikha Fatima bint...

The fourth running of the Irish EBF Ballyhane S. on Monday, August 7 will be worth €300,000, with every runner in the race set to earn prize-money. At a twin launch at Ballyhane Stud and the Lord Bagenal Hotel on Wednesday evening, representatives from Naas Racecourse, the Irish EBF and Ballyhane, ably helped by the stud's impeccably behaved new stallion Space Traveller (GB), also announced an accompanying prize for one lucky racegoer of a trip to the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Entrance to Naas Racecourse for the meeting will be...

Six races will be sponsored by TRM at Naas Racecourse during the 2023 Flat season. In addition, the manufacturer and distributer will also support owners, trainers, stable staff, and breeders. The winning trainer of each of the six TRM-backed races will receive TRM supplements to the value of €500, while the Best Turned Out prizes to support the hardworking stable staff will be €100 cash as well as branded clothing. TRM will also award winning breeders with €500 RRP worth of breeding supplements. In addition, there will also be a...

Entries close for the Aug. 7 €200,000 Irish EBF Ballyhane S. at Naas Racecourse on Wednesday, Mar. 8. This year marks the fourth renewal of the race which is a median auction race for 2-year-olds that are European Breeders Fund (EBF) eligible, and whose sire established one or more yearling sales in the previous year with a median price of not more than €75,000. The breeder of the winning horse is also recognised by the race sponsors, as they will receive a free nomination to a Ballyhane Stud stallion. The...