Naas

Directly after the Eclipse, Aidan O'Brien was enjoying another notable success in his native Ireland as the 2-year-old colt Daytona (Wootton Bassett) captured the inaugural Listed Irish EBF Pat Smullen Stakes at Naas. Sent off the 4-5 favourite for the mile contest, the Gowran Park debut winner moved to market-rival North Coast (Starman) approaching the final furlong and soon had the race wrapped up. At the line, the Wayne Lordan-ridden 500,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate had 3 1/4-lengths to spare over that Joseph O'Brien trainee as Ballydoyle collected another...

This Saturday sees the inaugural running of the Irish EBF Pat Smullen Stakes at Naas, with the Listed contest having attracted eight runners from seven different stables.  Run over a mile, the race is part of the Smullen Series, launched this year by the Irish EBF and consisting of 18 middle-distance races for two- and three-year-olds. Daytona (Wootton Bassett), a winning debutant last month at Gowran Park, is among the field and his trainer Aidan O'Brien was keen to target the race which is named in honour of his late...

Having mastered Juddmonte's Red Letter last time, Barnavara (Calyx) was at it again on Wednesday with another Ger Lyons-trained daughter of Frankel held at bay in the G3 Al Shira'aa Racing Irish EBF Jannah Rose Stakes at Naas. This time, it was the unbeaten Faiyum who failed to get by Alpha Racing's improving filly having her first try at an extended 10 furlong trip. Undeterred by that, Shane Foley set out to make all on the Jessica Harrington-trained Barnavara who was third in the G2 Debutante Stakes in August and...

Wednesday, Naas, post time: 18:40, AL SHIRA'AA RACING IRISH EBF JANNAH ROSE STAKES-G3, €42,000, 3yo, f, 10f 84yT Field: And So To Bed (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Barnavara (Ire) (Calyx {GB}), Bellacanta (Ire) (Gregorian {Ire}), Bonnie Moon (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), Butterfly Wings (Justify), Calrissiana (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Darzina (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), Dawn Spirit (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Faiyum (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Medici Venus (Tiz The Law), Tamam Desert (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}). TDN Verdict: Upped in trip after wins at Naas and Killarney, Juddmonte's unbeaten Faiyum is the...

Leading bloodstock agent Mark McStay has labelled the ITM Barrier Trials as one of the most important innovations on the Irish racing scene for a number of years but implored more trainers to get behind the initiative ahead of the return of the concept at Naas on Monday.  This year marks the fifth running of the ITM Barrier Trials, with trainers like Joseph O'Brien, Gordon Elliott, Gavin Cromwell, Jessica Harrington, Henry de Bromhead and Donnacha O'Brien heavily represented across a 10-trial card that features races over six and seven furlongs...

Confirming that she has lost none of her juvenile power, Juddmonte's Babouche who was second-favourite behind old rival Whistlejacket for Sunday's G3 Goffs Lacken Stakes duly did what she had done to him in last year's G1 Phoenix Stakes. Keen early for Colin Keane denied cover in the Naas feature, the 2-1 second favourite was delivered to swamp Ballydoyle's 4-5 market-leader two out en route to a 2 3/4-length success. "That's the first time I've seen that this year from her," trainer Ger Lyons said of the daughter of Kodiac,...

Lady Iman had already provided Starman with his first black-type winner and things only got better for Tally Ho Stud on Sunday as she led home a one-two for their much-vaunted first-crop sire in Naas's G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Blackbeard Fillies Sprint Stakes. Having made the breakthrough in The Curragh's Listed First Flier Stakes earlier this month, the Ger Lyons-trained half-sister to the talented sprinter West Acre travelled with ease under Colin Keane before hunting down the sire's other runner Green Sense in the final furlong. At the line,...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Observations features the return of a 'TDN Rising Star'. 1.30 Naas, Cond, €40,000, 2yo, 5fT CHARLES DARWIN (IRE) (No Nay Never) drops back in trip having put in a TDN Rising Star performance when scoring by 5 1/2 lengths over nearly six at Navan last month. The full-brother...

Goffs has extended their sponsorship of the G3 Goffs Lacken Stakes from 2025-2028, Naas Racecourse announced on Thursday. Set for Sunday, May 18, Royal Ascot Trials Day, the race will have an increased prize-money of €60,000. The extended agreement also includes the continued support of the popular Goffs Owners & Trainers Lounge at Naas Racecourse. The sales company and racecourse will jointly host their first-ever breeze-up sale at the track. Horses will breeze at Naas on Monday, June 23, with the sale taking place back at Kildare Paddocks on Saturday,...

Continuing Ballydoyle's clean sweep of the week's Derby and Oaks trials, Saxon Warrior's Garden Of Eden stepped up to the mark in Saturday's Listed Darley Irish EBF Naas Oaks Trial Stakes. Up from a mile for the first time, last year's Listed Ingabelle Stakes runner-up relished the extra two furlongs and 84 yards as she swooped inside the final furlong under Ben Coen to score by a length from Mehmas's Jaliyah. "Obviously I was running her over the wrong trip, she wanted to go further," Aidan O'Brien said. "Saxon Warrior...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a half-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Vandeek. 2.35 Naas, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, 5f 205yT Besides Ballydoyle buzz horse Albert Einstein (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Aidan O'Brien will also saddle GSTAAD (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), a 450,000gns Tattersalls December purchase who is a half-brother to the G1...

Saturday, Lingfield, post time: 15:35, WILLIAM HILL CHARTWELL FILLIES' STAKES-G3, £90,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 7fT Field: Great Generation (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Fair Angellica (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}), Jabaara (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), Spiritual (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Ziggy's Dream (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}), Cathedral (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}). TDN Verdict: Cathedral takes on her elders, getting a significant weight-for-age advantage which could give her the edge despite her inexperience. Second in the G3 Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket in October, she had two of this season's...