Ryan Moore

In the battle of the 2000 Guineas winners in Tuesday's G1 St James's Palace S., it was the Irish Classic victor Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}--Modern Eagle {Ger}, by Montjeu {Ire}) who proved much the best as he overwhelmed the Newmarket hero Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to make Aidan O'Brien Royal Ascot's winningmost trainer on 83. Settled behind the leaders from his wide draw by Ryan Moore as Frankie took the Juddmonte representative to the front, the 11-5 second favourite moved to his chief rival with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and...

Significantly-supported into 11-8 favouritism for Tuesday's G2 Coventry S., TDN Rising Star River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Transcendence {Ire}, by Arcano {Ire}) justified that confidence to provide Aidan O'Brien with a landmark 10th renewal of the juvenile feature which had announced his arrival back in 1997. Successful by a cumulative margin of 12 1/2 lengths in two starts at Navan and Naas, the 480,000gns Book 1 graduate could be spotted cruising near the front of the far-side group led by Bronsan Racing's oven-ready purchase Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}). Students...

Labeled a TDN Rising Star on debut at Leopardstown in July, Tower Of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) hadn't lived up to the billing in two subsequent starts but was back in the winning groove there on Thursday in the Listed King George V Cup. Failing to make an impact when over-racing and finishing last behind Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G2 Champions Juvenile S. in September and only sixth trying out his Derby credentials in the G3 Derby Trial again at this venue last month, the bay...

17.30 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, f, 7f 27yT    BUTTONS (IRE) (Kingman {GB}) is the pick of Ryan Moore of the Ballydoyle trio in this always-intriguing maiden, won by the stable's September (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Bracelet (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) in recent times and in which Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was fourth behind Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in an above-average race in 2019. Out of the Listed Cheshire Oaks winner and Oaks runner-up Wonder Of Wonders (Kingmambo) and descended from Urban Sea (Miswaki), the half-sister to the G1...

EPSOM DOWNS, UK--Asked to hold up nine fingers to represent his number of wins in the Derby, Aidan O'Brien laughed as he deliberately counted out each one. Two more--and let's face it, he's only 53 and shows no signs of stopping--and he will need to borrow a hand from someone else to keep tally. Only last weekend, O'Brien's record of Group or Grade 1 wins reached 400. Now it stands at 401, and the most recent addition is arguably the most important of all for the wider racing world. The...

Bouncing back from his disappointment in the 2000 Guineas, TDN Rising Star Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}--Rhododendron {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) conquered Epsom's undulations to carry off a ninth G1 Betfred Derby for Aidan O'Brien. Sent off at 9-2 as the punters dallied over this year's favourite, the G1 Futurity Trophy winner was kept back from the early action by Ryan Moore worse than mid-division. Launched wide as the 66-1 shot King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) cut loose approaching two out, the bay took until the last 100...

Sunday's G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup lived up to the billing and then some, with Ballydoyle's Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) making all and outbattling Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}) in a stirring finish to The Curragh's joint-feature of the day. Having put in one of those on-the-face-of-it underwhelming comeback performances that the stable's kingpins can when fifth in the G2 Mooresbridge S. here at the start of the month, last year's G1 Irish Champion S. hero took the requisite leap forward with Ryan Moore intent on taking no prisoners. Relishing...

When it comes to the maidens at The Curragh's Irish Guineas weekend, it has become essential to follow Aidan O'Brien's chosen runners with the following year's Classics in mind and Sunday's Tally Ho Stud Irish EBF Fillies Maiden produced a winner in Matrika (Ire) (No Nay Never--Muravka {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire}) who very much gave that vibe. Following the TDN Rising Star label handed to the yard's Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) on Saturday, the same honour is bestowed on this debutante who went two places better in the...

Saturday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh was one for Ballydoyle, as TDN Rising Star Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) provided his stable with compensation for their Newmarket disappointment three weeks earlier. Prepared for this Classic "old-school style" via the Madrid H. and Listed Tetrarch S., the dark horse of the Rosegreen 3-year-old crop attracted support into 3-1 second favouritism and enjoyed a tow from fellow TDN Rising Star Hi Royal (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) throughout the early stages. Putting the pressure on that 2000 Guineas runner-up three out, the...

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...

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...

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. Sunday's Insights features the return of TDN Rising Star River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett ({GB}) at Naas. 13.45 Naas, Cond, €40,000, 2yo, 5fT RIVER TIBER (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is dropped back slightly in trip by Aidan O'Brien following his 10-length demolition job at Naas last month, for which...