The Curragh

The Goffs Million, the richest 2-year-old race in Europe, will be rebranded as the Goffs Two Million Series at the 2023 Goffs Orby Sale, the sales company announced on Friday. In addition, the Orby and Sportsman's Sales will now be known as Orby Book 1 and Orby Book 2 and will be held from Sept. 26-29. The series is open to all yearlings catalogued in the 2023 Goffs Orby Book 1 and Book 2, and more than 1,000 yearlings will be offered across the two books. The 2023 seven-furlong Goffs...

Juddmonte and Keeneland have renewed their sponsorships of the Curragh's G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Phoenix S., respectively. The feature race of the two-day Juddmonte Irish Oaks Weekend on Saturday, July 22, the Juddmonte Irish Oaks has been won three times by horses carrying the Juddmonte colours with Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) (2017), Bolas (GB) (Unfuwain) (1994) and Wemyss Bight (GB) (Dancing Brave) in 1993. Currently there are 87 first entries for the €500,000 summer Classic, including Juddmonte's debut winner Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}). Juddmonte started as the sponsor of...

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...

   Still a maiden entering Saturday's G3 Staffordstown Stud S. at The Curragh, Michael O'Flynn's Lumiere Rock (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) stepped up to make all and shed that status in style for the Joseph O'Brien stable. Let go at 11-1, the 55,000gns Book 2 graduate was committed by Mikey Sheehy and relished the front-running role, giving plenty when briefly headed 1 1/2 furlongs out by Speirling Beag (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) who had beaten her last time over this mile trip at Gowran Park Sept. 17 and securing a 1...

A day after Ballydoyle had demonstrated the power of their 2-year-old reserves at Newmarket, Espionage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) became the stable's 11th TDN Rising Star juvenile of 2022 in The Curragh's opening maiden on Sunday. Unlucky on debut when runner-up to stablemate and fellow TDN Rising Star Alexandroupolis (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) over an extended mile at Galway Sept. 6, the son of the G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Even Song (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) was sent forward by Ryan Moore dropping back to seven for this Williamhill.ie Irish EBF Maiden. Clear from...

Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore sugarcoated a wonderful Longines Irish Champions Weekend by bagging the G1 Irish St Leger with the Moyglare Stud-owned Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Sent to post a warm favourite at odds of 8-11, Kyprios found generously on the front end to hold off the determined challenge of Hamish (GB) (Motivator {GB}) and win by less than a length. Kyprios has gone from strength to strength this season, with his Irish St Leger success coming off the back of top level triumphs in the Gold Cup at...

It proved an emotional afternoon for Dermot Weld on Sunday as the legendary veteran of the Irish training ranks basked in the glory of winning the Curragh's G1 Moyglare Stud S. for the first time since 1987 with the brilliant 'TDN Rising Star' Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}). So closely linked with the sponsors for so long, the master of Rosewell House was winning their signature race with an Aga Khan homebred who had looked so special on her winning debut at Galway July 26. Always travelling supremely well behind the...

Not content with conquering Group 1s in France, Britain and now Ireland, John Quinn nominated the Breeders' Cup as the most likely destination for Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) after his superstar sprinter scorched to Flying Five S. glory under Jason Hart at the Curragh on Sunday. The race is a "Win And You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Quinn, a native of Tipperary who trains in England, described the winner as the best he's trained in the build-up to Longines Irish Champions Weekend and...

Group 1 winner Above The Curve (American Pharoah--Fabulous {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) made it back-to-back scores with a gritty effort in the G2 Moyglare 'Jewels' Blandford S. at the Curragh on Sunday. The Joseph O'Brien-trained 'TDN Rising Star' had won the G1 St Mark's Basilica Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary at ParisLongchamp on May 29 in her previous start. Caught out wide without cover in midpack early as 70-1 longshot Emphatic Answer (Ire) (No Nay Never) led the way, Above The Curve improved under her own power to fourth with seven furlongs...

   Sunday afternoon is as busy as it gets, with the plethora of pattern races creating a logjam of quality which can only truly be appreciated in the aftermath. Nestled among the key events taking place across Europe is Doncaster's G1 Cazoo St Leger, where New London (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is the true kingpin with an air of apparent superiority. That comes largely from him winning a deep renewal of Goodwood's G3 Gordon S. July 28, which aside from the Derby is the strongest piece of 3-year-old middle-distance form for...

John Quinn has showered star sprinter Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) with praise and described the G1 Flying Five-bound filly as the best he's trained. Highfield Princess is chasing a third Group 1 win on the spin when she lines out in Sunday's Flying Five S. at the Curragh, one of the feature races of Longines Irish Champions Weekend and Quinn, a native of County Tipperary who has been based in England for the majority of his racing career, is in no doubt that the speedball is the...

Backing up a week after her impressive success in the five-furlong Listed Roses S. at York, Merry Fox Studs' homebred Treasure Trove (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) upped her game again to capture Saturday's G3 Heider Family Stables Round Tower S. at The Curragh. ] Held up towards the rear early by Billy Lee, the Paddy Twomey-trained 6-4 favourite was produced late as the 'TDN Rising Star' Apricot Twist (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}) started to flag on the lead and her thrust proved strong enough to deny fellow closer Ocean Quest (Ire)...