The Curragh

Juddmonte's Red Letter (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Red Impression {GB}, by Dark Angel {Ire}) had already shown that she is a top-drawer prospect with impressive late fractions on her seven-furlong Curragh debut last month and merely confirmed that with another scintillating performance to become her sire's 42nd TDN Rising Star on Sunday. Narrowly denied by Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) when storming home late on her racecourse bow, the Ger Lyons-trained homebred was sent straight to the lead this time by Colin Keane. Never in any danger with...

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 Observations features a returning daughter of Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 13.40 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, f, 7fT BALLET SLIPPERS (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a hot prospect in the card's opener, being the first foal out of the multiple Group 1-winning Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) making her debut in...

Gaining TDN Rising Star status with a five-length debut success over six furlongs at Cork last month, Juddmonte's Babouche (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) squares up against the boys in Sunday's G3 Jebel Ali Racecourse and Stables Anglesey Stakes at The Curragh. Ger Lyons tests her against another TDN Rising Star in Camille Pissarro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who was down the field along with Cowardofthecounty (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) in the G2 Coventry Stakes. Beaten under two lengths at Royal Ascot, Stonestreet Stables, Tracy Farmer and John Oxley's Cowardofthecounty had previously...

Fourth in the Oaks and the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes, Valmont and Newsells Park Stud Bloodstock's You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}--Brushing {GB}, by Medicean {GB}) made the necessary improvement on Saturday to clinch the G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at The Curragh. Reserved by Hector Crouch in mid-division throughout the early stages in contrast to the forceful ride she was given at Royal Ascot, the well-supported 15-2 shot moved to the front a furlong out with the 3-1 favourite Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in hot pursuit. Where Content had met...

The irony is not lost on Gavin Hernon. Less than a decade after he elected to launch his training career in France rather than his home country in favour of more opportunities, the Irishman will return to home soil to at the Curragh on Saturday with leading claims of making the Classic breakthrough when his star filly Dare To Dream (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) lines out in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks.  Described by the soon-to-be 32-year-old trainer as the best horse he's ever had through his hands, Dare To Dream has...

Reversing Epsom form with Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}--Frequential {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) relished the more straightforward nature of the galloping Curragh track on Sunday to provide Aidan O'Brien with a remarkable 16th G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby. Third in the Derby, the 13-8 second favourite was always going to be better suited by this test particularly after all the rain on Saturday and enjoyed the perfect trip under Ryan Moore tracking the stable's two pace-setters. Briefly swamped by the 6-4 market-leader Ambiente Friendly...

Having surrendered to Ballydoyle's City Of Troy (Justify) in the Derby, the Gredleys' Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) has more work to do taking on a crew from that establishment on their home soil in Sunday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh. While the likes of Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) have come from Epsom to successfully represent Britain in recent years, there is always that bridge to cross coming here. There is also the significant rain that...

Saturday's G1 Cairn Community Games Pretty Polly Stakes served up a thriller, with Juddmonte's TDN Rising Star Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}--Emulous {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) running down Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the final yards for a deserved top-level breakthrough. With abundant rain falling on The Curragh throughout the day, the Ralph Beckett-trained 4-year-old who was herself cruelly denied late in last year's Irish Oaks held the upper hand in terms of ground preference and traded as the 11-10 favourite as a result. Settled in mid-division early...

Returning to the Curragh venue at which he made a remarkable debut last month, Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Jan Brueghel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Devoted To You {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) had to endure his first fight to stretch his unbeaten record in Saturday's G3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai International Stakes. What was left in the tank at the end of the 10-furlong contest after he had mastered the long-time leader Trustyourinstinct (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) by a neck remains to be seen, but the manner in which the 8-13 favourite hit...

Emulating stablemate Matrika (Ire) 12 months ago, Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Truly Enchanting (Ire) (No Nay Never--Alluringly, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) made the quick turnaround from Royal Ascot to to provide her sire with back-to-back winners of The Curragh's G2 Airlie Stud Stakes on Saturday. Unable to mix it with the fastest fillies when 13th in the five-furlong G2 Queen Mary Stakes, the descendant of Urban Sea (Miswaki) had the required pace to lay up with fellow Ascot also-ran California Dreamer (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}) from the outset in this longer...

The Curragh's Barronstown Stud Irish EBF Maiden that opened Saturday's rain-hit card is a race with a rich history and despite the failure of Ballydoyle's trio to make the frame there was no reason to believe this year's renewal was not up to scratch. Emerging best was the Aga Khan's Hazdann (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}--Hazmiyra {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}), who had no space to express himself in the straight when a non-representative ninth in the seven-furlong Gowran Park maiden won by Ballydoyle's The Parthenon (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) 13 days...

The Curragh's three-day Irish Derby fixture is more often than not the place to discover future Classic contenders at first glance and Friday's Kildare House Hotel Irish EBF Fillies Maiden looks to have played host to two potentially top-class daughters of Frankel (GB) in Lake Victoria (Ire) and Red Letter (GB). In a thrilling finale to the seven-furlong contest between the regally-bred debutantes, it was the former who edged it to earn TDN Rising Star status and make Ballydoyle's cup run over when it comes to exciting 2-year-old fillies. The...