The Curragh

As it had 12 months ago, The Curragh's G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes went to Ballydoyle but not to their first string as Precise (Starspangledbanner) emulated Lake Victoria to emerge best of the stable trio under Ronan Whelan. Like Bedtime Story last year, the even-money favourite Composing (Wootton Bassett) cut out the running but faded late, leaving it to Precise and Beautify (Wootton Bassett) to fight out the finish with the former the stronger by 3/4 of a length. "I didn't jump as cleanly as I would have liked, but she...

Off the mark by eight lengths over six furlongs at The Curragh earlier this month, Ballydoyle's Mission Central (No Nay Never) came back to the same course and distance to collect Saturday's G3 Heider Family Stables Round Tower Stakes. Always in control on the front end under Wayne Lordan, the 11-8 favourite kept finding to score by 3/4 of a length from The Publican's Son (Beau Liam). "Wayne said he was still green. He said he was there at halfway and he was waiting," Aidan O'Brien said. "He said he...

Stepping up off a debut sixth behind Composing to win at Leopardstown last month, Philip Antonacci's Queen Of Hawaii (Kingman) continued the progression to take Saturday's G3 Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF Stakes at The Curragh. Sent off the 100-30 second favourite for the mile contest, registered as the Flame of Tara, the Joseph O'Brien-trained €250,000 Goffs Orby Book 1 purchase swamped Moments Of Joy (Justify) approaching the final furlong en route to a 2 1/4-length success. "She was very well bought by Philip Antonacci at Goffs and won her maiden...

Justifying 10-11 favouritism in The Curragh's opening mile maiden on Saturday, Ballydoyle's Hawk Mountain (Wootton Bassett) made all under Wayne Lordan deputising for the stricken Ryan Moore. Always comfortable setting his own tempo, the son of the dual Group 1 winner Hydrangea (Galileo) who was fifth on debut here earlier this month saw off Mr Vettori (Lope De Vega) to score by 1 1/2 lengths. ✅ Off the mark Hawk Mountain (Wootton Bassett x Hydrangea) opens the account at the second time of asking for team Ballydoyle @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/PGo9dlH8vP —...

Completing The Curragh's Futurity-Debutante double on Saturday for Aidan O'Brien and Wayne Lordan, Composing (Wootton Bassett) justified 4-5 favouritism without any hint of concern in the Group 2 contest. Always happy tracking Suzie Songs (Starspangledbanner) in second, the Silver Flash winner took control two out and forged a straightfoward 2 1/2-length success from that Moyglare filly to bring up a 15th renewal for her stable. "She's a lovely straightforward filly and when she got there she was very laid-back and very professional," the master of Ballydoyle said. "If all is...

Making it win number 18 for Aidan O'Brien in Saturday's G2 Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Tom Cooper Irish EBF Futurity Stakes, Constitution River (Wootton Bassett) dominated the Curragh contest from start to finish to stake his Classic claims for 2026. Sent on by Wayne Lordan, the 5-6 favourite who had followed an encouraging debut second at Newmarket with a win at Galway turned it on two out to dismiss Geryon (Lope De Vega) by two lengths. "He's a lovely colt and was good and professional," Lordan said of the stable's...

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 son of a Belmont Oaks heroine. 1.42 Curragh, Debutantes, 2yo, 7fT CIRCLE OF LIFE (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a notable newcomer for Ballydoyle in the maiden the stable won with Officer and Continuous in the last three years. Out of the Belmont Oaks winner Athena,...

Space Blues had made a strong start to his stud career in 2025 and his son Power Blue took it to the next level on Saturday when causing a surprise in The Curragh's feature G1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes. Handed an easier task by the withdrawal of Ballydoyle's Coventry winner Gstaad (Starspangledbanner), Amo Racing's Marble Hill runner-up was also able to benefit from the drop off of his comprehensive Railway conqueror True Love (No Nay Never) to land the spoils by 1 1/2 lengths at 10-1. "It's unbelievable--he has got bigger...

Now that the summer is high, St Mark's Basilica's stud career is readying for take-off and Saturday saw Coolmore's freshman have his first TDN Rising Star in Ballydoyle's exciting Diamond Necklace. Partnered by Wayne Lordan in The Curragh's Grand Hotel Malahide Irish EBF Fillies Juvenile Race, the half-sister to Magic Wand (Galileo) and Chicquita (Montjeu) who was the €1.7million Arqana Deauville August topper swooped on Ryan Moore's pick Minerva (Frankel) inside the final furlong for a smooth 1 1/2-length success. "She'd been working lovely and is very exciting for next...

1st-Curragh, €20,000, Mdn, 8-9, 2yo, 7fT, 1:23.64, gd. GERYON (IRE) (c, 2, Lope De Vega {Ire}--Oboe, by Mizzen Mast), sent off at 18-1 for this hotly-contested maiden, travelled smoothly without cover just off the pace throughout the early stages. Joining Kensington Lane (Starspangledbanner) inside the last half a furlong, the newcomer asserted to score by 1 1/4 lengths. "We have two colts that we like, this fella and Res Ipsa who ran at Leopardstown on Thursday," trainer Ger Lyons said. "Res Ipsa fluffed his lines so I suppose it took...

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 the well-bred Hawk Mountain. 1.45 Curragh, Mdn, 2yo, 7fT HAWK MOUNTAIN (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) debuts for Ballydoyle in a maiden which has been won in recent times by Delacroix, Diego Velazquez, Al Riffa and Thunder Moon and is a key player as a son of...

Putting an unplaced seasonal debut effort at Royal Ascot behind him on Sunday, Ballydoyle's Diego Velazquez (Frankel) proved that the seven-furlong trip of The Curragh's G2 Romanised Minstrel Stakes was well within his repertoire. Sent off the 11-8 favourite despite the Queen Anne no-show, last year's G2 Solonaway Stakes and G3 Meld Stakes winner made Ryan Moore work relatively early but gave what was required to score by a neck from the three-year-old East Hampton (Cracksman). "He had a tough comeback run and it didn't work out at Royal Ascot,...