Top stayer Kyprios heads a field of 11 for the Comer
Group International Irish St Leger, the final Classic of the season and one of
four Group 1 races on a magical day at the Curragh on Sunday.
The race is just one of the highlights on the second day of Longines Irish
Champions Weekend with Aidan O'Brien’s four-year-old chasing down a hat-trick
of top-flight success after thrilling wins at Royal Ascot and at
Goodwood.
Heading the opposition is the Joseph O'Brien-trained Curragh specialist Raise
You which notched up his fourth course success in the Comer Group Irish St
Leger Trial Stakes a month ago and the Paddy Twomey-trained Rosscarbery, added
to the field only 72 hours ago.
Twice a winner of the Comer Group International Irish St Leger, Search For A
Song represents Dermot Weld, Comer Group International Curragh Cup winner
Camorra runs for Ger Lyons, Tony Mullins has his star Princess Zoe, with
William Haggas, already a Group 1 winner at the Curragh this year, sending out
Ormonde Stakes winner Hamish.
Representing the race sponsor is Seattle Creek with Henry de Bromhead going
with Jason The Militant, Karl Thornton has Shanroe and Jim Bolger runs Manu Et
Corde.
Nineteen horses will line up for the Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Flying
Five Stakes and the bumper field is headed by the John Quinn-trained Highfield
Princess, the clearcut winner of the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes
at York. A strong British challenge also features the Michael Appleby-trained
Raasel, Flotus, trained by Simon & Ed Chrisford, and Ebro River, last
season’s Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes winner at the Curragh, which was
supplemented on Tuesday by trainer Hugo Palmer.
Edward Lynam’s Romantic Proposal, the winner of this race a year ago, leads the
Irish challenge with fellow Group 1 winner A Case Of You, trained by Ado
McGuinness and the Johnny Murtagh-trained Ladies Church and Jack Davison’s
Mooneista, separated by just a short-head in the Barberstown Castle Sapphire
Stakes over this course and distance in July, very much in the mix.
Twelve two-year-old fillies go forward for the 50th running of the Group 1
Moyglare Stud Stakes and setting the standard is the Aidan O'Brien-trained
Meditate, unbeaten in four starts to date. The big Curragh hope is Tahiyra for Dermot
Weld with the Charlie & Mark Johnston-trained Lakota Sioux and Charlie
Hills’ Sydneyarms Chelsea making up the oversea challenge.
The Charlie Fellowes-trained Marbaan is the raider from across the Irish Sea in
the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes and he takes on a couple of
potential stars from the Aidan O'Brien yard, Aesop’s Fables and Hans Andersen.
Joseph O'Brien supplemented course and distance winner Al Riffa for the race on
Tuesday and his brother Donnacha O'Brien runs his two-time winner, Proud And
Regal with Johnny Murtagh’s Shartash making up the six-runner field.
Another intriguing contest will be the Group 2 Moyglare “Jewels” Blandford
Stakes with Group 1 Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly Stakes winner La Petite Coco
topping the 13-runner line up. Her trainer Paddy Twomey also runs Rumbles Of
Thunder with further opposition coming from Joseph O'Brien’s top-flight scorer
Above The Curve and the Willie McCreery-trained Insinuendo.
Unbeaten in three starts, Eve Johnson Houghton’s Streets Of Gold heads a
three-strong British challenge for the 11-runner Tattersalls Ireland Super
Auction Sale Stakes with dual winner As It Was looking like the top Irish
contender for Andy Oliver.
A field of 22 gets the day up and running in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF ‘Bold
Lad’ Sprint Handicap where recent course winners Mr Wagyu, Big Gossey, Gordon
Bennett, Ice Cold In Alex and Coumshingaun are among the leading contenders
while the maximum 26 runners take their chance in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF ‘Northfields’
Handicap with the chances of Tom Mullins’ Star Image, Noel Meade’s Joe Masseria
and the Joe Murphy-trained Celtic Crown well respected.
Brian Kavanagh, CEO of the Curragh Racecourse, said, “We are delighted with the
declarations for Sunday’s racing and the four Group 1 races look particularly
competitive. It is very pleasing to see 17 UK-trained runners as international
competition is a key part of Longines Irish Champions Weekend. There is a full
programme of entertainment on offer on Sunday, including the Moyglare Kidzone
and we are looking forward to a great days racing.”
Click here for the declared runners
for Sunday’s Curragh card
Notes
Gates Open 11am
Admission Tickets
Advance tickets
Adult: €35
OAP/ Student: €25
Under 18s go free
Family: €50 which admits two adults and up to three children
Curragh bundle: €40 includes admission, race card, food voucher, €10 bet
Gate/ Walk up prices
Adult: €40
OAP/ Student: €25
Off the track, the entertainment schedule promises to be equally exciting. You
Tube singing sensation Allie Sherlock (17), who has appeared on The Ellen
DeGeneres Show and Britain’s Got Talent will headline at the Curragh Racecourse
Sunday 11 September. The singer-songwriter from Cork has over five million
followers on her You Tube channel.
The Newbridge Gospel Choir, the Artane Band and Nitetrain are also confirmed as
supporting acts.
Junior racegoers are promised an epic day out in The Moyglare Kids Zone where
they can enjoy an assortment of free activities. The Swiss-owned stud will be
distributing Swiss chocolates to all racegoers to celebrate these special
milestones.
To celebrate the best of Irish talent, The Curragh will host the Longines Irish
Champions Weekend young designer award final. Stylist Courtney Smith. In
addition, stylish racegoers will be rewarded with prizes courtesy of luxury
fragrance brand Molton Brown.
In association with Treo Eile, racegoers will have the unique opportunity to
meet some of their equine heroes. The parade of champions will take place
during the afternoon with a star-studded line-up featuring dual Aintree Grand
National winner Tiger Roll, multiple grade one winner Douvan, Champions Hurdler
Hurricane Fly, Aintree Grand National hero One For Arthur, 2012 Irish St Leger
winner Royal Diamond and General Principle, 2018 winner of the Irish Grand
National and recent racehorse to riding horse winner at the Dublin Horse Show.
