Vadeni, Mishriff and Luxembourg are among seven
declarations for a thrilling renewal of the Irish Champion Stakes
on the opening day of Longines Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown on
Saturday.
Jean-Claude Rouget’s Vadeni, winner of the Prix du Jockey Club, just got the
better of the John & Thady Gosden-trained Mishriff when following up in the
Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown and the pair clash again as the latter, to be
ridden by champion jockey Colin Keane, continues his countdown to retirement
with his final race in Europe.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained Luxembourg, a winner on his return to action at the
Curragh last month, bids to give the champion trainer his fourth consecutive
win, and his 11th overall, in the race with the French challenge strengthened
by Fabrice Chappet’s Grand Prix de Paris winner Onesto.
The William Haggas-trained Alenquer is out to add to his Tattersalls Gold Cup
success at the Curragh in May and two more from the O'Brien yard, Broome and
Stone Age, make up the field.
The Dermot Weld-trained Homeless Songs heads the 11 declarations for the Group
1 Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes. Moyglare Stud Farm’s sensational
filly, absent since winning the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas, comes up
against more recent Group 1 winners in the shape of Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Saffron
Beach and Aidan O'Brien’s Tenebrism with the supplemented Concert Hall also
taking her chance for the Ballydoyle trainer.
The first of Saturday’s two Group 2 races is the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes
with a field of five runners led by Aidan O'Brien’s Auguste Rodin and his
course and distance winner Tower Of London. Jim Bolger’s Serious Challenge is
another to note after a battling Galway festival success, with Alder and
Caroline Street representing Donnacha O'Brien and Joseph O'Brien
respectively.
Eight horses go to post for the Group 2 Clipper Logistics Boomerang Mile with
Bolger’s Boundless Ocean, already the winner of three races at Leopardstown
this season, the Simon & Ed Chrisford-trained Jadoomi and Paddy Twomey’s
Just Beautiful sure to figure among the leading fancies.
The Joseph O'Brien-trained Point King, the Twomey pair Earl Of Tyrone and
Beamish and Ger Lyons’ Thunder Kiss head nine runners for the Group 3 Paddy
Power Stakes while the 11 declarations for the opening Listed Ballylinch Stud
Irish EBF Ingabelle Stakes include previous Leopardstown winner Ma Belle
Artiste for trainer Joseph O'Brien, the Johnny Murtagh-trained Sheyya, Dermot
Weld’s Kayhana and Easy, now in the care of Paddy Twomey.
A full field of 18 runners has been declared for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF
‘Sovereign Path’ Handicap with the Ado McGuinness-trained Current Option and
Michael Halford’s Surrounding, two Galway festival winners, in with every
chance while a maximum line-up of 23 runners will face the starter for the
Irish Stallion Farms EBF ‘Petingo’ Handicap with recent winners, the Peter
Fahey-trained Kojin and Matthew Smith’s La Hacienda likely to be among the main
protagonists.
The opening day of Longines Irish Champions Weekend will be shown live in a
record 137 territories as the Racecourse Media Group, working with HBA Media,
partner with 30 broadcasters from around the world. The Royal Bahrain Irish
Champion Stakes will be live on ITV in Britain with RTE and Racing TV also
providing up-to-the-minute coverage.
Tim Husbands, CEO of Leopardstown Racecourse, said, “The importance of Longines
Irish Champions Weekend as a world event is reflected by the quality of runners
from France, the UK and Ireland at Leopardstown on Saturday. It’s thanks to our
wonderful sponsors and such passionate owners that we look forward to a hugely
competitive day’s racing, great entertainment for all racegoers and lovers of
live sport on Dublin’s doorstep.”
Click here for the declared runners
for Leopardstown on Saturday
