Ireland
DUBAI DUTY FREE IRISH DERBY
(1,250,000 Euros) Curragh G1 1½m 3-y-o
First run in 1866, originally over 1¾ miles, Ireland's equivalent to the Epsom Derby did not become a level weights race until after 1945. When first sponsored in 1962, it became more valuable than the Epsom Classic and for a while, after Budweiser started their sponsorship in 1986, it was the most valuable Classic in Europe. Godolphin's Balanchine struck for the fillies in 1994. Five colts in recent times have pulled off the Epsom-Curragh double, most recently High Chaparral in 2002. Alamshar defeated French Derby winner Dalakhani in 2003. Grey Swallow put up a gutsy performance in 2004 for Dermot Weld and in 2005 Kieren Fallon won this race for the first time aboard Hurricane Run. 2006 saw Kieren Fallon and Aidan O' Brien back in the winner's enclosure with Dylan Thomas. The three-year-old colt was settled in close to the rail behind the leaders before storming home to beat Italian Derby winner Gentlewave by three lengths. Aidan O’Brien was back in the winner's enclosure in 2007, this time he was accompanied by Seamus Heffernan and his mount, Soldier Of Fortune. The son of Galileo pulled away from his rivals two furlongs out and powered to an impressive nine-length victory from stable companions Alexander Of Hales and Eagle Mountain. It was an O’Brien/Heffernan partnership again in 2008, when Frozen Fire arrived up the centre of the track, avoiding the mayhem on his inside, to land the race comfortably. In 2009, Fame And Glory provided the Ballydoyle Stable with yet another success in this race when he powered away in the final furlong under top rider Johnny Murtagh. Aidan O’Brien has now trained 7 Irish Derby winners. The 2010 renewal saw Cape Blanco, ridden by Johnny Murtagh, make Irish racing history for Aiden O’Brien when giving the trainer his fifth consecutive win in the Irish Derby. The son of Galileo beat stable companion Midas Touch by half a length with another Ballydoyle horse, Jan Vermeer, back in third.
DARLEY IRISH OAKS
(425,000 Euros) Curragh G1 1½m 3-y-o fillies
Previous winners of the Irish race, first run in 1895, include Winona (1998), Petrushka (2000) and Vintage Tipple (2003) and Shawanda (2005). The Henry Cecil-trained Ramruma completed the Epsom-Curragh Oaks double in 1999 and Lord Derby's Ouija Board became the tenth filly to win both events in 2004. While in 2006, Alexandrova became the eleventh filly to complete the double. Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Kieren Fallon, the three-year-old quickened in the straight and hit the front two-furlongs out to win by four lengths. The 2007 renewal saw Peeping Fawn, take revenge on Light Shift for her second place finish in the 2007 Vodafone Oaks. Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Johnny Murtagh, Peeping Fawn was not going to let Light Shift get the better of her this time. Leading a furlong out, she bounded away from Henry Cecil’s charge to win by three and a half lengths.
Moonstone made it a hat-trick of successes for trainer Aidan O’Brien in the 2008 renewal. The Dalakhani filly beat stablemate Ice Queen in a thrilling finish that saw the two separated by only a short head. In 2009, Sariska became the twelfth filly to complete the Epsom-Curragh Oaks double when trouncing her rivals by an easy three lengths. The daughter of Pivotal toyed with the rest of the field all the way up the straight before jockey Jamie Spencer eased her to the front inside the final furlong. The win was trainer Michael Bell’s first Irish Classic success. A year later, the Ed Dunlop trained Snow Fairy continued the Epsom-Curragh Oaks double when storming home to an impressive eight length victory in the Irish Classic. The daughter of Intikhab quickly burst clear of her rivals when asked by Ryan Moore and powered into the lead over a furlong out. Godolphin’s Miss Jean Brodie stayed on resolutely to fill the runner-up position.
IRISH FIELD ST LEGER
(275,000 Euros) Curragh G1 1¾m 3-y-o and upwards
First staged in 1915, and opened to older horses in 1983. In the 1990s Vintage Crop, Oscar Schindler and Godolphin's Kayf Tara all won the race twice. Vinnie Roe trained by Dermot Weld created history in 2004 when he posted his fourth consecutive victory in this race. Collier Hill ended Vinnie Roe's winning streak in this race when he was successful in 2005. The Alan Swinbank-trained horse has won in seven countries - Dubai, United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Canada and Hong Kong. Kastoria, trained by John Oxx for owner HH Aga Khan, captured the 2006 Group One event. Jockey Mick Kinane had the five-year-old Selkirk mare perfectly placed throughout the race to beat the favourite Yeats by half a length. It was third time lucky for Yeats in 2007 and a first Irish St Leger win for trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Kieren Fallon. The six-year-old horse beat stable companion Scorpion by half a length.
In 2008 the O’Brien team were back in the winner’s enclosure, this time with the five-year-old Septimus. Seamus Heffernan was on board the Sadler’s Wells horse as he skipped away from the field inside the final two furlongs to register a facile thirteen-length victory. The John Oxx/Mick Kinane partnership continued with their successful 2009 season with a win in this year’s Irish St Leger. Kinane rode Alandi, owned and bred by HH Aga Khan, to a half length victory over Clowance in the fourteen furlong Irish Classic.
ETIHAD AIRWAYS IRISH 1,000 GUINEAS
(400,000 Euros) Curragh G1 1m 3-y-o fillies
First run in 1922. British trainers have won this race four times in the last ten years with Hula Angel (1999), Crimplene (2000), Gossamer (2002) and Yesterday (2004). Attraction earned her place in racing history when she won both the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas in 2004 for trainer Mark Johnston. Frances Crowley entered the records book in Ireland in 2005 as the first licensed woman trainer to win an Irish Classic when Saoire pipped Penkenna Princess to win the race with the biggest field of runners for 19 years. Dermot Weld landed the 2006 renewal with Nightime, owned and bred by his mother Mrs. C L Weld. The three-year-old Galileo filly produced an impressive turn of foot under Pat Smullen inside the final furlong to beat Ardbrae Lady by six lengths. The 2007 renewal saw Finsceal Beo become only the second filly to complete the Newmarket-Curragh 1,000 Guineas double for trainer Jim Bolger and jockey Kevin Manning. The daughter of Mr. Greeley held off the fast-closing Dimenticata, ridden by Chris Hayes, inside the final furlong to prevail by a neck. A year later, Aidan O’Brien was victorious with Halfway To Heaven. Ridden by Seamie Heffernan, the daughter of Pivotal was sent to the front two furlongs out and dug deep to beat Mad About You by a head. 2009 was the year David Wachman became a Classic winning trainer for the first time in his career when his charge, Again, put paid to Lahaleeb’s chances of victory by getting up on the line to beat her rival by a neck. It was her jockey, Johnny Murtagh’s, first win in the race. In 2010, Pat Smullen and his mount Bethrah were the victors of a blanket finish for trainer Dermot Weld in a renewal where less than a length separated the first five home.
ABU DHABI IRISH 2,000 GUINEAS
(400,000 Euros) Curragh G1 1m 3-y-o
The race was first staged in 1921. Aidan O'Brien trained the first three home in 2002, headed by Rock Of Gibraltar, who was earlier successful in the British equivalent. He was the first colt to land the double since Rodrigo De Triano in 1992. Bachir won for Godolphin in 2000 and British raider Indian Haven triumphed in 2003. Bachelor Duke swept to victory in 2004 for trainer James Toller and jockey Seb Sanders. Dubawi provided Godolphin with their second triumph in this race when he landed the 2005 event in good style. In 2006, English challenger Araafa outclassed his rivals to capture the Irish Classic for Jeremy Noseda. Araafa, with Alan Munro in the irons, struck the front, two furlongs out to beat English 2,000 Guineas winner George Washington by two lengths. A year later, Cockney Rebel became the sixth horse to win the Newmarket-Curragh 2,000 Guineas double when beating Creachadoir by a length. Ridden by Olivier Peslier and trained by Geoff Huffer, the son of Val Royal was sent to the front two furlongs out and was never in any danger of being caught. The 2008 renewal saw Aidan O’Brien, Johnny Murtagh and Henrythenavigator complete the Newmarket-Curragh double in impressive style. The son of Kingmambo swept to the front inside the final furlong to beat New Approach by one and three quarter lengths. Aidan O’Brien and Johnny Murtagh were back in the winner’s enclosure a year later, but this time is was Mastercraftsman who landed the spoils for the successful partnership. The three-year-old colt made light of the heavy conditions to power clear of the field to win comfortably by four and a half lengths. Canford Cliffs lived up to his hype when taking the 2010 renewal by three lengths for British trainer Richard Hannon. Jockey Richard Hughes and his mount hit the front with a furlong to go and quickened clear of the field.
TATTERSALLS MILLIONS IRISH CHAMPION STAKES
(1,000,000 Euros) Leopardstown G1 1¼m 3-y-o and upwards
First run at Phoenix Park in 1984, when won by Sadler's Wells, its subsequent winners included Triptych (1987) and Indian Skimmer (1988). The race moved to its current home in 1991 and recent winners include Pilsudski (1997), Daylami (1999), Fantastic Light (2001), Grandera (2002) - the last three owned by Godolphin, and High Chaparral (2003). Azamour trained by John Oxx came from the back of the field to win the 2004 renewal under jockey Mick Kinane. The 2005 race saw Oratorio defeat English Derby winner Motivator by half a length. It was a successful weekend for trainer Aidan O'Brien, who also trained Scorpion, the winner of the English St Leger. A year later, Aidan O' Brien was back in the winner's enclosure, this time with Dylan Thomas. Ridden by Kieren Fallon, the Danehill colt clinched a narrow success from Ed Dunlop's globe trotting mare Ouija Board. In 2007 Dylan Thomas created history by becoming the first dual winner of the race. Ridden by Kieren Fallon, the four-year-old colt surged past stablemates Duke of Marmalade and Red Rock Canyon with over a furlong to run to land a comfortable victory by one and a half lengths. HRH Princess Haya of Jordan’s New Approach, landed the 2008 renewal for trainer Jim Bolger. Kevin Manning settled the three-year-old colt in second place before hitting the front in the straight, eventual second Traffic Guard came at him inside the final furlong, but Manning’s mount did enough to win by half a length. Sea The Stars stretched his Group One winning margin to five when taking the 2009 event for trainer John Oxx and jockey Mick Kinane (the Irish jockey has won this race seven times). The 2009 English 2,000 Guineas, English Derby, Coral-Eclipse and Juddmonte International winner blew away the opposition as he swept past Fame And Glory over a furlong out to take the race by two and a half lengths. Irish Derby victor Cape Blanco landed the 2010 renewal. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Cape Blanco made all the running under Seamus Heffernan to win by a healthy five and a half lengths. It was O'Brien's sixth win in the race and Heffernan's first.
LADBROKES.COM VINCENT O’BRIEN NATIONAL STAKES
(250,000 Euros) Curragh G1 7f 2-y-o
Ireland's top two-year-old contest, it was run over a mile between 1997-2000. Winners include Sinndar (1999), Hawk Wing (2001), Refuse To Bend (2002) and One Cool Cat in 2003. Dubawi recorded the first Group One success for his sire Dubai Millennium when winning the 2004 event. George Washington collected his second Group One of the year when he came from last to first to win the seven-runner race in 2005. He had previously won the Phoenix Stakes at the same course a month earlier. While in 2006, Teofilo secured his first Group One success for trainer Jim Bolger in the seven-furlong contest. With Kevin Manning in the irons, the Galileo colt picked up well inside the final quarter mile to beat Holy Roman Emperor by one and a quarter lengths. Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning were back in the winner's enclosure a year later as New Approach, powered to an impressive one-and-three-quarter-length victory over Godolphin’s Rio De La Plata.
Mastercraftsman scored in heavy ground at the Curragh in 2008. Ridden by Johnny Murtagh, the son of Danehill Dancer came out on top of a two way duel inside the final furlong to score by a short head. Veteran trainer Kevin Prendergast landed the 2009 renewal with Kingsfort. Ridden by Declan McDonagh the War Chant colt took over the lead a furlong and a half out, quickening up nicely and had enough in reserve to hold off the Jim Bolger trained Chabal by a neck.
KEENELAND PHOENIX STAKES
(200,000 Euros) Curragh G1 6f 2-y-o
Like the Irish Champion Stakes, this contest was originally staged at Phoenix Park. First run in 1970, and a 5-furlong race until 1982, recent winners include Minardi (2000) and Johannesburg (2001). In 2004, Damson provided Irish trainer David Wachman with his first ever Group One success. The Ballydoyle Stable’s representative, George Washington outclassed his rivals in the 2005 event to win by eight lengths under Kieren Fallon. The Ballydoyle Stable was victorious again in 2006 with Holy Roman Emperor. The two-year-old colt partnered by Kieren Fallon stormed clear of his rivals with half a furlong to go to beat Hellvelyn by one and three quarter lengths. Kevin Manning and Saoirse Abu caused an upset in the 2007 renewal when beating race favourite, Henrythenavigator, by a length. The Jim Bolger trained daughter of Mr. Greeley won the battle for the lead inside the final furlong, to secure her first Group One win.
Mastercraftsman entered the winner’s enclosure in 2008 following a convincing four-and-a-half-length victory over race favourite Art Connoisseur. The two-year-old son of Danehill Dancer took up the lead a furlong from home and never looked in any danger when pulling clear of the small but select field. The Ballydoyle team continued their dominance in the race in 2009 when Alfred Nobel, ridden by Johnny Murtagh, came from last to first to win by half a length from Air Chief Marshal. In 2010, Zoffany secured the stable an incredible eleventh success from the last 13 runnings of the event when the Dansili colt burst through in the final strides to win by half a length.