Tag Archive for: Curragh

Last-gasp Lattam lifts Irish Lincolnshire for Haggas

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A British-trained horse landed the Paddy Power Irish Lincolnshire for the first time as William Haggas’ Lattam pulled off a last-gasp lunge for the line.

Starting at 8-1 under Chris Hayes, the chestnut was not close to the action in the early stages of the Curragh feature and only began to make progress two furlongs from home.

He did not have a clear passage from the rear of the field to the line and Hayes had to edge left to find some room, eventually pushing through a gap to mount a late challenge in the final half-furlong.

Saltonstall was leading on the rail as Lattam appeared on the scene, with the two horses crossing the line almost in unison and the judge called in to split them.

Haggas’ horse had prevailed by a short head, with Saltonstall the runner-up at 25-1 and his Ado McGuinness-trained stablemate Casanova third at 40-1.

“He told me to leave it very late and I did what I was told!” said Hayes.

“He travelled lovely, relished the ground. After Mr Haggas had finished giving me the instructions I said ‘so basically aim to be getting there inside the furlong pole’ and he said ‘Oh God an awful lot later if you can, but see how you’re travelling’.

“I thought I was going to get there too soon and I sat, then the gap was closing and I had to switch. It was a short-head away from a shocker, but we won so I gave it a great ride!

Kevin Stott made the journey to Ireland worthwhile as 3-1 favourite Bucanero Fuerte landed the Alkumait Standing At Capital Stallions Irish EBF Maiden on debut for Adrian Murray.

The Wootton Bassett two-year-old crossed the line two and a three-quarter lengths ahead of Sturlasson, potentially taking the first step on the path to Royal Ascot for owners Amo Racing.

“He went through the motions really nicely and was very professional,” said Stott.

“He pricked his ears when I was in front and hasn’t actually had much of a blow.

“That was the first time I’ve sat on this horse, he gave me a really nice feel. We’ve got some nice two-year-olds in.”

When asked if he could be a Royal Ascot horse he added: “We’ll have to see how he comes out of the race and what happens going forward but of course he’ll be a contender, I’d say.”

On Irish rides for Amo Racing, to whom he is retained, Stott said: “Obviously I’ll come over when the boss wants me to come over. I love coming here, the people are really nice and the racing is very competitive.”

Insinuendo motors to Park Express success at the Curragh

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Willie McCreery’s Insinuendo went one better than last year to claim the Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express Stakes at the Curragh.

The six-year-old was second to Mother Earth 12 months ago and placed in further Group races throughout the season before heading off to Bahrain for what was intended to be her last run.

She was not retired to stud after her seventh-placed performance in the Middle East, however, with her owners instead deciding to keep her in training for another year.

That decision was justified at the Curragh when she set off as the evens favourite under Billy Lee and returned a one-and-a-half-length victor.

“We’re delighted to win that. She was second in it last year, probably to a better mare,” said McCreery.

“You’re on a hiding to nothing if you get beat, Michael (Deegan, of owners Deegan Racing Syndicate) was brave enough to hold on to her for another year so it’s great to get started.

“I wouldn’t say any horse loves that ground but she got her way through it.

“Billy said she did everything wrong, she was a bit strong under him and didn’t settle. He clipped heels trying to get her to settle about a furlong-and-a-half down and she still was pulling.

“She got there and then she got a bit lazy in front, she’s getting a bit cute. Onwards and upwards now.”

Of the Bahrain disappointment the trainer added: “Things just didn’t work out for her in Bahrain, she got shuffled back. William Buick rode a great race in front on his horse, he slowed it all down.

Insinuendo crossing the line
Insinuendo crossing the line (Healy Racing/PA)

“She was coming and coming but everything happened too quickly. She had loads of room today and she’s a proper mare.

“She’s been Group One-placed and we’ll aim for all the Group Ones for the year and that will be it.

“The Tattersalls Gold Cup is a possible. We’ll see what way the ground is, but I can’t see why not. It’s only driving down the road as opposed to going foreign.”

Boughey looking to Totally Charming for first winner in Ireland

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Totally Charming bids to provide Classic-winning trainer George Boughey with his first ever victory on Irish soil in the Paddy Power Irish Lincolnshire at the Curragh.

The Newmarket handler saddled 136 winners in Britain last season, only his fourth with a licence, with Cachet’s 1000 Guineas success at Newmarket being the clear highlight.

But despite his rapid rise through the training ranks, Boughey has sent only three horses across the Irish Sea and none have managed to return home a winner.

That could all change this weekend, however, with Totally Charming a clear favourite for the €100,000 feature on the first day of the Irish Flat turf season.

Boughey said: “It’s a hard place to go Ireland! We’ve left them to it for a while, but it’s nice to go there with a horse that’s got a favourite’s chance.”

Totally Charming won four times in 2022, with his final victory of the campaign coming on heavy ground at Doncaster in October suggesting the forecast testing conditions on Saturday will hold no fears.

Boughey admits a wide starting berth in stall 22 is not ideal, but booking of champion jockey Colin Keane a clear positive.

“He’s travelled over well and we’re pleased with how he’s been training really,” the Hamilton Road handler added.

George Boughey has high hopes for Totally Charming
George Boughey has high hopes for Totally Charming (David Davies/PA)

“He’s a horse who has shown his form on very soft ground at Doncaster at the end of the year and that was kind of the reason we decided to go to Ireland, rather than stay on the conventional route at home and go for the Lincoln at Doncaster next weekend.

“We entered him for the Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton a couple of weeks ago, but he’s a pretty good horse fresh. He’s a horse who probably just needed another bit of work, it’s a long season ahead and we don’t want to go to the well too many times.”

Totally Charming is joined on the trip from Newmarket by the William Haggas-trained Lattam.

The son of Lope De Vega won his first two starts at Thirsk and Haydock last summer before disappointing at Yarmouth and York, but Haggas feels he has plenty in his favour.

“Lattam is very well. I think he will enjoy the ground and the straight mile will suit so we are looking forward to running him,” he said.

“His form did tail off a bit last season, but he seems to be in good form this spring and I hope there is some improvement in the tank. That is what you are hoping with horses like him at this time of year and while he still has a bit of improvement to come in his coat, he is pretty fit and well.

“We’ve had the odd winner in Ireland without having many runners over there, but I felt the ground could be important to Lattam and I can’t guarantee we’d get his ground for our own Lincoln (at Doncaster on Saturday week), so we pointed him to the Curragh.

“Chris Hayes rides him and he knows the time of day. We have used Chris a bit over here and he rode a nice winner for us at Naas last year and a Listed winner for us at Dundalk previously.

“The owners are all set to go and are looking forward to a great day.”

Emporio winning at the Curragh
Emporio winning at the Curragh (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

The home team is headed by Donnacha O’Brien’s previous course winner Emporio, who will be ridden by 7lb claimer Paddy Harnett.

O’Brien said: “He handles soft ground and is quite a high-class horse, probably a stakes horse, but a mile on soft ground is no problem and there are no problems with the conditions.

“I suppose to win a Lincoln, you probably have to be a stakes horse – I think he’s Listed class and we’ll find out more after he runs.”

Other notable contenders include Cosmic Vega, who represents the new training team of Mick Halford and Tracey Collins, and Michael O’Callaghan’s well-travelled top-weight I Am Superman.

Ado McGuinness, who won the 2020 Irish Lincolnshire, has declared no less than 10 runners, with No More Porter and Celtic Crown among them.

Auguste Rodin set to stretch his legs after racing at the Curragh

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Racegoers at the Curragh on Saturday could be in for an extra treat with the possibility of Aidan O’Brien’s 2000 Guineas and Derby favourite Auguste Rodin exercising after racing.

A high-profile string from Ballydoyle tends to head to Irish Flat racing’s Headquarters on the opening day to stretch their legs away from home.

While the gallop is never too strenuous, for those on hand to witness it there is the very real chance of a future Classic winner being on show.

Auguste Rodin currently heads the betting for both the Guineas and the Derby having won three of his four starts at two, including the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster.

Little Big Bear was one of last season's best juveniles
Little Big Bear was one of last season’s best juveniles (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

Stablemate Little Big Bear is next in the betting for the Guineas. He was beaten a short head on his debut but won his next four including the Phoenix Stakes by seven lengths. A minor setback prevented him from running again.

“Little Big Bear and Auguste Rodin are good, everything has been good so far anyhow,” said O’Brien.

“We’re not sure if either will run in a trial, they are going to go to the Curragh on Saturday maybe for a canter around, and we’ll see about them after that.

“It’s probably the same for the fillies, Meditate and Statuette.”

Que Amoro back in Flying Five mix

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Last week’s change to the quarantine regulations for jockeys riding in Ireland has seen Que Amoro back in the frame for the Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh.

The filly outran her odds in the Nunthorpe last time out, pushing Battaash all the way at York.

Michael Dods had originally ruled her out of Sunday’s race, because he wants to maintain the partnership she has built up with Paul Mulrennan – and until recently he would not have been able to ride her.

Que Amoro (left) pushed the mighty Battaash hard in the Nunthorpe at York
Que Amoro (left) pushed the mighty Battaash hard in the Nunthorpe at York (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

“We’re planning that we’re probably going to declare,” said the County Durham trainer.

“If they don’t get rain on Friday we’ll probably send her over on Saturday and let her take her chance.

“I spoke to the track this morning, and they had rain yesterday but they are expecting it to be dry until Friday.”

Dods is mindful that Que Amoro may have to adapt to conditions.

“It’s a Group One, so it’s a hot race, but from our point of view the faster the ground the better,” he added.

“She might have to run on slightly easier ground than she’d prefer – but we may have to take that chance, with it being a Group One.

“We’d sort of decided not to go – but now jockeys can go and ride in a Group One, it changed our thinking.

“There is the Newbury race on Ayr Gold Cup day she could run in – but we’d be weather-watching before that, looking for fast ground.

Make A Challenge is another big-hitter on course for the Flying Five
Make A Challenge is another big-hitter on course for the Flying Five (Niall Carson/PA)

“It’s not great – the whole world is in turmoil – but at least we’re racing. It’s just a shame the owners can’t go.”

There are 17 possibles for the Flying Five – with Make A Challenge, A ‘Ali, Lope Y Fernandez and Glass Slippers among the other main contenders.

A maximum field of 18 is possible in the Moyglare Stud Stakes, one of three further Group Ones on the stellar card, with the Ken Condon pair of Teresa Mendoza and Thunder Beauty perhaps set to continue the handler’s great season.

Aidan O’Brien’s Battleground could clash with Charlie Appleby’s Master Of The Seas in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes.

Master Of The Seas may put his unbeaten record on the line at the Curragh
Master Of The Seas may put his unbeaten record on the line at the Curragh (Edward Whitaker/PA)

Battleground has won at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood already, while the unbeaten Godolphin youngster was hugely impressive at Newmarket.

Roger Varian’s Ebor winner Fujaira Prince could step up in class for the Comer Group International Irish St Leger.

Nayef Road and Galileo Chrome, who both still have the option of heading to Doncaster this week, are also among 17 possibles.

Mac powers home to spark Derby dreams for Bolger camp

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Mac Swiney returned to form for a shock victory in the Galileo Irish EBF Futurity Stakes at the Curragh.

Jim Bolger’s juvenile had managed only ninth of 10 in this month’s Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown, having previously looked a youngster going places when he beat the well-regarded Wembley in a maiden over this course and distance.

The return to the Curragh did the trick, as Mac Swiney belied his starting price of 28-1 to pounce late as both he and 4-5 favourite Cadillac surged past Ontario on either side of the long-time leader.

Mac Swiney showed just the best turn of foot to beat Jessica Harrington’s Cadillac by half a length, with the same distance back to Ontario in fourth.

He was winning a race which has been dominated by Aidan O’Brien since Bolger and Manning last won the Group Two affair five years ago.

The same trainer-and-jockey partnership were also on the mark with Mac Swiney’s sire, and subsequent Epsom Derby winner New Approach, back in 2007.

Bolger’s daughter, Una Manning, wife of the winning jockey, said: “We’re delighted with that run.

“He did it well on (soft) ground he wouldn’t really appreciate.”

A return to the Curragh and move up to Group One level is now in the offing, with connections hoping Mac Swiney – who was given a 40-1 quote by Paddy Power for Epsom – can continue to follow his sire’s path.

Manning added: “The plan now is to go for the National Stakes. When he won here the last time (dad) thought he was his Derby horse.

“We’re very pleased with him, he was very good. It seemed to be a strong race today.

“Hopefully we can get a good result in the National Stakes now, and go from there.”

In other two-year-old action to note, High Definition led home a promising one-two for O’Brien in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

Wordsworth – a full-brother to the stable’s top-class stayer Kew Gardens – was sent off the 5-2 favourite for the mile contest and looked like obliging after getting a gap to overhaul Mcpherson.

But High Definition (7-1) stayed on relentlessly from the rear under Wayne Lordan to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

The winner earned an introductory quote of 33-1 from Betfair for the Derby, and Lordan said: “He won quite well and is a lovely big horse.

“He was a little raw early. Through the middle of the race they didn’t quicken away from me and I was getting into a nice rhythm. He finished out comfortably.

“He’s a lovely colt and he’s going to be a lovely horse next year going a trip.”

Fifth last time out in the Phoenix Stakes, the O’Brien-trained St Mark’s Basilica got off the mark at the third time of asking as he justified odds of 4-7 in the six-furlong Irish Stallion Farms Maiden, denying Loch Lein by a length and a quarter.

Winning rider Seamie Heffernan said: “He had a very good run in a Group One and was basically a steering job.

“I’d say there is a high chance that he’s going to get further than six furlongs. I liked him.”

Pretty Gorgeous gains revenge in Debutante Stakes

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Pretty Gorgeous impressed in the A.R.M. Holding Debutante Stakes at the Curragh, as she gained her revenge on Shale to pick up Group Two honours.

Having been successful first time out at Bellewstown, the Joseph O’Brien-trained winner was second to his brother Donnacha’s Shale when they met at Leopardstown – but she put the record straight in some style on this occasion.

Still travelling sweetly for Shane Crosse with two furlongs to run, it came down to a brief tussle between the pair before the 3-1 winner asserted from the furlong pole and went to score by two and a half lengths from the 7-4 favourite.

Mother Earth was the same distance back in third.

The Curragh race has a strong record of producing subsequent Group One winners – with Alpine Star being victorious 12 months ago – and the daughter of Lawman heads the early market for next year’s 1000 Guineas at 14-1 with Betfair and Paddy Power.

O’Brien said: “She’s a very good filly. We were a bit worried about the ground, but she obviously handled it. Being by Lawman, we thought that gave her a chance.

“We felt that she’d definitely get closer to Donnacha’s filly after her run in Leopardstown, because we thought the Curragh would be more suitable for us.

“We were looking for an easy spot for her debut first time at Bellewstown, and she qualified for that race – but as it turned out, it actually was quite a good race.”

Looking to future plans, O’Brien added: “The Moyglare looks the logical next step. She has proven she’s versatile ground-wise.

“I thought Shane gave her a lovely, cool ride today – it was a lovely, confident ride.

“She’s a big, strong lady. She cost a good few quid as a yearling, but she was an outstanding physical specimen at the sales.

“The sky is the limit for her.”

Make A Challenge makes no mistake in Curragh Sprint

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Make A Challenge outclassed his rivals to win the A.R.M. Holding Curragh Sprint Stakes with ease.

Denis Hogan’s course specialist took his winning tally to five at the Curragh, sitting off the pace initially but challenging inside the last two furlongs and then storming clear under Joe Doyle.

The 9-4 winner never needed to come under serious pressure and had four lengths to spare at the line from 20-1 shot Downforce, with Schroders Mistake a neck further back in third at 66-1.

Make A Challenge, previously second to A’Ali in the Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh, has more high-profile targets in his sights after this six-furlong Listed success.

Hogan said: “That was impressive. I wasn’t expecting that, to be honest. I was expecting Speak In Colours (6-5 favourite, sixth) to give us a right test and probably beat us.

“I thought we were always better over five, but that is his ground. There aren’t too many horses that would live with him on that ground, he just motors through it.

“This was only a stepping stone to the Flying Five here on Champions Weekend. He’s in Tipperary during the week in a Listed race.

“We don’t work him much at home. He’s been coming here, picking up prize-money and using races to step to another race.

“We just feel he’s better fresh like that and he’s had a little break, I’d say he’s really freshened up well.

“This time last year he came alive and hopefully he is coming good again.”

He added: “There is a good programme. There is the Flying Five, the Abbaye and Champions Day at Ascot. We’ll look at the three of them.

“It’s great for Joe as well, he’s having a good run of it. Hopefully it keeps raining and if the horses keep running like that I’ll be happy.

“I wouldn’t say Battaash is unbeatable, but he’s going to be very hard to beat. You’d be disappointed that A’Ali didn’t show more (in the Nunthorpe) as he beat us here, but that was on better ground.

“Obviously we are better on this type of ground.”

Hogan working towards Flying Five with Make A Challenge

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Denis Hogan is plotting a path via Saturday’s Curragh Sprint Stakes for his consistent gelding Make A Challenge.

The five-year-old is due to line up in the Listed six-furlong contest as he prepares for future Group One engagements.

Twice a winner this season after clocking up six successes last term, the son of Invincible Spirit was last seen coming home just a length behind A’Ali in the Group Two Holden Plant Rentals Sapphire Stakes.

Hogan now has his eye on a handful of top-flight sprints and is hoping this weekend’s run will serve as the perfect preparation.

“We’re looking forward to it,” he said.

“He’s just had a freshen up since his last run, I suppose we’re aiming for the Flying Five at the Curragh on Champions Weekend, on September 13.

“These are all stepping stones for there really. Speak In Colours will be hard to beat, but he’s beaten him this season already. We’re not expecting to just turn up and win or anything, but we think it’ll bring him on for the Flying Five.

“He’ll love conditions and every bit of rain that falls is good for us. He’s in good nick, he’s drawn in the middle and should really accelerate.”

Make A Challenge is entered for the Listed Abergwaun Stakes at Tipperary on August 27, with the Prix de l’Abbaye also under consideration.

“He has an entry at Tipperary next Thursday,” Hogan said.

“So we’ll see about that. He has an entry in the Abbaye as well, we’re definitely going for the Flying Five but he does have an entry in the Prix de l’Abbaye.

“We’ll look at that race afterwards, but they’re the two targets we have for him so hopefully he’ll get there in one piece. We don’t work him much at home, he does most of his work on the Curragh in his races.

“It’s all good prep for the big one really (the Flying Five).”