Tag Archive for: Irish Champions Weekend

Ghaiyyath set to take Irish Champion chance

Ghaiyyath has been confirmed an intended runner in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Charlie Appleby’s five-year-old has carried all before him this season, winning the Coronation Cup, the Eclipse and the Juddmonte International at York – earning himself the moniker of the best turf horse on the planet.

He is due to gallop on Wednesday morning and should he come through that unscathed then Ghaiyyath will be on the plane to Ireland.

Speaking at lunchtime on Tuesday, Appleby, who has also left in Barney Roy, said: “Ghaiyyath will work tomorrow morning, we will have a final discussion then and if everyone is happy our intention is to fly to Dublin on Saturday morning.”

Ghaiyyath has been unstoppable this season
Ghaiyyath has been unstoppable this season (Mark Cranham/PA)

Aidan O’Brien’s Magical chased Ghaiyaath home at York and is one of six possibles for the Ballydoyle handler – also including Japan and Magic Wand.

John Gosden’s Lord North is still in the mix – as is Jean-Claude Rouget’s Sottsass, who won the Prix du Jockey Club last year.

The other Group One race on the first day of the Longines Irish Champions Weekend is the Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes .

Donnacha O’Brien’s Fancy Blue arguably sets the standard, having won the Prix de Diane and Nassau Stakes this summer already.

Aidan O’Brien has Irish Guineas winner Peaceful, subsequently a neck behind Fancy Blue in France, and Magic Wand in his team.

Fancy Blue claimed Group One glory in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood
Fancy Blue claimed Group One glory in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood (George Selwyn/PA)

Johnny Murtagh is another with multiple entries, with Champers Elysees and Know It All among the 13.

There are plenty of promising youngsters in the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes, including Ger Lyons’ Ides Of August and Jim Bolger’s Jack Duggan.

Aidan O’Brien has four of the 19, with High Definition the only one who remains unbeaten. Joseph O’Brien has six in the mix, including Liffey River.

Simon and Ed Crisford’s Century Dream, John Quinn’s Safe Voyage and David O’Meara’s Escobar are the three British-trained raiders left in the Clipper Logistics Boomerang Mile.

Wichita, Vatican City, Ancient Spirit and Lancaster House are also in the 13.

Que Amoro back in Flying Five mix

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.

Ghaiyyath among 13 still in Irish Champion Stakes

Ghaiyyath is one of 13 possibles at the confirmation stage for the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Charlie Appleby’s five-year-old has carried all before him this season, winning the Coronation Cup, the Eclipse and the Juddmonte International at York – earning himself the moniker of the best turf horse on the planet.

A final decision on his participation on Saturday has still to be made, but he would be a firm favourite should he line up.

Appleby has also left in Barney Roy.

Aidan O’Brien’s Magical chased Ghaiyaath home at York and is one of six possibles for the Ballydoyle handler – also including Japan and Magic Wand.

John Gosden’s Lord North is still in the mix – as is Jean-Claude Rouget’s Sottsass, who won the Prix du Jockey Club last year.

The other Group One race on the first day of the Longines Irish Champions Weekend is the Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes .

Donnacha O’Brien’s Fancy Blue arguably sets the standard, having won the Prix de Diane and Nassau Stakes this summer already.

Aidan O’Brien has Irish Guineas winner Peaceful, subsequently a neck behind Fancy Blue in France, and Magic Wand in his team.

Johnny Murtagh is another with multiple entries, with Champers Elysees and Know It All among the 13.

There are plenty of promising youngsters in the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes, including Ger Lyons’ Ides Of August and Jim Bolger’s Jack Duggan.

Aidan O’Brien has four of the 19, with High Definition the only one who remains unbeaten. Joseph O’Brien has six in the mix, including Liffey River.

Simon and Ed Crisford’s Century Dream, John Quinn’s Safe Voyage and David O’Meara’s Escobar are the three British-trained raiders left in the Clipper Logistics Boomerang Mile.

Wichita, Vatican City, Ancient Spirit and Lancaster House are also among the 13.