The first of two days of racing in Ireland for Irish Champions Weekend sees horses lining up in six stakes across an eight race card at Leopardstown, led by two Group 1 races.
Well-bred Fastnet Rock filly among Ingabelle S. entries
Fastnet Rock’s Monday (Ire) will be stepping up to stakes competition in her second start on Saturday in the Listed Ballylinch Stud EBF Ingabelle S. over 1400 metres. The first foal out of French champion Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Monday’s second dam Butterfly Cove (USA) (Storm Cat {USA}) is also the dam of champion Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Among that mare’s three Group stakes winners is European champion and Valachi Downs resident U S Navy Flag (USA), whose first foals arrive this year. Butterfly Cove is also the granddam of Australian winners Archery Peak (GB) (Arch {USA}) and Mubariz (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who was imported last November and is already a winner for trainer Chris Waller.
Coolmore Australia stallion Saxon Warrior’s (Jpn) half-sister More Beautiful (USA) (War Front {USA}) makes her fourth career start in this race. The filly out of European champion Maybe (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) also comes from the extended family of Gold Front’s Group 1 winner and young sire Awesome Rock and this year’s G1 Irish Oaks winner Even So (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).
A half-sister to champion Order Of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Earth Strike (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) is also a half-sister to G3 Bart Cummings H. third Kellstorm (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) among five stakes horses. Trained by Melbourne Cup winner Joseph O’Brien, Earth Strike saw a change in ownership after her 2.75l debut victory on August 20 and will be running in Leonard Green’s silks on Saturday.
A great-granddaughter of Miesque (USA) (Nureyev {USA}), Star Image (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) hails from the same family as multiple Group stakes winner Captain Cook (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who ran third in a trial a few weeks ago while working toward a comeback for Chris Waller. The family also includes Arrowfield’s shuttle stallion Real Steel (Jpn), whose first Australian foals are due this season.
Zoustar’s little brother lines up in Petingo H.
Zoustar’s Listed-placed half-brother Emperor Of The Sun (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) looks to get back in the winner’s enclosure in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 'Petingo' H. Second in a Listed stakes race two weeks ago for Donnacha O’Brien, Emperor Of The Sun has made eight starts so far with five top three finishes. Emperor Of The Sun is the second stakes horse for Zouzou (Redoute’s Choice) alongside his famous brother with Zouzou also a half-sister to the dams of Group winners Testashadow (Testa Rossa) and Dusty Star (General Nediym).
OTI Racing’s Mirann (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) was given highweight honours in Saturday’s race. Third in his last start, the Johnny Murtagh-trained 4-year-old hails from the family of three-time Australian Group 1 winner Manighar (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}).
Halimi (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) has plenty of Australasian connections as a Godolphin homebred by their former shuttle stallion and out of a half-sister to former shuttle stallion Cape Cross (Ire) and the dam of Iffraaj (GB).
Dream Ahead’s (USA) Edification (GB) is one of four winners for Elegant Pride (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}), a half-sister to G2 Queen of the South S. winner Trick Of Light (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and granddaughter of the great broodmare Monroe (USA) (Sir Ivor {USA}). Trick of Light’s youngest is a yearling Lonhro filly with the mare also having a Street Boss (USA) 2-year-old colt named Rainbow Ruler in training with John Sadler.
Winner Takes Itall (Fr) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is a half-brother to the stakes-winning Sindirana (Ire) (Kalanisi {Ire}), who herself has produced both stakes horses and stakes producers. Winner Takes Itall is also a half-brother to that one’s full sister Sindiyma (Ire), the dam of Australian stakes winner and Group 1-placed Sikandarabad (Ire) (Dr. Fong {Ire}).
A great-grandson of Snow Bride (USA) (Blushing Groom {Fr}), Powerful Ted’s (Ire) (Power {GB}) family has impacted Australia as well with Snow Bride daughter Concordia (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) seeing her runners Polarisation (GB) (Echo Of Light {GB}) and Clearly (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) winning stakes in Australia – Polarisation being a winner of the G1 Sydney Cup. Clearly retired to Australia and foaled a colt by Zoustar on August 28, her first foal.
Plenty to watch in Matron
One of 11 in the G1 Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron S., stakes winner Lady Wannabe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is out of Grade 3 winner Wannabe Better (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), who is a half-sister to Australian import Masseera (Ire) (Alzao {USA}), the dam of multiple Australian stakes placed Aceland Street (Street Cry {Ire}). Masseera was bred in Australia from 2003 to 2008 before returning to Ireland in mid-2009.
Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is searching for her third straight Group 1 in this race. The filly is a half-sister to Australian imports Casterton (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) and Fastnet Cyclone (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) with Casterton fourth in a Group 3 in Australia and Fastnet Cyclone a winner. The trio is out of a full sister to High Chaparral (Ire) with G2 Gold Cup winner Hunting Horn (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) out of another half-sister. Fancy Blue is one of two runners in this race from the family with Love Locket (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) searching for her first Group 1 here.
Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Know It All (GB) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) is a half-sister to Dubawi’s (Ire) multiple Group winner Astrophysical Jet (GB), who was imported to Australia in 2012. That mare has four Australian foals with her youngest a yearling Pariah colt born last August. Their dam is a half-sister to the dam of G1 Queen Elizabeth winner My Kingdom Of Fife (GB) (Kingmambo {USA}), who is out of stakes winner Fairy Godmother (GB) (Fairy King {USA}).
A great-granddaughter of Urban Sea (USA) (Miswaki {USA}), stakes winner and Group 1-placed So Wonderful (USA) (War Front {USA}) is out of a half-sister to the dam of Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). That colt was recently announced to be coming to Australia after being purchased by Ozzie Kheir.
One other runner of interest in the race is Champers Elysees (Ire), who is by Australian-bred Elzaam.
Designs On Rome family starts in Champions Juvenile
Moyglare Stud homebred G2 PMG Champions Juvenile S. runner Blue For You (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) is the first foal for Designs On Rome’s (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) half-sister Love In The Sun (Ire) (Kodiac {Ire}). Their dam Summer Trysting (USA) (Alleged {USA}) is a half-sister to the unraced Rekindled Affair (Ire) (Rainbow Quest {USA}), whose foals included Group 2 winner Rekindled Interest (Redoute’s Choice) and Group 2-placed Rekindled Alliance in addition to the granddam of Group 1 winner and Yulong Investments’ stallion Alabama Express.
Others of interest include More Than Ready’s (USA) Ides Of August (USA), a full brother to that stallion’s Group 3 winner Nemoralia (USA), and American Pharoah’s (USA) Van Gogh (USA).
Caulfield Cup contenders line up in Irish Champion
Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) looks to get back to his winning ways in the G1 Irish Champion S. after finishing third in his last two starts. The 4-year-old is out of the stakes placed and successful broodmare Shastye (Ire) (Danehill {USA}), who has multiple runners in Australia. Her produce record includes Listed Ipswich Cup winner Maurus (GB) (Medicean {GB}) and G3 JRA Cup third Sir Isaac Newton (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in addition to Sir Isaac Newton’s Group 2 winning and Epsom Oaks runner-up full sister, Secret Gesture (GB) and multiple Group winner Mogul (GB).
Japan is among those nominated to the G1 Caulfield Cup alongside fellow Ballydoyle trainee Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who also runs in this race. Magical is one of three Group winners for classic winning dam Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). Magical hails from the same family as 2018 Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who is under her third dam.
Another Ballydoyle runner in the weights, who also runs in this race is Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Out of multiple Group-placed mare After (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), the multiple Group winner is also Group 1 placed.
Group 2 winner Leo De Fury (Ire) (Australia {GB}) is out of a full sister to G3 Queen Elizabeth S. third Forgotten Voice (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Forgotten Voice is one of three stakes horses for Spend A Buck’s (USA) Asnieres (USA), whose family has been successful on nearly every continent.
Yulong runner looks for Boomerang Mile victory
Zhang Yuesheng’s champion Ancient Spirit (Ger) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is among 10 entries for the G2 Clipper Logistics Boomerang Mile on Saturday. The 5-year-old entire is a half-brother to Group 1 winner Alson (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) with their granddam a three-quarter sister to the dam of dual Australian Group 1 winner Almandin (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}).
Regally-bred Vatican City (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is a full brother to multiple Australian Group winner Taj Mahal (Ire) in addition to three classic winners. The colt’s granddam is Mariah’s Storm (USA) (Rahy {USA}) who provides another Australian connection as the dam of former shuttle stallion Giant’s Causeway (USA) and as the granddam of multiple Australian Group placed Storm The Stars (USA) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who was trained by Chris Waller during his year in Australia.
Group 3 winner Lancaster House (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) hails from the family of former shuttle stallion New Approach (Ire), whose three-quarter sister Park Heiress (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}) was imported to Australia in 1998. Also the third dam of Lancaster House, Park Heiress’s Australian born daughter Atotori (Haradasun) produced Group 2 winner and Group 1 placed Zoutori. That 5-year-old Zoustar gelding is still active in the Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra barn, most recently racing in May. His dam’s final foal is a Divine Prophet filly born last September with the mare unfortunately dying in April.
Sinntara (Ire) (Lashkari {GB}) has two chances to get a winner on Saturday’s card with Sinawann (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) taking his spot in the barrier four races after Winner Takes Itall (Fr) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Sinntara is the granddam of both runners with Winner Takes Itall the half-brother to Sindiyma (Ire) (Kalanisi {Ire}), the dam of Australian stakes winner and Group 1-placed Sikandarabad (Ire) (Dr. Fong {Ire}).
Leading Williams hope lines up in Paddy Power 'Is It 2021 Yet?' S.
Lining up in the fittingly named G2 Paddy Power 'Is It 2021 Yet?' S. yet, Lloyd Williams’ Buckhurst (Ire) (Australia {GB}) will make what may be his final run in Ireland before heading down to Australia for runs at the Spring Carnival… if his connections feel it is safe to travel. Williams confirmed in August that the runner’s participation depends on the status of COVID-19. Trained by G1 Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Joseph O’Brien, Buckhurst is from a family that includes New Zealand stakes winner and multiple Group 1-placed Savile Row (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) and his half-sister’s Group 1-placed Arrogant (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).
Williams also partners in Mr Mooj (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who will be making his first stakes attempt here in his seventh career start. The 3-year-old gelding was a 110,000 gns (AU$219,450) purchase at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by O’Brien and raced by Williams, Gudinski, and the Ateam Syndicate.
Sea The Stars’ (Ire) Broad Street (GB) is a grandson of multiple Group 1 winner Nebraska Tornado (USA) (Storm Cat {USA}). That mare is also the granddam of New Zealand Listed winner and Group 2-placed Sassy ‘N’ Smart (Smart Missile) with two of her siblings also winners in Australia. Her dam Panorama Ridge (USA) (Empire Maker {USA}) was purchased from the Keeneland November Sale by Freyer Bloodstock in 2010 for US$160,000 (AU$219,840) and is still an active broodmare with a yearling Pariah colt and a 2-year-old filly named Mallory (Not A Single Doubt) in training with Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou.
Stakes winning Silence Please (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) is a half-sister to multiple Australian Group-placed Gallante (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), who spent three and a half years in Australia before moving to New Zealand in 2018. The 10-year-old gelding is in training with Team Rogerson and trialled earlier this week with an entry today.
Sidestep runner stars in closing H.
In a full 18 horse handicap, Sidestep’s Real Appeal (Ger) closes out Saturday’s Irish Champion weekend card. The stakes winning 6-year-old gelding is the best under his first three dams with third dam Mistle Song (GB) (Nashwan {USA}) the closest stakes winner. That mare is also the dam of stakes winner Wassfa (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}) and Hong Kong winner Expeditous (GB) (Anabaa {USA}), a two-time winner in that country.
