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Glasgow Times
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Jan Brueghel poised to be the Ballydoyle big gun in the King George
Last season's St Leger hero Jan Brueghel opened his account for the current campaign in the Coronation Cup at Epsom last month and looks set for a rematch with the runner-up that day, French star Calandagan, in Ascot's midsummer highlight. While the Ballydoyle handler was not ruling out the possibility of Epsom and Curragh winner Lambourn taking on his elders when speaking at the Kildare track on Saturday, connections appear more likely to chart a path towards a third Classic bid in the Betfred-sponsored Leger at Doncaster in September. You shall not pass ❌ Jan Brueghel sees off Calandagan to win the Betfred Coronation Cup 🏆#EpsomDerbyFestival — ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 6, 2025 O'Brien said: 'At the moment I'd say Jan Brueghel is most likely to go to the King George, with Continuous. 'Lambourn is still on the boiling pot for it, but I don't think he'll be forced into it by any means and he is a three-year-old. 'Jan Brueghel seems to be in very good form and everyone seems to be very happy with him. I'd imagine the lads might let him go there. 'That would mean Lambourn would have a couple of easy weeks and he might go to the Great Voltigeur (at York), even though he's a Group One winner, and kind of set him up for the Leger. 'They haven't really decided yet, but reading between the lines that's what could happen.' Delacroix won a pulsating renewal of the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown (Chris Radburn/PA) O'Brien also confirmed his Eclipse first and fourth Delacroix and Camille Pissarro are both being trained for next month's Juddmonte International at York, despite bookmaker support prompting speculation the former could drop back to a mile for a clash with Field Of Gold in Goodwood's Sussex Stakes, while the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe remains the long-term target for Los Angeles. 'We have Delacroix and Camille Pissarro being trained for the Juddmonte at York and the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. They'll be taking that slot at the moment,' he said. 'Los Angeles is on a break and he'll maybe go to the Prix Foy on Arc trials day with the view of going to the Arc with him. 'Delacroix loved Leopardstown and was very good around there. Whether the lads decide to go to York or not before that, they'll make that decision. He seems in good form at the moment.' Meanwhile, in an earlier interview with ITV Racing, O'Brien revealed his Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Lake Victoria may not run again. The Frankel filly was ruled out of Royal Ascot last month after suffering a setback and has not yet returned to work. LAKE VICTORIA wins the Irish 1000 Guineas! 🏆 What a day for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore! @curraghrace @Tattersalls_ie | @coolmorestud — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 25, 2025 O'Brien said: 'She is not back in exercise yet. She's doing very well physically, but she's not back in work yet. 'John (Halley, vet) will make the decision on whether she comes back into work for this year or is left alone until next year or is retired altogether. They'll be decisions that will be made as weeks go by.' The trainer is preparing both Whirl and Bedtime Story for the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, but admitted he was 'a little bit uneasy about running them against each other', hinting Whirl could be rerouted to the Yorkshire Oaks should his Epsom and Curragh Oaks heroine Minnie Hauk head elsewhere. Gstaad and Ryan Moore after winning at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA) With the highly touted Albert Einstein 'probably not' going to run going to run again this season, O'Brien's juvenile team for the second half of the season is set to be led by Coventry Stakes winner Gstaad, who has several Group One options coming up. O'Brien added: 'Gstaad is very well, he's come out of the Coventry very well. We're thinking he could be a Heinz (Phoenix Stakes) horse, he could take in Deauville (Prix Morny) and he could take in the National Stakes and he could end up being a Dewhurst horse at the end.'
Irish Times
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Minnie Hauk makes it more exciting than anticipated but lands Irish Oaks at 2/11
Considering much of the pre-race chat was whether Minnie Hauk might start the shortest priced classic runner ever, Saturday's Juddmonte Irish Oaks turned out to be much more exciting than many had anticipated. Ultimately Aidan O'Brien 's eighth winner of the race, and the 16th filly to complete the Epsom-Curragh Oaks double, won a shade cosily. But those who bet the 2/11 SP must have been momentarily shifting uneasily in the straight as Ryan Moore started to scrub on the hotpot while Dylan Browne McMonagle was motionless in front of him on Wemightakedlongway. The latter was fourth at Epsom and a change of tactics briefly looked like paying off only for Minnie Hauk to ultimately come through and win by just over a length. READ MORE If there was a rather underwhelming feel to the performance, she did at least land her cramped odds. O'Brien's Order Of St George was famously beaten at 1/7 in the 2016 Irish Leger, a race that Yeats also got beaten in at 2/7 in 2006. In the end Australia's record 1/8 price when landing the 2014 Curragh Derby was unchallenged and his awkwardly named daughter, Wemightakedlongway, momentarily underlined the dangers of betting very short. Having narrowly beaten her stable companion Whirl at Epsom, the charitable take on Saturday's double display was that Minnie Hauk might not do it prettily but does consistently pull off the all-important feat of winning. Moore said he was never worried, although Browne McMonagle's tactical shift appeared to be a surprise. 'I just had to wake her up to get past Dylan, a little bit like at the Oaks at Epsom. She'd be quite deceptive. She's become more professional and at least we've learned a little bit more about her today. 'There's probably no doubt that it was a weak running of an Oaks. I'm happy with her and I'm sure she is going to go on to better things as well. 'When I asked her, she switched her lead and went and done it. At Chester at the start of the year she only won by a length, she just timed herself. When she got to the front at Epsom, she went asleep on me again. We are learning about her, and she'll be better than this,' reassured the English rider. Ryan Moore on Minnie Hauk win The Juddmonte Irish Oaks (Group 1). Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho O'Brien quickly added that the best of the €1.85 million 2023 Orby sales-topper won't be seen until she gets a very high race tempo to target. Afterwards, the Ballydoyle brains trust debated a potential route towards October's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, with either the Yorkshire Oaks or the Prix Vermeille apparently to the fore as possible trials. 'The boss (John Magnier) asked Ryan where to go with her and he said to go to the Yorkshire Oaks. The boss said 'what about if we give her a break and train her for the Vermeille and give her a French Arc prep?' All those things are open, and we'll see how she is. 'I think she can do either of those things but if she's going to the French trial she'd have to have a couple of easy weeks. Obviously if she's going to York she wouldn't have those couple of easy weeks,' O'Brien commented. The immediate dividend though was a seventh classic of the year for the trainer and an 11th Group One success in all. Having briefly threatened to spoil the short-priced Oaks party, Dylan Browne McMonagle later hit the mark on his own odds-on favourite Al Riffa in the Group Two Curragh Cup. The dual-Group One winner made light of the step up to 14-furlongs and quickened past inferior rivals to set up a tilt at the Irish Leger in September. Joseph O'Brien , twice a Melbourne Cup winner, didn't rule out a tilt at the Flemington highlight either with a colt who was classy enough to land a National Stakes as a two-year-old. Proud of Wemighttakedlongway's classic effort – 'Minnie Hauk is a champion, and we gave her a fright for a few seconds' – O'Brien is also eyeing a profitable autumn with Al Riffa. Earlier on the classic programme, True Love's 1-2 odds were comparatively generous when she made no mistake in kicking right away from three colts in the Group Two Gain Railway Stakes. The Queen Mary winner had no trouble stepping up a furlong and proved five lengths too good for her stable companion Puerto Rico. Ryan Moore on True Love wins The GAIN Railway Stakes (Group 2) at the Curragh. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho Having proven her credentials for the trip, O'Brien nominated potential targets in the Phoenix Stakes back at HQ, Deauville for the Prix Morny, and Newmarket's Cheveley Park Stakes. True Love was the first filly to win the Railway in 27 years and having successfully led the Ballydoyle juvenile bandwagon here may end up taking on colts again later this campaign. O'Brien indicated his exciting Albert Einstein 'probably' won't run again this season. That leaves the Coventry winner Gstaad – who beat True Love in his maiden – as his most likely top colt to go to war with later this summer. As well as the Phoenix and the Morny, Gstaad's ambitions could also see him aimed at seven-furlong contests in the National Stakes and the Dewhurst. However, the dangers of planning too far ahead also got underlined on Saturday when O'Brien revealed doubts about last year's champion juvenile filly Lake Victoria even racing again. Out of action since landing the Irish Guineas in May, he said: 'She is not back in exercise yet. She's doing very well physically, but she's not back in work yet. 'John (Halley, vet) will make the decision on whether she comes back into work for this year or is left alone until next year, or is retired altogether. They'll be decisions that will be made as weeks go by.' O'Brien opened Saturday's card with a 1-2-3 in the juvenile maiden where the odds-on New Zealand won by a nose from the eye-catching newcomer Isaac Newton. The sprinting division is often Irish racing's poor relation but there could be a real top-notcher in Ireland for a change as Arizona Blaze continued his progress up the ranks and landed the Group Two Barberstown Cstle Sapphire Stakes. Runner up in Royal Ascot's Commonwealth Cup, and at last year's Breeders' Cup, the AMO Racing colt dropped to the minimum distance and proved too quick for the English raider Mgheera. David Egan, whose sister Alexandra rode her first winner at Down Royal on Friday evening, dominated from the front on the winner and a potential tilt at York's Nunthorpe next month could be another shot at a top-level success. AMO's big-spending owner Kia Joorabchian was present at the Curragh to watch the colt and expressed confidence that a top-flight victory is within Arizona Blaze's grasp. 'He's been professional all the way. He loves five and can go six and seven. He loves the five furlongs and hopefully we'll have a lot more fun with him,' he said. 'I think we'll aim for the Breeders' Cup. I think he'll get a Group 1 somewhere.'
The Herald Scotland
12 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Jan Brueghel poised to be the Ballydoyle big gun in the King George
While the Ballydoyle handler was not ruling out the possibility of Epsom and Curragh winner Lambourn taking on his elders when speaking at the Kildare track on Saturday, connections appear more likely to chart a path towards a third Classic bid in the Betfred-sponsored Leger at Doncaster in September. You shall not pass ❌ Jan Brueghel sees off Calandagan to win the Betfred Coronation Cup 🏆#EpsomDerbyFestival — ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 6, 2025 O'Brien said: 'At the moment I'd say Jan Brueghel is most likely to go to the King George, with Continuous. 'Lambourn is still on the boiling pot for it, but I don't think he'll be forced into it by any means and he is a three-year-old. 'Jan Brueghel seems to be in very good form and everyone seems to be very happy with him. I'd imagine the lads might let him go there. 'That would mean Lambourn would have a couple of easy weeks and he might go to the Great Voltigeur (at York), even though he's a Group One winner, and kind of set him up for the Leger. 'They haven't really decided yet, but reading between the lines that's what could happen.' Delacroix won a pulsating renewal of the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown (Chris Radburn/PA) O'Brien also confirmed his Eclipse first and fourth Delacroix and Camille Pissarro are both being trained for next month's Juddmonte International at York, despite bookmaker support prompting speculation the former could drop back to a mile for a clash with Field Of Gold in Goodwood's Sussex Stakes, while the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe remains the long-term target for Los Angeles. 'We have Delacroix and Camille Pissarro being trained for the Juddmonte at York and the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. They'll be taking that slot at the moment,' he said. 'Los Angeles is on a break and he'll maybe go to the Prix Foy on Arc trials day with the view of going to the Arc with him. 'Delacroix loved Leopardstown and was very good around there. Whether the lads decide to go to York or not before that, they'll make that decision. He seems in good form at the moment.' Meanwhile, in an earlier interview with ITV Racing, O'Brien revealed his Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Lake Victoria may not run again. The Frankel filly was ruled out of Royal Ascot last month after suffering a setback and has not yet returned to work. LAKE VICTORIA wins the Irish 1000 Guineas! 🏆 What a day for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore! @curraghrace @Tattersalls_ie | @coolmorestud — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 25, 2025 O'Brien said: 'She is not back in exercise yet. She's doing very well physically, but she's not back in work yet. 'John (Halley, vet) will make the decision on whether she comes back into work for this year or is left alone until next year or is retired altogether. They'll be decisions that will be made as weeks go by.' The trainer is preparing both Whirl and Bedtime Story for the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, but admitted he was 'a little bit uneasy about running them against each other', hinting Whirl could be rerouted to the Yorkshire Oaks should his Epsom and Curragh Oaks heroine Minnie Hauk head elsewhere. Gstaad and Ryan Moore after winning at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA) With the highly touted Albert Einstein 'probably not' going to run going to run again this season, O'Brien's juvenile team for the second half of the season is set to be led by Coventry Stakes winner Gstaad, who has several Group One options coming up. O'Brien added: 'Gstaad is very well, he's come out of the Coventry very well. We're thinking he could be a Heinz (Phoenix Stakes) horse, he could take in Deauville (Prix Morny) and he could take in the National Stakes and he could end up being a Dewhurst horse at the end.'
BBC News
12 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Minnie Hauk wins Irish Oaks for classic double
Minnie Hauk finished strongly to get the better of Wemightakedlongway in the closing stages and take victory in the Irish Oaks at the success completed a classic double for the Aidan O'Brien-trained horse, the Frankel filly having also triumphed in the Oaks at Epsom in early Hauk started as a firm 2-11 favourite against six rivals for the mile-and-a-half Group One contest on Ryan Moore had the eventual winner settled in third for much of the race with fellow O'Brien-trained runner Island Hopping deployed in a pacemaking role and Joseph O'Brien's Wemightakedlongway (7-2) splitting the pair in Hauk had ground to make up with two furlongs to go but ultimately pulled away to win by a length and a quarter, with Island Hopping (20-1) win was an eighth in the Irish Oaks for O'Brien."She's a good filly and she's going to go on to better things as well," winning jockey Moore told RTE after the race."We're learning about her and she'll be better than this."
Telegraph
a day ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
ITV Racing Tips: Curragh, Market Rasen, Newbury
Saturday's UK and Irish racing (Flat unless stated) Curragh 1.30-5.25 (Racing TV) Market Rasen (jumps) 1.35-5.00 (Racing TV) Cartmel (jumps) 1.40-5.10 (Racing TV) Newbury 1.50-5.20 (Sky Sports Racing) Ripon 2.10-5.38 (Sky Sports Racing) Newmarket 4.20-7.38 (Racing TV) Doncaster 5.15-8.45 (Sky Sports Racing) Haydock 6.25-9.00 (Racing TV) Free-to-view racing coverage ITV4 – 9am-10am: The Opening Show ITV1 – 1.30pm-4pm: Live racing from the Curragh, Market Rasen and Newbury Ron Wood's selections Nap: Ballysax Hank (3.12, Market Rasen) 1pt win @ 9/2 with Betfred ⭐⭐⭐ Next best: Kind Of Blue (2.57, Newbury) 1pt win @ 15/2 with Betfred ⭐⭐⭐ Others: Ancient Wisdom (1.50, Newbury) 1pt win @ 9/2 with Betfred ⭐⭐ Mostly Sunny (2.05, Market Rasen) 1pt win @ 9/2 with Betfred ⭐⭐ Contacto (2.25, Newbury) 1pt win @ 11/2 with Betfred ⭐⭐ Cavern Club (2.40, Market Rasen) 1pt win @ 8/1 with Betfred ⭐⭐ Havana Hurricane (3.30, Newbury) 1pt win @ 11/8 with Betfred ⭐⭐⭐ Minnie Hauk (3,40, Curragh) 1pt win @ 2/9 with Betfred ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Odds provided by Betfred and correct at the time of writing. Stars denote strength of selection (maximum five). If you already have a Betfred account and are looking for a new bookmaker to use for this week's racing, check out more free bets from the best betting sites, reviewed by our experts. 1.50, Newbury – Steventon Stakes (Listed, 1m 2f; ITV1 and Racing TV) Maybe this open contest can go to ANCIENT WISDOM. Charlie Appleby's four-year-old has developed an inconsistent profile, but he was a Group 1 winner as a two-year-old and landed a Group 3 last term. That latest success came over 1m 5f, but he was second in the 1m 2f Group 3 Gordon Richards at Sandown earlier this season. Ancient Wisdom was below form in the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom on his latest outing, and he could do with some rain getting into the ground, but this son of Dubawi has since been gelded and this is a big class drop. 2.05, Market Rasen – Class 3 Handicap Hurdle (2m 4½f; ITV1 and Racing TV) It is hard to know what the ground is going to do at the Lincolnshire course, as it was officially given as good on Friday (warm and dry), but rain is forecast for race day. MOSTLY SUNNY won at Plumpton in April and has been running creditably in defeat in some competitive events since then. This race does not look as deep as those recent outings, so it seems a fair opportunity for Dan Skelton's charge. 2.25, Newbury – Class 2 Handicap (2m ½f; ITV1 and Racing TV) There is probably still more to come from CONTACTO for trainer Andrew Balding, and some rain could help his cause. This four-year-old struggled to make a telling impression in a competitive race at Newcastle last time, but that was a muddling affair and he was earlier progressive, not looking fully exposed as a stayer. 2.40, Market Rasen – Summer Handicap Hurdle (Class 2 2m ½f; ITV1 and Racing TV) A James Owen five-year-old, Too Friendly, won this race in 2023 and the trainer is back with another runner of the same age who has fair-looking claims, CAVERN CLUB. The selection is still relatively unexposed over jumps, having had only six starts as a hurdler, winning twice – including the most recent at Doncaster in March under Gavin Sheehan, who is again in the saddle. Cavern Club comes into this in form, having won his latest outing on the Flat, and he should not mind what the weather does. 2.57, Newbury – Hackwood Stakes (Group 3, 6f; ITV1 and Racing TV) This features last year's winner Elite Status as well as Regional, who won the 2023 Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup. However, preference is for KIND OF BLUE, who won last season's Group 1 Champions Sprint at Ascot. Our pick was only third in this in 2024, but that was just his fourth start – and while it has been a disappointing campaign for him this time around, he has had excuses for both his starts in 2025. James Fanshawe's runner blew the start in a 5f race on his reappearance. And most recently, he had an unfavourable track position on the all-weather at Newcastle, and a 7lb penalty. Kind Of Blue should be happier back on turf and he is unpenalised now. 3.12, Market Rasen – Summer Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap, 2m 5½f; ITV1 and Racing TV) The Irish-trained BALLYSAX HANK looks to have fair-looking claims. He is a strong traveller who should be better for his recent Bellewstown spin over hurdles, when he was returning from a two-month break, and his usual hood is now refitted. Our nap has had just three starts over fences, so still has potential, and Harry Cobden, who has ridden the previous two winners of this race, including Sure Touch last year, takes the mount on Gavin Cromwell's charge. 3.30, Newbury – Super Sprint (Class 2, 5f; ITV1 and Racing TV) This dash for two-year-olds is worth £250,000 and the form runner is the Eve Johnson Houghton-trained HAVANA HURRICANE, who won the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot. Charles Bishop continues in the saddle. 3.40, Curragh – Group 1 Irish Oaks (1m 4f; ITV1 and Racing TV) This contest seems like an open-and-shut case. MINNIE HAUK has much the best form and anything other than a win for her will be a surprise, although she is priced accordingly – so it is not like there is a lot to be gained from supporting her. Minnie Hauk did not appear to be one of Aidan O'Brien's top prospects last year, even having cost €1.85m as a yearling. But she won the Cheshire Oaks on her reappearance and then landed the Group 1 Oaks at Epsom, defeating her stablemate Whirl, who then won the Group 1 Pretty Polly at the Curragh. This daughter of Frankel has quickly progressed into a high-class three-year-old and she potentially has further improvement in her. Does Aidan O'Brien have any other runners on Saturday? Just a few – the Ballydoyle maestro is fielding 13 charges, all at the Curragh, including True Love, who takes on the boys in the Group 2 Railway Stakes (2.35). This filly was last seen landing the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot. Where is Ryan Moore riding on Saturday? Of course Moore is at the Curragh, where he will be bidding to win the Irish Oaks for the fourth time. And of course he is on hot favourite Minnie Hauk. Where is William Buick riding on Saturday? Buick is at Newbury and his mounts include Ancient Wisdom, our selection in the opener. When is the next big racing festival? The week-long Galway Festival kicks off in Ireland on Monday July 28, followed a day later by Glorious Goodwood. Check out the latest Glorious Goodwood free bets and betting offers ahead of the West Sussex showdown. The latter is a five-day fixture and is set to feature the Kingman colt Field Of Gold, possibly the best horse in the world, in the Sussex Stakes on July 30, one of three Group 1s at the meeting. What does nap mean? Nap is a word used in betting circles to describe a prediction that a tipster thinks has a particularly strong chance of winning. Many horse racing tipsters pick out a 'nap of the day', which is their favoured selection from all the races across the different meetings. The term nap derives from the French card game Napoleon. When players of this game thought they had a particularly strong hand that they would win with, they would shout 'Napoleon'. Ron Wood 2025 horse racing profit/loss Star ratings explained ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - confident selection ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - strong fancy ⭐⭐⭐ - fair claims ⭐⭐ - tentative choice ⭐ - minimum confidence
