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News.com.au
an hour ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Coolmore backs trainer Aidan O'Brien to have Storm Boy at his best for Royal Ascot
Coolmore is relying on the training genius of Aidan O'Brien to orchestrate the ultimate form reversal from crack colt Storm Boy at England's prestigious Royal Ascot carnival. Storm Boy, formerly trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, made his debut for the O'Brien stable earlier this month with an inglorious last of nine in the Greenlands Stakes at The Curragh. The Storm Boy that ran in Ireland was nothing like the brilliant, at times dominating sprinter who won five of his nine starts in Australia including the Magic Millions, Skyline Stakes and San Domenico Stakes, earning more than $3.5m. But Coolmore Australia's Tom Magnier said O'Brien is confident Storm Boy can bounce back at Royal Ascot. 'It didn't go to plan last start,'' Magnier said. 'But City Of Troy had a bad day in the Guineas first-up last year and Aidan was able to turn him around. 'I have every confidence Aidan will be able to get Storm Boy back on track for Royal Ascot.'' Magnier's mention of City Of Troy was a reference to how O'Brien prepared the colt for a stunning English Derby win last year after he had flopped in the 2000 Guineas at his previous start. O'Brien achieved a similar result with Auguste Rodin in the Derby two years ago after that colt also came off a poor 2000 Guineas effort. 🇮🇰 Ireland Greenlands Stakes @curraghrace Curragh - Groupe 2 - 4 ans et plus - 1207m - 9 Pts - 120 000 € ðŸ�† 🥇James's Delight (h) (Ire) ðŸ�‡O Murphy @oismurphy 🥈Lethal Levi 🥉Big Gossey ðŸ'–(Invincible Army (Ire) - Heavens Peak (Ire) par Pivotal (Gb)) 🕶ï¸�C… â€' French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) May 24, 2025 Storm Boy is not Derby-bound but he is being aimed at the prestigious Royal Ascot carnival later this month where he is likely to line up in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m) on June 21. In early TAB betting on the Jubilee Stakes, the Jerome Reynier -trained Lazzat, runner-up in the Golden Eagle at Rosehill last spring, is the $4.50 favourite with Storm Boy out to $11. O'Brien hasn't been discouraged by Storm Boy's shock showing at The Curragh and has been surprisingly upbeat when interviewed by Irish media. 'He had never been galloped or worked, but we had to run him to find out what else we had to work on between now and Ascot,' O'Brien said. 'We learned that we have a good bit to work on, but I was very happy to do that. 'He was beaten less than six lengths and he got a bad enough check at the two (furlong) marker. You could take another two off that, so he probably would have been beaten less than four lengths. 'That was a very respectable run. I know everyone was disappointed, but we think we'll take him home now and we're going to train him. 'We haven't really trained him yet and hopefully what we think will come, will come.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
CALUM McCLURKIN: Ruling Court and Whirl the way to go at Epsom
Derby and Oaks weekend is just around the corner and I'll be in the Godolphin camp in one race and Ballydoyle in the other. RULING COURT won a strong 2,000 Guineas, with beaten favourite Field Of Gold hacking up in the Irish equivalent. To me that's by far the best form on offer going into the Derby and, while ten furlongs might be his optimum trip, there's enough enthusiasm that Ruling Court can stay the mile and a half at Epsom. Trained by Charlie Appleby, Ruling Court is around the 4-1 mark to bag a second Classic of the season. Appleby and Godolphin have won the Derby with Masar (2018) and Adayar (2021) and Ruling Court very much in the mould of the former. Delacroix is favourite for O'Brien and commands respect but he seems the honourable consistent horse in the race. The one you'd back to get into the top three but not necessarily win. Think the likes of Broome and Los Angeles. He's of much more interest to me at the stiffer Irish Derby test at the Curragh. The Lion In Winter was sixth in the Dante and punters are unsure what to make of him. He's been backed heavily and then drifted out markedly. Is he a generational talent that can bounce back or a bit of a busted flush? He wouldn't be for me. The winner at York was Pride Of Arras and he's a much bigger threat to the selection as he'll improve for the run and was underestimated in the market. He won't be this time, however. Dante second Damysus has an each-way shout for the Gosdens, while the same trainers have Nightwalker who shapes like a stayer. Keep an eye out on him for a St Leger later in the season. Derby 1-2-3: 1: Ruling Court. 2: Pride Of Arras. 3: Delacroix. Desert Flower holds all the aces in the Oaks but the 9-4 last week is all gone and the 13-8 makes little appeal. She's well clear on the figures after winning the 1,000 Guineas but she didn't need to improve upon her juvenile form to win that. Stamina is an unknown, although within her compass and I do wonder if she's really trained on. There are a couple of potential improvers lurking in the market and WHIRL appeals the most out of the O'Brien trio at around the 5-1 mark. She won the Musidora Stakes at York in impressive fashion despite drifting significantly in the market before the off. Whirl gave the impression that there's much more to come on the fitness trip and connections were initially mulling over the French Oaks but will instead head to Epsom. That looks the right call. Minnie Hauk won the Cheshire Oaks in good fashion but needs to improve and may lack the tactical speed required to win an Oaks around Epsom. Giselle is a filly of significant potential and it's difficult to gauge her true ability in winning a three-runner race at Lingfield. She was very raw and pulled hard but a bigger field and a truer pace should help her settle and see her in a different light. She's dangerous to ignore and it'll be very informative who No 1 jockey Ryan Moore selects to ride. I suspect it will either be Whirl or Giselle. With the former maybe a bit more reliable, I'd be hopeful he'd pick Whirl. Elwateen has been supplemented and is not without a chance given she was only beaten a couple of lengths by Desert Flower in the Guineas on just her second-ever start. Oaks 1-2-3: 1: Whirl. 2: Giselle. 3: Desert Flower. TRAWLERMAN THE CATCH OF THE DAY FOR ROYAL ASCOT While all eyes will be on Epsom next weekend, Royal Ascot isn't far away either. It's sad that Gold Cup king Kyprios has been retired after aggravating his injury. He enjoyed a remarkable career. But his absence opens the door for others in an open division. Personally, I find Illinois an inexplicably short price as favourite. His reappearance win at Chester was fine but he was outstayed in the St Leger at Doncaster last week and I don't really see how he stays two mile four furlongs at Royal Ascot in open company. I'd rather see him in a Coronation Cup than a Gold Cup. Don't get me wrong. He's a very good horse that's trained on from three to four but I'm unconvinced of his profile to be a top-class staying horse. I'd prefer him over a mile and a half at this stage of his career. Jan Breughel beat Illinois in the Leger but there wasn't much to glean from his reappearance defeat at odds-on. Yes, he was unfit and racing over a trip about a mile too short for him but he his head carriage was high and he didn't really finish off his race with any sort of zest. There must be a niggling doubt that his Leger effort may have left a mark on him. So surely the door is open for TRAWLERMAN to strike gold given his old adversary is sidelined. He beat him once on Champions Day and was only a length behind Kyprios last year and five clear of stablemate Sweet William. Those two pieces of form are lightyears ahead of anything else in the field. He's not getting any younger at the age of seven but that's fine with stayers as we see the same horses dominate this division for years; think Yeats, Order Of St George, Big Orange, Stradivarius and Kyprios. His win at Sandown in midweek should tee him up for another bold bid and odds of 5-1 are still more than fair. French raider Candelari is a potential fly in the ointment but this is significantly tougher than anything he's faced over in France. PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK… There was plenty to like about ESTRANGE in the Group Three Lester Piggott Fillies' Stakes. Trained by David O'Meara and ridden by Daniel Tudhope, the striking grey was always travelling sweetly and just needed to be pushed out to win by four and a quarter lengths from favourite Shaha. Don't be surprised if she takes her chances upped in grade in races such as the Yorkshire and Lancashire Oaks. SELECTION OF THE DAY… It's the French Derby in Chantilly (3.05) and the two to focus on are DETAIN (11-2, Paddy Power) and Ridari who were a little unlucky when fifth and sixth in the French Guineas. Detain is the better drawn of the pair and can take the prize for John and Thady Gosden who won this in 2020 with Mishriff.
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Gypsy Queen quickens to emphatic victory
Stepping up on her recent debut in Limerick, the Willie McCreery-trained Gypsy Queen ran out an emphatic winner of the six-furlong End Of School Year Maiden in Fairyhouse. The well-backed Pinatubo filly came from off the pace under Billy Lee to master uneasy favourite Sapphire Princess, before beating long-time leader Manhattan Chute by almost five lengths. 'She's home-bred, so this is important,' stated McCreery. 'Billy said she loved the bit of ease in the ground. She quickened up nicely and won well. 'She was on her head early on, so seven furlongs might suit her. We'll try to find a 'winners of one' or a fillies' handicap for her next.' Jamie Powell recorded his fifth win of the season and was seen to good effect on board Danny Murphy's No Return, a Curragh maiden winner in the spring, in the six-furlong Fairynights @Fairyhouse Handicap. Although drawn high, the Kodiac gelding broke well, was soon able to dictate the pace and, in the closing stages, kept on well to beat top-weight Misappropriation by a length and a quarter with favourite Gazelle D'or, from off the pace, in third. 'There was no pace angle and Jamie got a soft lead,' commented the successful trainer. 'He's a good money-spinner and six furlongs is perfect for him.' Owner-trainer Matty Tynan declared: 'I'm in the game a long time and this is the best day of my racing life,' after his grand-daughter Orla, 18, who is apprenticed to Andy Slattery, savoured her first success in the saddle. 'I'm glad I'm alive to see it, my grand-daughter riding a winner for me,' after 33-1 shot Solomon Coop bolted up in the House Restaurant Apprentice Handicap. Winner of an 'optional claimer' in Ballinrobe last time and better suited by this more galloping track, the Johnny Murtagh-trained Fantazy Man defied a mark of 81 and top-weight in the concluding Country & Western Handicap, staying on dourly up the straight for Ben Coen to beat Edergole's Angel by almost five lengths and giving the impression that he'll have no problem stepping-up to a mile and a half. And Murtagh's apprentice Yudish Geerdharry enjoyed a welcome change of luck when taking the seven-furlong handicap on board the Diego Dias-trained 40-1 shot Lovely, who pipped Mother Mara, denying trainer Ger O'Leary, successful earlier with Yaxchilan, a double.
Irish Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Epsom tilt ‘unlikely' for Purview with Dermot Weld targeting Irish Derby instead
Dermot Weld is set to target next month's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby with Purview and described as 'unlikely' any tilt at Epsom next week with his promising colt. Winner of a Dundalk maiden on his debut in November, Purview reappeared in Leopardstown's Derby Trial over a fortnight ago and ran a very promising second to Delacroix. The colt now heads betting for Saturday week's Derby but Weld is lukewarm on the idea of taking Delacroix on again at Epsom. 'He's still a very big and immature horse and still wants more time, so I would say he is unlikely to go to Epsom. We still have races like the Irish Derby in mind,' Weld said on Tuesday. READ MORE The renowned Curragh trainer also reported that his good filly Swelter will get a break after finishing lame in Sunday's Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas behind Lake Victoria. Swelter lost her unbeaten record when ninth in the weekend classic. 'Unfortunately she was lame post-race. It's nothing serious. She just needs a bit of time off and she'll be back in the autumn,' said Weld. Derby prospects were to the fore on Tuesday morning when the John & Thady Gosden team worked their 'Blue Riband' hopefuls Damysus and Nightwalker at the unique Epsom course. The pair were last seen finishing runner-up and fifth in the Dante at York and Thady Gosden was pleased to give both a 'sighter' of their upcoming challenge. 'It's a very unique track which is impossible to emulate anywhere and just for them to get a feel for it and perhaps get them a few strides quicker in the race can only be a positive thing. 'They both handled it very well. They're very intelligent horses, the pair of them, really taking it in. You could see Damysus pricking his ears coming to the line,' he said. 'They're both talented colts, both have a good turn of foot and both travel well in their races. Also, we know it's a big occasion and it's very easy for it to get to them a little bit but just on the evidence here this morning they seem to handle everything very well,' Gosden added. Wednesday's domestic action is over jumps at Wexford but the smart flat horse Sunchart features in a conditions hurdle. Although not as effective over flights, Andy Slattery's stalwart did record his only win over hurdles at Wexford and any rain will help his chances.
South China Morning Post
26-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Field Of Gold gets Classic redemption in Irish 2,000 Guineas as Antino confirms star status
It was another big day in the saddle for Irish jockey Colin Keane. Photo: Kenneth Chan Field Of Gold secured Classic redemption for John and Thady Gosden in a Group One Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (1,600m) rout at the Curragh on Saturday. After suffering an agonising defeat in the Group One Betfred 2,000 Guineas (1,600m) at Newmarket three weeks earlier, the Gosdens were vindicated by their decision to remove Kieran Shoemark from the saddle in favour of Colin Keane, who steered the Kingman galloper to an impressive success. Held up in midfield, Keane kept things simple, making his move down the outer and the pair quickened up smartly to beat ownermate Cosmic Year by just under four lengths. This was IMPRESSIVE 🤩 Field Of Gold dominated the @Tattersalls_ie Irish 2000 Guineas field, emulating his sire Kingman 🏆@curraghrace — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 24, 2025 In doing so, Field of Gold emulated his sire Kingman in winning the first Irish Classic of the season. There was also redemption for Aidan O'Brien's Lake Victoria, who left behind a poor performance in the Group One Betfred 1,000 Guineas (1,600m) to run away with the Group One Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas (1,600m). Locked away in the box seat under Ryan Moore, the pair were screaming for room at the 600m pole. Moore didn't panic, however, and extricated Lake Victoria out at the 400m pole before running down long-time leader California Dreamer in the final furlong and sauntering away. 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 It formed part of a four-timer for Moore on Sunday, with the global superstar securing the other top-level race on the card, the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup (2,000m), on Los Angeles. In Australia, Antino was a dominant winner of the Group One Doomben Cup (2,000m) in a race where Pride Of Jenni bitterly disappointed. HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. Ciaron Maher's mare went off at a quick pace – as is her want – but came back to the field coming off the turn, with Antino scorching round the outside and quickening away from the field in a matter of strides. Antino is an absolute star! The Queenslander dominates the Doomben Cup for @tonygollan 🏆 @blake_shinn — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 24, 2025 It was a second Group One for the Redwood galloper, while Matthew Poon Ming-fai did Hong Kong proud by finishing sixth on roughie Klondike after a ground-saving trip. 'Really happy how he ran. He tried hard and ran well. Next start a bit further, he'll run much better,' said Poon.
