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Trainer Grace Harris continues to impress with two more winners
Trainer Grace Harris continues to impress with two more winners

Yahoo

time20 hours ago

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Trainer Grace Harris continues to impress with two more winners

It might have been a mixed bag in terms of the recent weather, but July continues to be a hot month for Grace Harris, who enjoyed another two winners last week. Harris' Flat horses have shone this year and Oasis Sunrise and Nakaaha took her tally in that code to 11, which is some going when her previous best of 15 came in the whole of 2024. In the hands of the experienced John Egan, Oasis Sunrise was keen early in a mile handicap at Bath, but made headway and kept on well to win by a length and three-quarters. At odds of 7-2, she was likely expected to be on the scene, but Nakaaha would have been a much bigger surprise given she returned at 33-1 when emerging on top at Newbury on Friday under Egan's son David. Formerly trained in Newmarket for a member of the all-powerful Maktoum family, Nakaaha is a relatively new arrival to Harris' yard in Shirenewton near Chepstow and was excused her first outing for the stable at Ffos Las when the starting stalls were not in use and there was a flag start. The trainer was particularly complimentary about her after Newbury, so perhaps the daughter of Bated Breath is one to follow. Those victories mean Harris, who has had five winners in July on the Flat and over jumps, is on course for her winningmost month, while her father Ron, who is based in the area as well, also got in on the act at Bath courtesy of Moe's Legacy. He has not been as prolific as his daughter and the four-year-old, successful in a 5½f handicap, was just his second winner in the last 12 months. A family feel was to the fore in the feature at Chepstow on Thursday, which was landed by Em Four, who is trained by former top jump jockey Jamie Osborne. His association with Em Four does not, however, end there as he owns and bred the gelding, while his daughter Saffie was on board. The course's 1m2f handicap, meanwhile, resulted in the sole Welsh success as it went to Spirit Of The Bay, who hails from the Bridgend yard of John and Rhys Flint, although local trainer Tom Faulkner came close with Sultan Of Oj, not beaten far when third in the 5f apprentice handicap. A dry and sunny forecast would be welcomed by Chepstow on Friday, when it stages its Rum & Reggae Caribbean Racenight. The first of seven races is due off at 5.15pm and the evening also features a DJ set from Levi Roots, probably best known for pitching his Reggae Reggae Sauce on BBC show Dragon's Den in 2007. He will host a Caribbean cooking demonstration before racing and those in attendance will also be able to get into the spirit of the night with an authentic steel drums set, a dedicated rum bar with tropical cocktails, and island-style street food, and other themed drinks.

Arizona Blaze sparkles in Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh
Arizona Blaze sparkles in Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh

Leader Live

time3 days ago

  • Sport
  • Leader Live

Arizona Blaze sparkles in Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh

Adrian Murray's charge has run a number of excellent races in top-class company, finishing on the podium in the Norfolk Stakes, Railway Stakes, Phoenix Stakes and at the Breeders' Cup last season, while just last month he finished a neck second to Time For Sandals in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Also a dual Group Three winner, the Amo Racing-owned Arizona Blaze was a 9-4 joint-favourite for this Group Two assignment and having been positioned on the front end from the start David Egan, he finished off strongly to deny Ed Walker's hat-trick-seeking British raider Mgheera by two lengths. Arizona Blaze bolts up in the Group Two Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes, with David Egan giving the @AMurrayRacing colt a bold front-running ride 👏 — The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) July 19, 2025 Amo Racing supremo Kia Joorabchian said: 'We've had a tough time at the Curragh. This guy deserved a big win, to be honest. 'He's been second in a Breeders' Cup and second in a Group One at Royal Ascot, this was a well-placed race for him. 'The ground was going a little bit softer than he'd like it because he likes really quick ground, but he just handled it very well. 'He's never run a bad race really. Adrian and Robson (Aguiar) have done an amazing job with him in the past two years. 'I probably have to thank Aidan (O'Brien) for not running a horse in this race!' He added: 'The entire team at Amo, whether it's in the UK or here, needed this little boost. We've had a little bit of a tough start to the season, but it's been good. 'You're in sport and I've been in sport all my life. Unfortunately in football it happens as well. You're going up for a big Champions League game and you get a hamstring, a knock or something goes wrong. You have to cope with those kind of moments and suck it in. 'This year we've had a very big investment in Freemason Lodge and a very big investment across the globe. That investment has to still show itself. 'We've had so many injuries this year – one after the other. We had a massive setback just recently with Ghostwriter, who unfortunately had an injury.' Coral cut Arizona Blaze to 8-1 from 12-1 for the Nunthorpe at York, with Paddy Power 10-1 from 20-1 about the Sprint Cup at Haydock. Joorabchian said: 'We haven't made any plans, this is a good moment for us. 'Everyone always said every time I came to the Curragh we always seemed to not get a winner, so I'm happy he's actually broken my duck. 'I think we'll aim for the Breeders' Cup. I think he'll get a Group One somewhere.'

Arizona Blaze sparkles in Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh
Arizona Blaze sparkles in Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh

Rhyl Journal

time3 days ago

  • Sport
  • Rhyl Journal

Arizona Blaze sparkles in Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh

Adrian Murray's charge has run a number of excellent races in top-class company, finishing on the podium in the Norfolk Stakes, Railway Stakes, Phoenix Stakes and at the Breeders' Cup last season, while just last month he finished a neck second to Time For Sandals in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Also a dual Group Three winner, the Amo Racing-owned Arizona Blaze was a 9-4 joint-favourite for this Group Two assignment and having been positioned on the front end from the start David Egan, he finished off strongly to deny Ed Walker's hat-trick-seeking British raider Mgheera by two lengths. Arizona Blaze bolts up in the Group Two Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes, with David Egan giving the @AMurrayRacing colt a bold front-running ride 👏 — The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) July 19, 2025 Amo Racing supremo Kia Joorabchian said: 'We've had a tough time at the Curragh. This guy deserved a big win, to be honest. 'He's been second in a Breeders' Cup and second in a Group One at Royal Ascot, this was a well-placed race for him. 'The ground was going a little bit softer than he'd like it because he likes really quick ground, but he just handled it very well. 'He's never run a bad race really. Adrian and Robson (Aguiar) have done an amazing job with him in the past two years. 'I probably have to thank Aidan (O'Brien) for not running a horse in this race!' He added: 'The entire team at Amo, whether it's in the UK or here, needed this little boost. We've had a little bit of a tough start to the season, but it's been good. 'You're in sport and I've been in sport all my life. Unfortunately in football it happens as well. You're going up for a big Champions League game and you get a hamstring, a knock or something goes wrong. You have to cope with those kind of moments and suck it in. 'This year we've had a very big investment in Freemason Lodge and a very big investment across the globe. That investment has to still show itself. 'We've had so many injuries this year – one after the other. We had a massive setback just recently with Ghostwriter, who unfortunately had an injury.' Coral cut Arizona Blaze to 8-1 from 12-1 for the Nunthorpe at York, with Paddy Power 10-1 from 20-1 about the Sprint Cup at Haydock. Joorabchian said: 'We haven't made any plans, this is a good moment for us. 'Everyone always said every time I came to the Curragh we always seemed to not get a winner, so I'm happy he's actually broken my duck. 'I think we'll aim for the Breeders' Cup. I think he'll get a Group One somewhere.'

Arizona Blaze sparkles in Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh
Arizona Blaze sparkles in Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh

North Wales Chronicle

time3 days ago

  • Sport
  • North Wales Chronicle

Arizona Blaze sparkles in Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh

Adrian Murray's charge has run a number of excellent races in top-class company, finishing on the podium in the Norfolk Stakes, Railway Stakes, Phoenix Stakes and at the Breeders' Cup last season, while just last month he finished a neck second to Time For Sandals in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Also a dual Group Three winner, the Amo Racing-owned Arizona Blaze was a 9-4 joint-favourite for this Group Two assignment and having been positioned on the front end from the start David Egan, he finished off strongly to deny Ed Walker's hat-trick-seeking British raider Mgheera by two lengths. Arizona Blaze bolts up in the Group Two Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes, with David Egan giving the @AMurrayRacing colt a bold front-running ride 👏 — The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) July 19, 2025 Amo Racing supremo Kia Joorabchian said: 'We've had a tough time at the Curragh. This guy deserved a big win, to be honest. 'He's been second in a Breeders' Cup and second in a Group One at Royal Ascot, this was a well-placed race for him. 'The ground was going a little bit softer than he'd like it because he likes really quick ground, but he just handled it very well. 'He's never run a bad race really. Adrian and Robson (Aguiar) have done an amazing job with him in the past two years. 'I probably have to thank Aidan (O'Brien) for not running a horse in this race!' He added: 'The entire team at Amo, whether it's in the UK or here, needed this little boost. We've had a little bit of a tough start to the season, but it's been good. 'You're in sport and I've been in sport all my life. Unfortunately in football it happens as well. You're going up for a big Champions League game and you get a hamstring, a knock or something goes wrong. You have to cope with those kind of moments and suck it in. 'This year we've had a very big investment in Freemason Lodge and a very big investment across the globe. That investment has to still show itself. 'We've had so many injuries this year – one after the other. We had a massive setback just recently with Ghostwriter, who unfortunately had an injury.' Coral cut Arizona Blaze to 8-1 from 12-1 for the Nunthorpe at York, with Paddy Power 10-1 from 20-1 about the Sprint Cup at Haydock. Joorabchian said: 'We haven't made any plans, this is a good moment for us. 'Everyone always said every time I came to the Curragh we always seemed to not get a winner, so I'm happy he's actually broken my duck. 'I think we'll aim for the Breeders' Cup. I think he'll get a Group One somewhere.'

Arizona Blaze sparkles in Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh
Arizona Blaze sparkles in Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh

South Wales Guardian

time3 days ago

  • Sport
  • South Wales Guardian

Arizona Blaze sparkles in Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh

Adrian Murray's charge has run a number of excellent races in top-class company, finishing on the podium in the Norfolk Stakes, Railway Stakes, Phoenix Stakes and at the Breeders' Cup last season, while just last month he finished a neck second to Time For Sandals in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Also a dual Group Three winner, the Amo Racing-owned Arizona Blaze was a 9-4 joint-favourite for this Group Two assignment and having been positioned on the front end from the start David Egan, he finished off strongly to deny Ed Walker's hat-trick-seeking British raider Mgheera by two lengths. Arizona Blaze bolts up in the Group Two Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes, with David Egan giving the @AMurrayRacing colt a bold front-running ride 👏 — The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) July 19, 2025 Amo Racing supremo Kia Joorabchian said: 'We've had a tough time at the Curragh. This guy deserved a big win, to be honest. 'He's been second in a Breeders' Cup and second in a Group One at Royal Ascot, this was a well-placed race for him. 'The ground was going a little bit softer than he'd like it because he likes really quick ground, but he just handled it very well. 'He's never run a bad race really. Adrian and Robson (Aguiar) have done an amazing job with him in the past two years. 'I probably have to thank Aidan (O'Brien) for not running a horse in this race!' He added: 'The entire team at Amo, whether it's in the UK or here, needed this little boost. We've had a little bit of a tough start to the season, but it's been good. 'You're in sport and I've been in sport all my life. Unfortunately in football it happens as well. You're going up for a big Champions League game and you get a hamstring, a knock or something goes wrong. You have to cope with those kind of moments and suck it in. 'This year we've had a very big investment in Freemason Lodge and a very big investment across the globe. That investment has to still show itself. 'We've had so many injuries this year – one after the other. We had a massive setback just recently with Ghostwriter, who unfortunately had an injury.' Coral cut Arizona Blaze to 8-1 from 12-1 for the Nunthorpe at York, with Paddy Power 10-1 from 20-1 about the Sprint Cup at Haydock. Joorabchian said: 'We haven't made any plans, this is a good moment for us. 'Everyone always said every time I came to the Curragh we always seemed to not get a winner, so I'm happy he's actually broken my duck. 'I think we'll aim for the Breeders' Cup. I think he'll get a Group One somewhere.'

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