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The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Al Riffa makes class count with stylish Curragh Cup win
Stepping up to a mile and three-quarters for the first time, the Dylan Browne McMonagle-ridden 4-5 favourite saw out the trip in some style, rocketing clear late on to claim Group Two honours by five lengths from Shackleton. Crash, bang, wallop – what a stayer! Hardwicke Stakes runner-up 𝐀𝐥 𝐑𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐚 thrives for a step up to 1m6f with a frankly effortless success in the Curragh Cup 💥 — Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 19, 2025 Stable representative Kevin Blake said: 'That was brilliant, he's a horse with a lot of class and he was last to first in a National Stakes here in fairness to him. 'No one ever felt that he needed that trip, but it made sense. He was relaxed, Dylan said he was very easy to ride over that trip, he quickened up and it was really good. 'I'd say it's most likely that he'll go straight to the Irish Leger from here. There is a possibility of the Group One that he won in Berlin last year (Grosser Preis von Berlin), but I'd say it's more likely he'll go straight there. 'The Melbourne Cup is in the minds thereafter. We all know what comes with that but that would be what we'd like to do, if we're allowed.' New Zealand and Ryan Moore won the opening race at the Curragh (Niall Carson/PA) Odds-on favourite New Zealand led home a one-two-three for Aidan O'Brien in the Juddmonte Chaldean Irish EBF Maiden. Despite finishing only seventh on his debut at this venue three weeks ago, the Frankel colt was sent on his way the 10-11 favourite to open his account in a race won by Henry Longfellow and The Lion In Winter in the past two years and was soon bowling along in front under Ryan Moore. He was under pressure from two furlongs down, but kept responding to his rider's urgings and had just enough up his sleeve to repel his previously unraced stablemate Issac Newton by a nose, with another Ballydoyle newcomer Action – a half-brother to dual Derby winner Lambourn – an eyecatching third. A @Ballydoyle 1-2-3 in the @JuddmonteFarms Chaldean @IrishEBF_ Maiden 🔥 Action and Isaac Newton caught the eye, but 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐙𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 held sway under Ryan Moore. The Lion In Winter, Henry Longfellow, Mac Swiney, New Approach and Teofilo have all won this race 👀 — Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 19, 2025 Of the winner, O'Brien said: 'He's a lovely big horse, he hasn't a clue what he's doing yet – he's massive, the power and the size of him. 'We'll go gentle and let him come on. He learned a lot from the first day, we liked him before that and he was very green. The first day he was a little bit slow away and you could see him today, he never travelled a yard. 'He's a big horse and he's all power. I know he's not short of speed, but he looks like a big, middle-distance horse.' The Ado McGuinness-trained Go Athletico (20-1) swooped fast and late under Shane Foley to claim top honours in the €100,000 Kwiff Supercharged Betting Scurry Handicap. Go Athletico (right) gets up to win the Scurry Handicap (Niall Carson/PA) 'It's a nice birthday present – I'm the big 60 today,' said McGuinness. 'I suppose class is permanent and form is temporary and he did lose his form big time. He slipped back down and we were very disappointed with him. 'He's a good horse and he'll probably pitch up in Galway now in the Ahonoora Handicap, that's where he's going to do next.' Stop The Nation was a 15-2 winner of the Lavazza Sprint Nursery Handicap for trainer Jack Davison and 3lb claimer James Ryan. 'I had a baby boy at 23.59 last night and James Ryan lost his claim there. It's a real feel-good winner on many fronts,' said Davison. 'He's a good colt and he's learning the whole time. He'll be a lovely horse for the Goffs Million.'


Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Aidan O'Brien's daughter wins as owner at track where she suffered career-ending injury
Ana O'Brien, who suffered multiple serious injuries in a fall at Killarney in 2017, returned to the same course to see her own horse A Boy Named Susie making a winning debut The daughter of Aidan O'Brien celebrated her first success as a racehorse owner at the track where her promising riding career ended. Ana O'Brien, 29, followed brothers Joseph and Donnacha into careers as jockeys and partnered her first winner for her father as a 16-year-old in 2013. She was leading the Irish apprentice title in 2017, having already ridden 18 winners, when she was seriously injured in a fall at Killarney in July 2017 in which her mount Druids Cross was fatally injured. She was airlifted to hospital having fractured the C1 vertebra in her neck, T6 in her back and damaged her eye socket, jaw and teeth. She has not ridden in a race since. Ana has continued to be involved in the O'Brien family's racing operations, having her own runners trained by Joseph and Donnacha, but she had not been successful until Wednesday at the same Killarney meeting where she last rode. A Boy Named Susie, a son of Starspangledbanner trained by Donnacha, was a 100-30 chance on debut in a 1m maiden for two-year-olds. The race has an illustrious record of producing future Group 1 winners with this year's Derby victor Lambourn having landed the race last year and Luxembourg and Iridessa also on the roll of honour. A Boy Named Susie won in the style of an exciting colt when he scored by three lengths and could be on a path to the Group 1 National Stakes. Donnacha said: 'We thought he was good as he did a really, really good piece of work up the Curragh a few weeks ago. 'This auction race looked a tough ask as he was giving away weight to winners and it is a tough track first time out, but he is obviously just smart. 'For an auction race at Killarney, it has thrown up Iridessa, Luxembourg and last year Lambourn and a few Group Two winners as well, so it's a nice start for him. They hacked and then sprinted, but I think he could be a proper one. He has plenty of gears for a big horse.' He added: 'It is a better experience for Ana than the last time she was here and that's her first winner as an owner as well.' Ana said: 'I've been waiting a little while so it was nice to get one. It was my first runner for Donnacha and first winner. "In fairness Donnacha always liked this horse and I'm delighted he came out and did that. It's my first time back here since my fall, so thankfully this is a much better day.'


South Wales Guardian
7 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
A Boy Named Susie impresses in winning start at Killarney
The one-mile contest has a rich recent history, being won 12 months ago by dual Derby hero Lambourn while future multiple Group One winner Luxembourg took top honours in 2021. Dial Me In was sent off the 4-5 favourite for Joseph O'Brien, but it was his brother Donnacha who was celebrating, as his Starspangledbanner newcomer showed a real turn of foot over a furlong out when asked by Gavin Ryan. O'Brien said of his 100-30 scorer, who is owned by his sister and holds a Group One entry in the National Stakes at the Curragh: 'We thought he was good as he did a really, really good piece of work up the Curragh a few weeks ago. 'This auction race looked a tough ask as he was giving away weight to winners and it is a tough track first time out, but he is obviously just smart. 'For an auction race at Killarney, it has thrown up Iridessa, Luxembourg and last year Lambourn and a few Group Two winners as well, so it's a nice start for him. 'They hacked and then sprinted, but I think he could be a proper one. He has plenty gears for a big horse.' Regarding a serious fall suffered by the successful owner at the track in July 2017, he said: 'It is a better experience for Ana than the last time she was here and that's her first winner as an owner as well.' Ana O'Brien added: 'In fairness Donnacha always liked this horse and I'm delighted he came out and did that. It's my first time back here since my fall, so thankfully this is a much better day.' The evening's feature, the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cairn Rouge Stakes, went to Red Letter – but the Ger Lyons-trained filly (8-11 favourite) was given a fright by Fiery Lucy on the way to recording a half-length success. Lyons was represented by his brother, Shane, who said of the Juddmonte-owned, Colin Keane-ridden winner: 'She has done it the hard way, she was drawn and caught wide and the first two pulled well clear of the third horse. 'The runner-up is a hardened Listed horse and Colin was delighted with the way she handled the ground and said she will get further. 'She has got the job done today, but when she fills into her frame, she'll be some horse next year. 'She has a championship cruising speed which you need for future races and Colin said if he had been beaten, it was because they didn't go fast enough. 'We'll get home, speak to Colin and the family and make a proper plan.'

Rhyl Journal
7 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
A Boy Named Susie impresses in winning start at Killarney
The one-mile contest has a rich recent history, being won 12 months ago by dual Derby hero Lambourn while future multiple Group One winner Luxembourg took top honours in 2021. Dial Me In was sent off the 4-5 favourite for Joseph O'Brien, but it was his brother Donnacha who was celebrating, as his Starspangledbanner newcomer showed a real turn of foot over a furlong out when asked by Gavin Ryan. O'Brien said of his 100-30 scorer, who is owned by his sister and holds a Group One entry in the National Stakes at the Curragh: 'We thought he was good as he did a really, really good piece of work up the Curragh a few weeks ago. 'This auction race looked a tough ask as he was giving away weight to winners and it is a tough track first time out, but he is obviously just smart. 'For an auction race at Killarney, it has thrown up Iridessa, Luxembourg and last year Lambourn and a few Group Two winners as well, so it's a nice start for him. 'They hacked and then sprinted, but I think he could be a proper one. He has plenty gears for a big horse.' Regarding a serious fall suffered by the successful owner at the track in July 2017, he said: 'It is a better experience for Ana than the last time she was here and that's her first winner as an owner as well.' Ana O'Brien added: 'In fairness Donnacha always liked this horse and I'm delighted he came out and did that. It's my first time back here since my fall, so thankfully this is a much better day.' The evening's feature, the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cairn Rouge Stakes, went to Red Letter – but the Ger Lyons-trained filly (8-11 favourite) was given a fright by Fiery Lucy on the way to recording a half-length success. Lyons was represented by his brother, Shane, who said of the Juddmonte-owned, Colin Keane-ridden winner: 'She has done it the hard way, she was drawn and caught wide and the first two pulled well clear of the third horse. 'The runner-up is a hardened Listed horse and Colin was delighted with the way she handled the ground and said she will get further. 'She has got the job done today, but when she fills into her frame, she'll be some horse next year. 'She has a championship cruising speed which you need for future races and Colin said if he had been beaten, it was because they didn't go fast enough. 'We'll get home, speak to Colin and the family and make a proper plan.'

South Wales Argus
7 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
A Boy Named Susie impresses in winning start at Killarney
The one-mile contest has a rich recent history, being won 12 months ago by dual Derby hero Lambourn while future multiple Group One winner Luxembourg took top honours in 2021. Dial Me In was sent off the 4-5 favourite for Joseph O'Brien, but it was his brother Donnacha who was celebrating, as his Starspangledbanner newcomer showed a real turn of foot over a furlong out when asked by Gavin Ryan. O'Brien said of his 100-30 scorer, who is owned by his sister and holds a Group One entry in the National Stakes at the Curragh: 'We thought he was good as he did a really, really good piece of work up the Curragh a few weeks ago. 'This auction race looked a tough ask as he was giving away weight to winners and it is a tough track first time out, but he is obviously just smart. 'For an auction race at Killarney, it has thrown up Iridessa, Luxembourg and last year Lambourn and a few Group Two winners as well, so it's a nice start for him. 'They hacked and then sprinted, but I think he could be a proper one. He has plenty gears for a big horse.' Regarding a serious fall suffered by the successful owner at the track in July 2017, he said: 'It is a better experience for Ana than the last time she was here and that's her first winner as an owner as well.' Ana O'Brien added: 'In fairness Donnacha always liked this horse and I'm delighted he came out and did that. It's my first time back here since my fall, so thankfully this is a much better day.' The evening's feature, the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cairn Rouge Stakes, went to Red Letter – but the Ger Lyons-trained filly (8-11 favourite) was given a fright by Fiery Lucy on the way to recording a half-length success. Lyons was represented by his brother, Shane, who said of the Juddmonte-owned, Colin Keane-ridden winner: 'She has done it the hard way, she was drawn and caught wide and the first two pulled well clear of the third horse. 'The runner-up is a hardened Listed horse and Colin was delighted with the way she handled the ground and said she will get further. 'She has got the job done today, but when she fills into her frame, she'll be some horse next year. 'She has a championship cruising speed which you need for future races and Colin said if he had been beaten, it was because they didn't go fast enough. 'We'll get home, speak to Colin and the family and make a proper plan.'