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Rockey Creek & Sire De Grugy Both Win
5 To Follow Scores Updated February 22nd
NEW LEADER Joseph Bell
>>> http://www.aidanobrienfansite.com/5-novices-to-follow.php
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Happy 5th Birthday to my good buddy KINGSBARNS
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Prize-Money up for Champions Weekend
The Grey Gatsby and Australia fight out the finish of the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes last September
(Healy Racing Photos)The Group 1 QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday, September 12th remains one of the highest-rated races on the international calendar and will be worth €1.1 million in 2015, an increase of €100,000 on last year. The total prize-money on offer at Leopardstown on the opening day of Irish Champions Weekend will be €2.13 million.
Three races at the Curragh on Sunday, September 13th have also been raised in value. The Derrinstown Stud Flying Five will be run as a Group 2 race for the first time and its prize-fund has been doubled from €100,000 to €200,000. The value of the Group 1 Palmerstown House Estate Irish St. Leger has increased from €300,000 to €350,000 and the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale Stakes also rises by €50,000 to €250,000. The total prize-money at the Curragh has risen by €200,000 to €1.9 million.
Four of the five Group 1 races on Irish Champions Weekend, the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes, the Palmerstown House Estate Irish St. Leger, the Moyglare Stud Stakes and the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes will close for initial entries on Wednesday, 27th May. The Group 1 Coolmore Matron Stakes will close for initial entries on Wednesday, 1st July, and five Group 1 races will close for second entries on Wednesday, 5th August.
Brian Kavanagh, HRI Chief Executive, said, "As we aim to build on the success of the inaugural Irish Champions Weekend, we are delighted that the total prize-money on offer at both Leopardstown and the Curragh has been increased to €4.03 million this year. This is our flagship event for flat racing in Ireland and the weekend will continue to go from strength to strength."
Paul Hensey, Curragh Racecourse General Manager, said, "Irish Champions Weekend was one of the great success stories for the Curragh last year. The news that three of our races will receive a further boost in prize-money is very positive and will help ensure we attract the very best horses to compete in what is truly the showcase event for Irish flat racing. We are extremely grateful to all our sponsors and to Horse Racing Ireland for their additional support."
Pat Keogh, Leopardstown Racecourse Chief Executive, said, "The QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes is always one of the races of the season and I'm delighted to see that the value of the race has risen to €1.1m. We could not have been happier with the way Irish Champions Weekend worked out last year and we continue to work hard to attract the best horses to Leopardstown. It is an exciting time for us as the start of the Flat season approaches and who knows what equine superstars will be on show come September."
- Leopardstown, Saturday 12th September
€30,000 The Ballylinch Stud European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden 7f
€100,000 The John Deere Juvenile Turf Stakes (Group 3) 8f
€150,000 The Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund 'Petingo' Handicap 14f
€100,000 The KPMG Enterprise Stakes (Group 3) 12f
€300,000 The Coolmore Matron Stakes (Group 1) 8f
€200,000 The Clipper Logistics Boomerang Mile (Group 2) 8f
€1,100,000 The QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1) 10f
€150,000 The Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund 'Sovereign Path' Handicap 7f
€2,130,000 TOTAL DAY 1
- Curragh Sunday 13th September
€150,000 The Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund 'Bold Lad' Sprint Handicap 6f
€200,000 The Moyglare "Jewels" Blandford Stakes (Group 2) 10f
€200,000 The Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes (Group 2) 5f
€300,000 The Moyglare Stud Stakes (Group 1) 7f
€300,000 The Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (Group 1) 7f
€350,000 The Palmerstown House Estate Irish St. Leger (Group 1) 14f
€250,000 The Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale Stakes 6f
€150,000 The Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund 'Northfields' Handicap 10f
€1,900,000 TOTAL DAY 2
WEEKEND TOTAL: €4,030,000
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New 3YO Filly Registered with HRI Today (Not sure of trainer)
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Rip Van Winkle: won three Group 1s for Aidan O'Brien
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker/racingpostpix.comFirst Australasian stakes winner for Rip
BY BLOODSTOCK WORLD STAFF11:25AM 15 FEB 2015
COOLMORE shuttler Rip Van Winkle was represented by his first Australasian stakes winner in New Zealand on Saturday.
Magic Dancer, who became her sire's first Australasian winner when winning at Tauherenikau last year, scored in the Group 3 Phoenix Park 2YO Classic over 6f at Pukekura.
The filly, who is trained by Graeme and Debbie Rogerson, was a NZ$90,000 (£43,830/€55,600) yearling purchase from Monovale Farm at last year's Karaka Premier Sale.
Magic Dancer is the third stakes winner for Rip Van Winkle, following Phoenix Stakes winner Dick Whittington and Group 3 Grangecon Stud Stakes scorer I Am Beautiful.
A son of Galileo, Rip Van Winkle was a top-notch performer for Aidan O'Brien, winning three races at the highest level - the Juddmonte International, Sussex Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
He will command a fee of €25,000 at Coolmore this year and covered a full book of mares at Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand last year.
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Promising 3YO Filly Ballet Suite on Classic Course Down Under For Coolmore
Promising filly Ballet Suite will be aimed at the Group Two Edward Manifold Stakes run at Flemington on October 4 after defeating the colts in her maiden victory at Bendigo on Wednesday.
The daughter of High Chaparral was identified as a staying prospect early in her career and it is now hoped she will progress on a classic course throughout the spring.
"She's a lovely horse, she's beautifully put together and a nice big strong girl and the longer the races get the better she's going to be," trainer Mark Kavanagh told TVN after the race.
"She's still got a bit to learn but there is plenty of raw talent there."
With jockey Glen Boss in the saddle Ballet Suite, who had over raced in the early stages, overcame her inexperience to record a half length win over Kodinhi with stablemate Verreaux an eye catching third a further length away.
"She's a work in progress for us," reported Glen Boss, "She's a filly - a High Chap - thing is she's probably six months away from finding her full maturity but she's here doing it now".
"I had to keep digging up (from the start) because there was six of us in a line and I couldn't take a hold at that point so I had to keep digging and she was fired up for the first two furlongs then I had to ask her to reverse park, you know, she just doesn't have that tactical nouse yet but she's getting there."
Stablemate Verreaux, a son of the recently deceased stallion Street Cry, made good ground down the outside to claim third place. He, like Ballet Suite, will be suited over more ground.
Ballet Suite (Coolmore) COLIN GLOVER HANDICAP RACE REPLAY
>>
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Adelaide, Lake Geneva, Rubick a morning trilogy for Coolmore
Adelaide wins the Cox Plate last year. Photo: Darrian Traynor
Coolmore's racing manager James Bester came away from Rosehill's barrier trials on Tuesday delighted on three fronts.
First, Cox Plate winner Adelaide came through as expected in his first barrier trial since being under the care of premier trainer Chris Waller. But it was the reports from Team Hawkes about two-year-old Lake Geneva and Gerald Ryan about Rubick that added to Bester's demeanour.
Coolmore bought back a controlling interest in Lake Geneva, a Fastnet Rock filly it had sold at sale, after her runner-up effort in the Widden Stakes, in the hope she could win the Blue Diamond that Rubick missed out on last year.
She was set down to trial at Rosehill but didn't, and is unlikely to run on Friday at Moonee Valley, where she is also entered, and will instead go straight to the Blue Diamond.
"We think she is a good filly from a strong family and she is going to be a chance in a race like the Blue Diamond if she gets a run," Bester said.
"We have purchased a majority share in her and look forward to see her race in our colours. She is 14th on the order of entry for the Blue Diamond and team Hawkes are delighted with her since the Widden. Fillies from that race have a good record in Golden Slipper in the last couple of years and we think she could be that sort of filly.
"We went close to winning a Blue Diamond after buying into Rubick following his first start and this was another opportunity we didn't want to turn down."
Lake Geneva is an $11 chance at Ladbrokes in the Blue Diamond, which has unbeaten filly Fontition a $2.50 favourite.
Rubick had a jumpout at Rosehill on Tuesday morning and Bester reported he could be in for a big autumn.
"Gerald just told us he has come back better than the spring, which was a good way to start the morning," Bester said.
Adelaide completed the trilogy of welcome morning news for Bester and Coolmore when he finished seventh in a group and listed barrier trial that was won by stablemate Arinosa.
The son of Galileo, which won the Cox Plate for Aidan O'Brien, wasn't asked to do much in the trial but impressed Hugh Bowman.
"It would have been all a bit new to him because I know he would have never been asked to jump out and run in a 900m trial like that before," Bester said. "It was a way of getting him to know Australia really.
"He was slowly away and worked his way to midfield and settled but couldn't sprint with them at the end. Hugh Bowman said he felt great and we are looking forward to seeing him in a second trial over more ground in the next couple of weeks. That will give us a better indication of where he is.
"The race we are aiming at is the Queen Elizabeth Stakes during The Championships and there is still a chance he could go straight into it, like he would to 10-furlong race [a 2000m] in Europe, first-up."
Meanwhile, the spilt of TVN will be finalised on Wednesday with the premium racing channel to finish on March 15.
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Adelaide (near): being readied for Queen Elizabeth Stakes in April
PICTURE: Getty ImagesAdelaide given different test with barrier trial
BY DAVID BAXTER7:20AM 17 FEB 2015
Australia: Cox Plate hero Adelaide had his first outing for new trainer Chris Waller at Rosehill on Tuesday, when finishing down the field in a barrier trial.
Running over 900 metres (four and a half furlongs), Adelaide could only finish seventh of nine under Hugh Bowman as connections used the trial to try and help the four-year-old adjust to the Australian style of racing.
Waller has taken temporary care of Adelaide following his memorable Group 1 win at Moonee Valley for Aidan O'Brien last October, when coming from last to first under a masterful Ryan Moore ride.
Speaking after the trial, Coolmore Australia racing manager James Bester was not disheartened by the performance, and told Sky Racing: "Adelaide did exactly what we expected. He found it all a little too hectic; I don't think he has ever had to go that fast early in his life before.
"He was pretty laidback about it and Hugh Bowman said he just had to keep his mind on the job. The whole point was that he just went out to learn something about jumping out of the barriers at that speed. This was all a learning curve and that is why we trial them."
Another barrier trial is the next step for Adelaide, whose major target in Australia is the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on April 11, though there is speculation he may return to action next month in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill.
Following his campaign in Australia, Adelaide will return to O'Brien with a view to being readied for Royal Ascot.
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Fountain of Youth set for 3rd start for MDK at Meydan on Thursday
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Expecting Big Things from this fella in his 1st season as a Sire ZOFFANY
Some Interesting Zoffany 2YO with Other Trainers
Trainer Richard Hannon
Illuminate (2-y-o (13Feb13 b f) Zoffany x Queen Of Stars (Owner Denford Stud)
Half Sister to race winner Rhal.
Spongy (2-y-o (10Feb13 b c) Zoffany x Eminence Gift (Owner Middleham Park Racing Vii)
Half Brother to Race Winner Saint Jerome.
Zoffany x Promise Of Love (2-y-o (09Mar13 b f) (Owner R Hannon)
Half Sister to Race Winner Where The Boys Are.
Zoffany x Chameleon (2-y-o (29Mar13 b c) (Owner Westward Bloodstock Limited)
Half Brother to Race Winners Merchant Of Dubai, Bonnie Burnett, & Youhavecontrol.
Trainer Tom Dascombe
Zoffany x Enchantment (2-y-o (15Apr13 b c) (Owner Mrs Janet Lowe & Tom Dascombe)
Half Brother to Race Winners Dream Sika & Heroic Endeavour
Trainer John Quinn
Zoffany x Muravka (2-y-o (21Mar13 b f) (Owner Chasemore Farm)
Half Sister to The Wow Signal.
Trainer Clive Cox
Zoffany x Sky Red (2-y-o (02Apr13 ch f) (Owner C G Cox)
Half Brother to Condition Stakes Winner & G2 Place Orpen Grey
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Great to see Adelaide back on the racecourse today
The Chris Waller trained Adelaide (IRE) had an easy trial over 900m at Rosehill on Tuesday morning in his first public appearance since his win in the 2014 Group 1 WFA WS Cox Plate (2040m) under Ryan Moore at Moonee Valley last October.
The trial for Group and Listed horses was won by stablemate Arinosa with All Cerise second, Private Secretary third and Royal Descent fourth. Adelaide was seventh. The time was 52.8.
The four-year-old Galileo entire, owned by Coolmore and Australian interests, is being set for two races over the Sydney Autumn Carnival, the $1m, Group 1 WFA George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Golden Slipper Day, March 21st, and the $4m, Group 1 WFA Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on April 11th.
It is expected that UK and international jockey Ryan Moore will return to ride Adelaide for the Sydney races.
After the Sydney autumn Adelaide will return to the Ballydoyle stables of Aidan O'Brien to be prepared for a northern hemisphere summer campaign.
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Free Eagle: won the Group 3 Enterprise Stakes last year
PICTURE: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)Free Eagle dam set for date with Galileo
BY MARTIN STEVENS4:28PM 15 FEB 2015
MATING plans have been made for the Moyglare Stud broodmare band which was the source of an exceptional 2014 for the County Kildare operation.
Moyglare Stud bred no fewer than 11 individual stakes winners last year, including international superstars Designs On Rome and Rich Tapestry as well as the enormously exciting pair Free Eagle and Forgotten Rules. That tally does not include Mutual Regard, who won Europe's richest handicap, the Ebor, in August.
Free Eagle, a son of High Chaparral who returned from injury to win the Enterprise Stakes by seven lengths and finish a commendable third in the Champion Stakes, is out of the 12-year-old Danehill mare Polished Gem. His half-brother Custom Cut, by Notnowcato, won five stakes races last year including the Joel Stakes and their half-sister Sapphire, by Medicean, landed the British Champions Fillies' and Mares' Stakes in 2012.
Polished Gem will visit Galileo in the coming months, having also been covered by the multiple champion sire last year, whileSapphire will feature in the first book of Kingman, having been covered by his sire Invincible Spirit in 2014.
Galileo has also been chosen as this year's mating for dual Grade 1 winner Switch, who is in foal to Dansili. Moyglare Stud bought the eight-year-old daughter of Quiet American for $4.3 million at Fasig-Tipton in 2012.
The unbeaten Forgotten Rules, a son of Nayef who won the British Champions Long Distance Cup in October on only his second start on the Flat, is a half-brother to Vintage Nouveau, a Montjeu filly who landed a Listed race at Listowel a month earlier. Their dam Utterly Heaven, a 13-year-old daughter of Danehill who was a close fourth in the 2005 Irish 1,000 Guineas, is set for a date with Dubawi.
Joining Utterly Heaven in Dubawi's book is another daughter of Danehill - Ribblesdale Stakes winner Irresistible Jewel, all of whose three runners, Princess Highway, Royal Diamond and Mad About You, have won Group races. Princess Highway (by Street Cry) is in foal to War Front and will stay in Kentucky to be covered by Medaglia D'Oro, while Mad About You is on a late cover to Sea The Stars so her mating plans are undecided.
Lady Luck, a 19-year-old daughter of Kris who has produced Tattersalls Gold Cup hero Casual Conquest and last year's Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial winner Afternoon Sunlight, has been booked into Shamardal. Moving Heart, a winning daughter of Lady Luck by Anabaa, visited Shamardal last year and has had Australia chosen as her next mating.
The unraced Linamix mare Majestic Silver, whose first foal Carla Bianca carried the famous Moyglare Stud silks to victory in the Dance Design Stakes in August, will be covered by Dansili, while her Danehill half-sister Profound Beauty, a triple Group 3 winner, is in foal to Dubawi and is booked into Dalakhani.
Suitably Discreet, an unraced daughter of Mr Prospector and Canadian champion Alywow who produced last season's Grade 2 Monmouth Stakes winner Speaking Of Which, is set to visit Kodiac. Stakes winners I'm Yours (by Invincible Spirit) and She's Our Mark (Ishiguru) are set for Dark Angel.
Among Moyglare Stud's other matings this year, Anywaysmile, a winning Indian Ridge half-sister to Grade 1-winning sprinter Rich Tapestry, will visit Champs Elysees and is in foal to Holy Roman Emperor; dual Grade 1-winning hurdler Unaccompanied will cross the Atlantic for a liaison with Distorted Humor; Es Que, the dam of high-class Dominant and Es Que Love, is carrying to Galileo and will be covered by Oasis Dream; and Grade 1 runner-up Society Hostess, the dam of Listed-placed Sailors Swan, will visit Sea The Stars.
Moyglare Stud's Fiona Craig said: "We were very lucky this year, all the leading stallion farms were very generous with their most in-demand nominations in approving our mares, and that makes an enormous difference. With the concentration of popular bloodlines, if you can't get what you want it's a real struggle.
Only six weeks into 2015 Moyglare Stud has already chalked up two stakes winners as breeders, with Designs On Rome winning in Hong Kong and Souper Colossal scoring in the US last Sunday.
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