The best of Irish and a strong overseas contingent will
target the biggest of races on Longines Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown
and the Curragh on Saturday and Sunday.
Deirdre is set to become the first Japanese-trained runner
in Ireland when she lines up for the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at
Leopardstown on Saturday afternoon and she is among the 11 horses going forward
for the first of six Group 1 races over the two days.
The field for the €1.25m event was further strengthened this
morning when trainer Mark Johnston supplemented Elarqam with Roger Charlton’s
Headman standing his ground. Kevin Prendergast has Madhmoon set to run and Jim
Bolger has left Verbal Dexterity in the race.
Aidan O'Brien still has Magical, Hunting Horn, Magic Wand,
Anthony Van Dyck, Magna Grecia and Pink Dogwood to pick from and the champion
trainer said this afternoon: “Magna Grecia could run in the Champion Stakes.
His plan after the Irish Guineas had been the Juddmonte International at York,
which he didn’t run in, the Irish Champion Stakes and then back to the mile
later in the season at Ascot.
“We’ve been very happy with Magical since she ran at York.
We'll know closer to the weekend, but plenty could run at Leopardstown,” said
Aidan O’Brien.
O’Brien holds another strong hand in the Coolmore Fastnet
Rock Matron Stakes and again has six horses remaining in the race. Just
Wonderful, I Can Fly, Coral Beach, Goddess and Happen could join dual Guineas
heroine Hermosa in the mile event with the chief opposition set to come from
Laurens which will bid to add to last year’s thrilling success for trainer Karl
Burke. Skitter Scatter is on track to take her chance for John Oxx while Joseph
O'Brien has left in both Red Tea and Iridessa to complete the field of ten.
Aidan O’Brien said: “Hermosa came out of her last run in
Goodwood in good form. It’s an unbelievable two days’ racing, we’re very lucky
to have it, and we want to run as many as we can.”
A total of 18 horses go forward for the final Classic of the
year, the Comer Group International Irish St Leger, at the Curragh on Sunday
where there are four Group 1 races up for grabs. Cross Counter leads the way
for Charlie Appleby while Latrobe, Buckhurst and Twilight Payment, formerly
trained by Jim Bolger, are among those in the mix for Joseph O'Brien. Southern
France, winner of the Comer Group Irish St Leger Trial Stakes over the course
and distance a month ago, has been added to the field by Aidan O'Brien who also
has Capri and Kew Gardens to choose from while Dermot Weld, a seven-time winner
of the race, has Search For A Song.
The Michael Dods-trained Mabs Cross and Eddie Lynam’s Soffia
head the way in the Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes for which there are 13
horses remaining with 15, including Daahyeh, trained by Roger Varian, and
Jessica Harrington’s Albigna in the Moyglare Stud Stakes.
Pinatubo, trained by Charlie Appleby, tops the 15 in the
Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes with Armory and Arizona among a strong
entry from Ballydoyle.
Pat Keogh, CEO of Leopardstown Racecourse and CEO of the
Curragh Racecourse, said: “Longines Irish Champions Weekend is a highlight of
the global racing calendar and this is reflected in the quality of the entries
in the races, we are delighted to see such a good representation from Ireland
and abroad and are looking forward to a thrilling weekend of top class racing.”
