Three of the first four horses home in the Epsom Derby are in line to clash once again in the Group 1 Irish Derby at the Curragh this Sunday.
Aidan O'Brien's European classic haul stands at 99 after the battling success of Auguste Rodin at Epsom and he heads the trainer's five remaining entries in the €1.25m race, the first Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby to be run on a Sunday since 2011 and the centerpiece on an eight-race card which is a Tote World Pool event for the first time.
Auguste Rodin would be bidding to give Ryan Moore his first win in the Irish Derby and if successful, would become the first horse to complete the Epsom-Curragh Derby double since Harzand in 2016. Among those standing in his way could be his own stable companions Adelaide River, Covent Garden, Peking Opera, and San Antonio.
However, John Murphy's White Birch, a first ride in the Irish Derby for Dylan Browne McMonagle, and the Jessica Harrington-trained Sprewell, third and fourth respectively at Epsom a month ago, appear to be the biggest threats to O'Brien's Epsom Derby hero.
Also standing their ground ahead of Friday's final declaration stage are the Dermot Weld-trained Knight To King, an impressive winner at Gowran Park on his debut, Joseph O'Brien's Leopardstown Derby Trial second Up And Under, the Donnacha O'Brien-trained Proud And Regal and the Ralph Beckett-trained Salt Bay.
Elsewhere on Sunday's card, the Jessica Harrington-trained Supersonic Man has been added to the field in the Group 2 GAIN Railway Stakes which also includes Adrian Murray's Royal Ascot winner Valiant Force which could renew rivalry with Aidan O'Brien's His Majesty which finished fourth behind him in the Norfolk Stakes.
Meanwhile, at the Curragh on Saturday, a field of 14 horses, including last week's Ribblesdale winner Warm Heart, trained by Aidan O'Brien, Joseph O'Brien's Above The Curve, the Jim Bolger-trained Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas third Comhra, the George Boughey-trained Via Sistina and Hughie Morrison's Stay Alert are among the 14 horses remaining in the Group 1 Yulong Pretty Polly Stakes while nine, including Albany Stakes runner-up Matrika and the Ed Walker-trained Miss Roberts, go forward for the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes. Joseph O'Brien's Al Riffa, winner of last year's Group 1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes, is set to reappear in the Group 3 Paddy Power International Stakes.
Click here to see the entries for the Curragh on Saturday
Click here to see the entries for the Curragh on Sunday
The post O’Brien Approaches 100th European Classic Winner; Epsom Derby Hero Auguste Rodin Heads Sunday’s Irish Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
