O’Brien Charts Course for River Tiber, Kyprios

Aidan O'Brien confirmed TDN Rising Star River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) remains on track for Sunday's G1 Prix Morny at Deauville despite missing a piece of work two weeks ago. Campaigned by Tabor, Smith, Magnier, Westerberg and Brant, the juvenile was last seen winning the June 20 G1 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot.

“The plan is to run River Tiber [this weekend],” O'Brien told Sky Sports Racing. “He had a setback a couple of weeks ago so there will be a cloud over him when we do run him as we're a bit worried about his fitness, but the plan at the moment is to run.

A runaway winner in his career bow at Navan Apr. 22, the colt followed up with another victory at Naas May 21.

O'Brien continued, “He had a hold-up and missed his second-last piece of work so he had that week off, but he did a piece of work this week so that gave him a chance to go.

“He seems to be in good form since, but the ground that we lost you couldn't make back up with him.”

O'Brien also indicated MG1SW Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), last year's Gold Cup winner, may mark his return in the Sept. 10 G1 Irish St Leger. The chestnut was last seen destroying his rivals in the G1 Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp Oct. 1.

“Kyprios was at the Curragh for a canter last weekend after racing and that went well. He seems to have come out of that well,” said O'Brien. “We're looking at maybe starting at the [Irish] Leger, but that's a tough enough race to come back in so we'd be hoping he could run a good race, come out of it OK and then have a look at something on Arc weekend, something like that, because you couldn't expect him to perform at his best after such a traumatic year. If it all went well we could look at next year with him.”

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King Of Steel Will Bypass International And Point To Irish Champion Instead

Derby runner-up King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}), last seen when third in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. last month, will skip the Aug. 23 G1 Juddmonte International S. and instead target the G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion S. on Sept. 9.

“We didn't confirm him today for York,” said Tom Pennington, racing manager for owners, Amo Racing. “I know when you look at the prize-money and think it could be quite a small field, you might get a bit carried away, but we are going back to what was always Plan A and go to Ireland.

“We've been patient with him all the way along and I don't think another couple of weeks is going to do us any harm. He's in good form and he's on the right track, we're very happy with him.

“When you look at his size, touch wood, he should be even better again next year and we're playing the long game with him.”

The G2 King Edward VII S. hero, who is trained by Roger Varian, was due to face four-time Group 1 winner Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), G1 Prince Of Wales's S. hero Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), and 2022 G1 Derby victor Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) among others in the York showpiece.

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All-Star Team of Jockeys Line Up For Dragon Boat Challenge

An all-star team of jockeys are confirmed for The Great Racing Welfare Boat Race, taking place Sept. 6 at Windsor Racecourse.

The crew consists of former and current jockeys, including Sean Bowen, James Bowen, Christian Williams, Jamie Moore, Josh Moore, William Kennedy, Tom Scudamore, Tom O'Brien, Sam Thomas, Sam Twiston-Davies, Harry Skelton, Bridget Skelton, Connor Brace, Jack Tudor and team captain Rhys Flint.

Teams from within the racing industry are invited to sign up for the challenge prior to Aug. 23 to take part in race down a stretch of the River Thames, beginning at a pontoon based near to the racecourse. Each team will consist of 11 people including one drummer with the option of additional crew to swap in, and will compete in a minimum of two races, with the fastest going through to the semis and a final.

The Great Racing Welfare Boat Race will also include a live DJ and after-party for all participants during the evening. There is also a prize for the best turned out.

Support for the event has already come from all across the industry, with entries representing The Jockey Club, ARC, Worcester Racecourse, Ben Pauling, Dan Skelton, Fergal O'Brien, Anthony Honeyball, Tweenhills, Newsells Park Stud and Total Performance Data.

Limited places are still available. Entries cost £500 per team, with a fundraising target of £500 and all funds will help the charity to provide support for people working in or retired from the racing industry.

For more information, click here.

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Dullingham Park To Sponsor Group 2 At Leopardstown During Irish Champions Festival

Dullingham Park is the new sponsor of the G2 Clipper Mile on the first day of the Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown on Sept. 9, Leopardstown Racecourse announced on Thursday.

One of Newmarket's oldest establishments, Dullingham Park has recently been renovated and expanded as part of owner Steve Parkin's Clipper Group. The one-mile race was upgraded to Group 2 status in 2014, and has been won in the past by Parkin's Space Traveller (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), who now stands at stud at Ballyhane Stud in Ireland.

Ollie Fowlston, Managing Director of Dullingham Park, said, “This is a wonderful opportunity to be involved in such a prestigious race meeting, it is a race that Steve Parkin has a close affinity with due to him owning past winners Suedois and Space Traveller. Dullingham Park is a new venture and we look forward to welcoming visitors from both Ireland and the UK. Irish Champions Festival is a remarkable meeting and we could not be more thrilled to support one of the biggest days in the Irish racing calendar.”

Tim Husbands, CEO of Leopardstown Racecourse, added, “We are delighted to welcome Dullingham Park to Leopardstown as sponsor of the G2 Dullingham Park S. Steve Parkin has had a long and successful association with Irish Champions Festival as an owner and sponsor and we are thrilled that he has chosen this elite racing festival to showcase his new stud farm.”

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