Luxembourg, Auguste Rodin Irish Champion-bound

Trainer Aidan O'Brien indicated MG1SWs Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) would return in Leopardstown's G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion S. on Sept. 9. The stablemates were last seen in the G1 King George and Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot on July 29, where Luxembourg was a hard-fought fourth while the dual Derby winner came home a distant 10th.

Their conditioner could find no obvious reason for the poor showing but remained hopeful the son of the late Deep Impact could bounce back at Leopardstown.

“We're very happy with Luxembourg, everything has gone very well,” said the Ballydoyle handler of the 4-year-old, who took the 2022 renewal of Leopardstown's 10-furlong test. “The King George is a tough race and he was on the pace. The plan is at the moment both he and Auguste Rodin are going to Leopardstown.”

He continued, “Really, we don't know what happened to Auguste in the King George. He was drawn very wide and trapped very wide and he came off the bridle a lot earlier than Ryan [Moore] would have thought. It's probably a blessing in disguise, as if he came off the bridle at the stage, he was probably going to get a very tough race. For a baby 3-year-old, he was probably lucky he didn't get into a brawl and he came home very well.”

Regardless of what happens the rest of the season, O'Brien hinted that the Classic-winning sophomore was unlikely to return for a 4-year-old season.

“He's such a unique horse pedigree-wise he's kind of irreplaceable really,” he said.

Also on tap to resurface on Irish Champions Festival weekend is Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), 20-length winner of the G1 Qatar Prix du Cadran in his final appearance in 2022 which saw him go unbeaten for that season. Injury ruling out a return in the first half of 2023, the colt is looking to defend his G1 Comer Group International Irish St. Leger crown at the Curragh Sept. 10.

“Four months ago, you'd have said he'll never race again. He got an infection in his joint and then the ligament down the outside of his pastern shifted, so it became unstable,” said O'Brien. “Everyone has done a wonderful job with him. If we got a run into him, we'll look towards [ParisLongchamp, Oct. 1] Arc weekend again, either the Arc or the Cadran, but I would imagine the Arc would be too much too quick for him.”

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All Roads Lead to ParisLongchamp for Westover

Last year's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is poised to head directly to France where he'll get a second chance at the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe 12 months after running sixth in last year's renewal over unsuitably testing ground.

The Ralph Beckett-trainee is currently enjoying a break at his trainer's Kimpton Down base and the connections are keen to follow last year's route to the Bois de Boulogne–with a trip to Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup also in the planner following his attempt at Europe's richest middle-distance contest on Oct. 1.

A head second to multiple Group 1 winner Hukum (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in Ascot's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., hopes are high that the son of Frankel can build on last year's finishing position.

“He came out of the King George great and he's having a little break now at Ralph's,” said Barry Mahon, the European racing manager for owners Juddmonte. “He's been on the go early this year having been to Dubai and then recently had two quick runs, so I think he's thinking he'll freshen him up and go to the Arc then on to the Breeders' Cup.”

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Brigadier Gerard Honoured With QIPCO Award

Fifty years ago, Brigadier Gerard (GB) (Queen's Hussar {GB}) won the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S., and to commemorate his victory, he was awarded the QIPCO Diamonds & Pearls Award on Wednesday. The Brigadier, as he was known, won an incredible 17 of his 18 starts in the colours of his breeder John Hislop for trainer Major Dick Hern. Among his victories were the 2000 Guineas, St James's Palace S., Sussex S., Goodwood Mile, and Queen Elizabeth II S., as well as the Champion S. (Click here for a video commemorating his achievements.)

Anne Mercer, wife of the late Joe Mercer who was the Brigadier's regular jockey, said, “Brigadier Gerard was Joe's favourite racehorse–a horse of a lifetime. Our family has so many happy memories of the Brigadier and we are delighted that he has now received the QIPCO Diamonds and Pearls award.”

Named the British Horse Of The Century, Brigadier Gerard retired to stand at Egerton Stud in Newmarket and later Hislop's stud at East Woodhay. He sired the 1980 G1 St Leger winner Light Cavalry (GB), as well as the 1981 G1 Champion S. victor Vayrann (Ire). He died in 1989.

Laurence Williamson, Brigadier Gerard's groom, said, “Brigadier Gerard campaigned in an unprecedented 'golden' era. From humble beginnings, out of a half-blind maiden mare of limited ability and a talented but inexpensive sire, anything Brigadier Gerard lacked in breeding, he more than made up for in appearance and performance. His world-class trainer, Major Dick Hern, hailed him as a champion of champions. I will be proud and humbled to be at Ascot when the horse I believe to be one of the greatest racehorses of modern times receives the QIPCO Diamonds and Pearls Award.”

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Derby Hero Desert Crown’s King George Bid Up In The Air After Setback

Impressive G1 Cazoo Derby hero Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) has suffered a “little niggle” according to trainer Sir Michael Stoute and could miss an intended start in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. on July 23. The Saeed Suhail-owned colt was due to work on Thursday morning, but that plan has been suspended.

“He won't be working tomorrow morning,” said Stoute. “We just have a little niggle that we are checking out on his foot.

“So, we will have more news on Friday or Saturday. It is too early to say whether he will run in the King George. We can't make a decision now.”

An impressive three-for-three in his young career, the bay won at Nottingham in November, before bolting up a 3 1/4-length victor in the G2 Dante S. at York on May 12. He polished off his Epsom foes by 2 1/2 lengths on June 4 and has not graced the racecourse since.

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