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Wootton Bassett’s Atomic Jones Prevails At Leopardstown

Fresh from winning the opening Listed Ingabelle S. on Saturday, Ger Lyons and Colin Keane combined to enjoy the perfect start to Leopardstown's Irish Champions Day when following up in the G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile S. with Atomic Jones (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Owned by Sean Jones, David Spratt and Lynne Lyons, the bay who had won on his sole start in a seven-furlong maiden at The Curragh June 27 was restrained early from his low draw to race with two behind. Switched outside with three furlongs remaining, the 10-1 shot had plenty still ahead a furlong later but unleashed a sustained surge of acceleration to overhaul Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 100 yards from the line. Battling from there, he registered a head verdict over that 10-3 joint favourite, with Absolute Ruler (War Front) a further half a length away in the first of several close finishes on the day.

Ger Lyons was racing for the first time in person for several months and was rewarded with a remarkable four-timer. “He's a fantastic big, strong Wootton Bassett–to be honest, he's one that I thought I'd be introducing at this time of year with one run before being put away for the winter,” he said. “That's it for this year and I'd say he'll be introduced at the same trip when he comes back, but he is one for 10 furlongs. He's a huge baby and I'd say he's a smart horse with plenty of ability. He's done that without even knowing he's done it, just pure raw ability. I think he's typical of the sire, good, strong and dependable and I love to see horses hit the line strong, as it shows you have something to work with. He's 70% there at the moment, if he is that much. Full credit to Kerri [Lyons] and the team, he was a good buy at Book 1 and Sean [Jones] and David [Spratt] are a huge part of the outfit, so anything I can repay them with is good.”

As his trainer stated, Atomic Jones was a relatively inexpensive 95,000gns purchase at the Book 1 Sale, with his dam Loyale (Fr) (Turtle Bowl {Ire}) being a half to the GIII Dixiana Bourbon S. scorer and GII With Anticipation S. runner-up Keep Quiet (Elusive Quality) and the GII Clemente H. and GIII Pucker Up S. winner Little Treasure (Fr) (Night Shift). The latter is responsible for the GII La Canada S. winner More Chocolate (Malibu Moon), who was runner-up three times at the top level, while Loyale is also kin to the G3 Prix Allez France second Harem Lady (Fr) (Teofilo {Ire}) and the listed-paced Annee Lumiere (Ire) (Giant's Causeway), who is in turn responsible for the G3 Park S. winner and GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. runner-up New York Girl (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}).

This is also the family of last year's G3 Prix la Rochette scorer Go Athletico (Fr) (Goken {Fr}) and the GII Goldikova S. winner Rhythm of Light (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}), while the listed-winning third dam Bague Bleue (Ire) (Last Tycoon {Ire}) is a full-sister to the four-times group 1-winning sire Bigstone (Ire) and a half to the Listed Prix Imprudence winner Blue Cloud (Ire) (Nashwan). She is in turn the dam of the G3 Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial winner Empowering (Ire) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), who produced the G2 Royal Lodge S. scorer Mohawk (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Loyale's son of Anodin (Ire) sells next week in the Osarus September Yearling Sale.

Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
KPMG CHAMPIONS JUVENILE S.-G2, €125,000, Leopardstown, 9-11, 2yo, 8fT, 1:42.75, gd.
1–ATOMIC JONES (FR), 131, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Loyale (Fr), by Turtle Bowl (Ire)
2nd Dam: Luminosity (GB), by Sillery
3rd Dam: Bague Bleue (Ire), by Last Tycoon (Ire)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (€75,000 Wlg '19 ARQDE; 95,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Sean Jones, David Spratt & Lynne Lyons; B-Gestut Zur Kuste AG & S.A.R.L. Riviera Equine (FR); T-Ger Lyons; J-Colin Keane. €75,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $100,199. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Stone Age (Ire), 131, c, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Bonanza Creek (Ire), by Anabaa. O-Peter M Brant & Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-White Birch Farm SC (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €25,000.
3–Absolute Ruler, 131, c, 2, War Front–Together Forever (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY); T-Donnacha O'Brien. €12,500.
Margins: HD, HF, NO. Odds: 10.00, 3.30, 5.00.
Also Ran: Howth (Ire), Manu Et Corde (Ire), Buckaroo (GB), I Am Magic (Ire), John the Baptist (Ire), Maritime Wings (Ire), Once Upon a River (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Mother Earth Headlines 13-Horse Field In ‘Win And You’re In’ Matron Stakes

Derrick Smith & Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor's Mother Earth (IRE) heads a strong 13-runner field in the Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes (G1) at Leopardstown on Saturday. The winner of this race will earn an automatic starting position and fees paid into this year's Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into corresponding races of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 5-6.

A daughter of Zoffany (IRE) out of the Green Desert mare Many Colours (GB), Mother Earth finished second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) last year, before kicking off her 3-year-old season in perfect style with a win in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas (G1).

The filly went on to place second in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (G1) at ParisLongchamp, third in the Coronation Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, and runner-up in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes (G1) at Newmarket. She returned to the winner's circle in her last start, taking the Prix Rothschild (G1) at Deauville on Aug. 3.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien said: “We were delighted with Mother Earth the last day in Deauville, and everything has gone well with her since then.”

The Classic heroine is one of two Guineas scorers for O'Brien, who also saddles Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas (G1) winner Empress Josephine (IRE), alongside stablemate Friendly (IRE).

Johnny Murtagh enjoyed a glittering career in the saddle, including three wins at the Breeders' Cup. He celebrated his first top-level success as a trainer in this race last year with Champers Elysees (IRE) and the 4-year-old returns to Leopardstown to defend her crown.

The daughter of Elzaam (AUS) will need to reverse recent form with Juddmonte's Acanella (GB). Trained by Ger Lyons and ridden by Colin Keane, Acanella was last seen when winning the Snow Fairy Fillies Stakes (G3) at The Curragh, with Champers Elysees three-quarters of a length behind in second.

The Paddy Twomey-trained Pearls Galore (FR) is another stepping up to Group 1 company for the first time. The 4-year-old recently secured Group 3 success at Fairyhouse and Tipperary.

Other notable runners include Pretty Gorgeous (FR), trained by Joseph O'Brien, and Shale (IRE), trained by Donnacha O'Brien. The duo meet again having repeatedly clashed last season, but neither are yet to reproduce their top-class juvenile form.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the winners of the Challenge Series winners to start at this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance of US$40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of Oct. 25 to receive the rewards.

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Breeders’ Cup Winner Tarnawa Goes Head-To-Head With St Mark’s Basilica, Poetic Flare In Irish Champion Stakes

Three exciting Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races will be featured at Leopardstown on Saturday, with the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) the standout event of an exceptional afternoon of racing.

His Highness Aga Khan's homebred Tarnawa (IRE), the defending Longines Breeders' Cup Turf champion, will go head-to-head with trainer Aidan O'Brien's star 3-year-old colt St Mark's Basilica (FR) in the 1 ¼-mile Irish Champion Stakes (G1). The winner will gain an automatic berth into the US$4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

Two other “Win and You're In” berths also will be awarded at Leopardstown. The winner of the Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes (G1) will earn an automatic position into the US$2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), and the winner of the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes (G2) will earn a free spot into the US$1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).

Tarnawa (IRE), a 5-year-old daughter of Shamardal, enjoyed an unbeaten campaign in 2020 with back-to-back Group 1 victories in France, capturing the Qatar Prix Vermeille and Prix de l'Opera Longines, before providing her trainer, Dermot Weld, with his first Breeders' Cup success at Keeneland. Tarnawa stormed down the stretch to win the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf by 1 length over Magical (IRE).

The top-class mare was an easy winner of the Grant Thornton Ballyroan Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown on Aug. 5 in her sole start this season. Jockey Colin Keane is booked to ride once again.

Tarnawa will go head-to-head with four-time Group 1 winner St Mark's Basilica (FR). A son of Siyouni (FR) out of the Galileo (IRE) mare Cabaret (IRE), St Mark's Basilica is three for three this season, winning the French Guineas and French Derby, before striking in the Coral-Eclipse (G1) at Sandown Park, under jockey Ryan Moore, last time out.

Connections of the 3-year-old colt will be hoping their stable star can continue his unbeaten record this season, with trainer Aidan O'Brien pleased the colt's preparations ahead of this Saturday. O'Brien said: “He's very offhanded and very straightforward. He has a great mind, he relaxes, he has a great stride and is very genuine – he has all the things that you would love in a horse.”

The duo are joined by dual Group 1 winner Poetic Flare (IRE). The Jim Bolger-trained 3-year-old colt will race over 10 furlongs for the first time, having won the QIPCO 2000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket and St James's Palace Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.

Patrick Sarsfield (FR), trained by Joseph O'Brien and ridden by Declan McDonogh, completes the four-runner field.

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Four For Irish Champion, Ten In The Leger

Ballydoyle's St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) will take on The Aga Khan's Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) and Jim Bolger's Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) and just one other in what is certain to be a tactical renewal of Saturday's G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown. As he suggested earlier this month, Aidan O'Brien has taken out all other entries for the 10-furlong contest, which is made up by last year's G3 Meld S. winner Patrick Sarsfield (Fr) (Australia {GB}).

At Doncaster the same afternoon, the G1 Cazoo St Leger will see Godolphin's G1 Irish Derby and G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) face nine rivals including Amo Racing's G1 Epsom Derby runner-up Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). Aidan O'Brien has confirmed a quartet including TDN Rising Star High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the unexposed Interpretation (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who will sport the Peter Brant silks.

Frankie Dettori is on the supplemented High Definition, with Wayne Lordan partnering the G2 Great Voltigeur S. runner-up The Mediterranean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), James Doyle on that race's fourth Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Hollie Doyle aboard the Aug. 12 Listed Vinnie Roe S. winner Interpretation. Having impressed with two prior front-running rides for Ballydoyle including a third in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks on the 150-1 outsider La Joconde (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), it was no surprise to see Hollie Doyle booked for one of the team's contenders here. “It's a great ride to pick up. He looks highly progressive and is unbeaten this year,” she said. “He's certain to stay and it's my first ride in the Leger and I'm really looking forward to it.”

They help to make up a six-strong Irish representation in the extended 14-furlong Classic, with Johnny Murtagh looking for a breakthrough English Classic success with the G3 Gordon S. winner Ottoman Emperor (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}).

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