The Curragh | Horse Racing Free Tips

Camelot’s Luxembourg Impressive In The Beresford

Aidan O'Brien's crop of juveniles had looked short of the usual standard up to Saturday, but five minutes of action across Newmarket and The Curragh changed the conversation with the hugely exciting Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) doing his bit for Ballydoyle in the G2 Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford S. Not seen since winning in style on debut in a conditions event over this mile trip at Killarney July 14, the imposing Westerberg-Coolmore representative was the subject of heavy support into 8-13 favouritism for this prize Aidan O'Brien had already won an astounding 20 times. Racing in a detached last early with Seamie Heffernan downing anchor, the bay was green initially when switched wide to challenge in the straight but accelerated when the whip was shown to seize the advantage a furlong from home and surge to an impressive 4 3/4-length success from Manu Et Corde (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). Speaking from Newmarket, Aidan O'Brien simply said, “We've always thought the world of that horse.”

When it comes to the Beresford, it is now customary that a future star is on display. While in the 1980s, the likes of Assert (Ire) and Sadler's Wells prevailed, it was not until the early 2000s that it became a more consistent marker of excellence. After Alamshar (Ire), Azamour (Ire), Sea the Stars (Ire) and St Nicholas Abbey (Ire) came Saxon Warrior (Jpn) and although the opposition here might not have been top-class, there is reason to believe that Luxembourg could fit into that category with the potent turn of foot he displayed. Incredibly, none of the previous 20 winners from the current set-up at Ballydoyle went on to win the G1 Epsom Derby and only Capri (Ire) and Saxon Warrior were Classic winners thereafter, so Luxembourg's immediate short odds quoted for the blue riband seem premature even allowing for the impression he created.

Seamie Heffernan has been around long enough to know what a top prospect feels like and his enthusiasm was as noteworthy as it was unsurprising. “He's very smart at home and he's proven it twice now. I was very impressed–very talented, very smooth,” he said. “The most impressive thing about him is he knows he's good and he doesn't show it off. He doesn't show you until you press the button and say 'give us a look'. When you have that turn of foot a mile is well within his comfort zone. His dad was a good staying horse that had the pace and class to win a Guineas. If Aidan wants to run him in the Guineas he'll change his galloping procedures and if he's targeting the Derby he'll go a different route. The turn of foot he showed me today was pretty exciting. I'm not sure what he's going to be targeted at, but he couldn't have done that any easier.”

Luxembourg's dam Attire (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) raced over seven furlongs and a mile and has also produced the 10-furlong G2 Mooresbridge S. winner Leo de Fury (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Sense of Style (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) who was placed in the G3 Ballylinch Stud 1000 Guineas Trial and G3 Denny Cordell Lavarack Memorial S. The second dam Asnieres (Spend a Buck) is a half-sister to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero Arcangues (Sagace {Fr}) who produced the versatile Forgotten Voice (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). He had the speed to win the Royal Hunt Cup over a mile and the stamina to add the 12-furlong G3 Glorious S. to his tally before finishing third in the two-mile Listed Esher S. during a spell when he also raced over hurdles.

Attire, whose yearling full-brother to Luxembourg sells during Wednesday's session of the Goffs Orby, is also kin to the G3 Prix de Flore winner Australie (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) who produced the Listed Carlingford S. winner and G3 Diamond S.-placed Hawke (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) and the Listed Prix de Saint-Cyr scorer Mireille (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}). Also the second dam of the Listed Criterium de Lyon scorer and G3 Prix Thomas Bryon runner-up Private Jet (Fr) (Aussie Rules) and the Listed Prix Marchand d'Or winner and G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis second Princedargent (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), the relative of the distinguished G1 Prix de Diane heroine Aqarelliste (Fr) (Danehill) visited Camelot again last year and has a filly foal as a result.

Saturday, The Curragh, Ireland
ALAN SMURFIT MEMORIAL BERESFORD S.-G2, €112,000, Curragh, 9-25, 2yo, 8fT, 1:40.88, gd.
1–LUXEMBOURG (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Camelot (GB)
1st Dam: Attire (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Asnieres, by Spend a Buck
3rd Dam: Albertine (Fr), by Irish River (Fr)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (150,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith; B-B V Sangster (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Seamie Heffernan. €60,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $91,171. *1/2 to Leo de Fury (Ire) (Australia {GB}), GSW-Ire, $150,238. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Manu Et Corde (Ire), 131, c, 2, Teofilo (Ire)–Tiffilia (Ire), by Macho Uno. O-Mrs J S Bolger; B/T-Jim Bolger (IRE). €20,000.
3–Tuwaiq (Ire), 131, c, 2, Elzaam (Aus)–Nutshell (GB), by Dubai Destination. (€8,000 RNA Ylg '20 GOFOCT). O-Dr Ali Al Mutairi; B-BHL (IRE); T-Ger Lyons. €10,000.
Margins: 4 3/4, NO, HF. Odds: 0.62, 14.00, 25.00.
Also Ran: Swan Bay (Ire), Chicago Soldier (Ire). Scratched: Piz Badile (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Mill Reef Test Headlines Saturday Bill

The furious intensity of last weekend's European action gears down a notch with the 50th renewal of Newbury's G2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef S. the main ingredient in Saturday's hangover cure. Ten juvenile colts are declared for the £75,000 six-furlong test won in recent years by subsequent top-level luminaries Excellent Art (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), Dark Angel (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), Lord Shanakill (Speightstown), Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), and Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). This year's cast features Poseidon Thoroughbred Racing's Dhabab (Ire) (No Nay Never), who drops in trip after running third over seven furlongs behind subsequent G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. hero Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the July 10 G2 Superlative S. at Newmarket. He had previously followed up a June 1 Leicester novice win with a close-up sixth in Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry S. a fortnight later. Opposition to the John and Thady Gosden trainee includes the Berkshire venue's Weatherbys Super Sprint victor Gubbass (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), whose two latest starts for the Richard Hannon stable yielded a third in Goodwood's G2 Richmond S. and a fifth in Deauville's G1 Prix Morny. Clarendon Thoroughbred Racing's Fearby (Ire) (Havana Gold {Ire}) impressed when taking down Sandown's Listed Dragon S. by five lengths in July and has since run second in the July 28 G3 Molecomb S. at Goodwood and fourth in the Aug. 20 G2 Gimcrack S. at York. “This looked the next logical target after the Gimcrack,” explained trainer Ed Bethell. “We could have gone to France, but we thought we'd stick around in England. It's going to be a competitive race, as you'd imagine for a Group 2, but he's going there in good form after a little freshen up after York and I'm really looking forward to it. I would imagine he'd be one of the more fancied runners and he's in very good order.” Fearby was two spots and 1 1/4 lengths behind G2 Richmond S. sixth Gis A Sub (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in York's Gimcrack and the Kevin Ryan charge is another leading contender renewing old acquaintances. Other nominees of note include G2 Richmond S. runner-up Khunan (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}) and G3 Sirenia S. placegetters Wings of War (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Hierarchy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}).

Elsewhere on the Newbury card, Shadwell's William Haggas trainee Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) returns from a gelding operation and is the star attraction in a five-runner renewal of the £70,000 G3 Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup (Arc Trial). The G1 Coronation Cup and G2 Princess of Wales's S. runner-up will be confronted by last month's G3 Rose of Lancaster S. winner Foxes Tales (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), from the in-form Andrew Balding yard. Shadwell is also represented by Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the £70,000 G3 Dubai International Airport World Trophy over an extended five furlongs.

Juvenile pattern-race action also features on Ayr's Gold Cup undercard with Ger Lyons's unbeaten Listed Curragh S. victrix Head Mistress (Ire) (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) putting her perfect record on the line against Jaber Abdullah's similarly undefeated Hala Hala Athmani (GB) (Dabirsim {Fr}) in the £40,000 G3 Firth of Clyde Fillies' S. over six furlongs. The latter, who posted an impressive 5 1/2-length tally at Carlisle last month, is a half-sister to G1 Diamond Jubilee S. and G1 Haydock Sprint Cup hero Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) and G1 Deutsches Derby and G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin third Royal Youmzain (Fr) (Youmzain {Ire}).

In Ireland, His Highness The Aga Khan's homebred 4-year-old filly Zawara (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) makes a swift comeback after registering a close-up fourth in last week's G3 Kilternan S. and is a leading contender for the €50,000 G3 Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies S. over an extended nine furlongs at Gowran Park. The 16-runner contest also features G2 Kilboy Estate S. runner-up April Showers (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G1 Irish 1000 Guineas eighth Sense of Style (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), last term's G3 Weld Park S. victrix Elysium (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) and 14-length juvenile maiden winner Cartouche (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) making her belated sophomore debut.

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Romantic Proposal Upsets Flying Five At The Curragh, Earns BC Turf Sprint Berth

The Clipper Logistics Group-owned 5-year-old mare Romantic Proposal (IRE) ran out a surprise winner of the Group 1 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes at The Curragh in County Kildare, Ireland, and earned an automatic berth into the $1 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

In the second “Win and You're In” race on the card, the Jessica Harrington-trained Discoveries (IRE) secured an automatic entry into the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf with a victory in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, over 7 furlongs.

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

The Eddie Lynam-trained Romantic Proposal (IRE) was sent off a 16-1 outsider for the G1 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes, having finished third in the Group 2 Paddy Power Sapphire Stakes over course and distance on her most recent start.

Ridden by Chris Hayes, Romantic Proposal (IRE) came with a strong late run to beat the Ado McGuinness-trained A Case Of You (IRE) by a half-length into second, with last year's winner and reigning Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint champion Glass Slippers (GB) in third, losing the place spot in the final yards. Dragon Symbol (GB), the 5-2 favorite, finished fourth.

Winning trainer Lynam, who enjoyed Group 1 success with top sprinters Sole Power (GB) and Slade Power (IRE) said: “She'd been progressive. We ran her over a mile first time out and she was placed, then we dropped her back to seven furlongs and she's just kept improving. I always believed the filly was capable of running a big race and she's done everything great. I think it's six years since I've had a Group 1 winner and it's nice to have another one.”

A daughter of Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Raven's Pass (USA) out of the Diktat (GB) mare Playwithmyheart (GB), Romantic Proposal (IRE) completed the 5 furlongs in a time of :59.77 on a course rated as good.

Discoveries Delivers in Moyglare Stud Stakes

Niarchos Family's 2-year-old filly Discoveries (IRE) stormed to success in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes to gain an automatic entry for the $1 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Trained by Jessica Harrington and ridden by Shane Foley, who teamed up to win the Group 1 Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday, Discoveries (IRE) was third behind Agartha (IRE) and Sunset Shiraz (IRE) in the Group 2 Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes in her last start. The same three fillies fought out the finish today, with Discoveries (IRE) staying on best of all to win by three-quarters of a length, with Agartha coming in second and Sunset Shiraz finishing third. A daughter of Mastercraftsman (IRE) out of the Rahy (USA) mare Alpha Lupi (IRE), Discoveries (IRE) completed the contest in 1:27.10.

Winning trainer Harrington said: “This filly was green first time she ran and then she won her maiden. We hoped she'd win the Alpha Centauri Debutante, but the ground came up soft that day and she goes on top of the ground.”

A full sister to Group 1-winning miler Alpha Centauri (IRE) and a half-sister to Group 1 winning-miler Alpine Star (IRE), Discoveries (IRE) will step up to that distance according to her trainer, though no immediate targets have been decided. Harrington said, “We think she'll improve again, but today is the day. She'll get a mile no doubt.”

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for both Romantic Proposal and Discoveries to start at Del Mar. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance of $40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.

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Irish Leger Success For Sonnyboyliston

Underlining the strength of York's revamped Ebor H., the Kildare Racing Club's Sonnyboyliston (Ire) (Power {GB}) bounced out of his success in that prestigious affair to bring up a notable double in Sunday's G1 Comer Group International Irish St Leger at The Curragh. With the dual winner Search For a Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) unable to make an impact this time, the Johnny Murtagh-trained 4-year-old had the Joseph O'Brien pair Twilight Payment (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Baron Samedi (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) to contend with and proved toughest to carry off the prize. Settled fifth off the gruelling pace which strung the field out, the 4-1 second favourite mastered Twilight Payment approaching the furlong pole and battled to a 3/4-of-a-length verdict over that rival, with Baron Samedi 1 1/2 lengths away in third. “I couldn't have asked it to go any better, we jumped and he got a lovely tow into the race,” Coen said. “They turned it into a real staying race and this lad keeps improving and keeps finding a way to win. This is my first proper year as number one jockey to Johnny and we've had a few good spins in England, but I really wanted to get this group 1 winner. For it to be a Classic and for Johnny is unbelievable.”

It was on this card 12 months ago that Sonnyboyliston burst onto the scene with a 4 1/4-length success in the 10-furlong “Northfields” H., where the subsequent G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup hero Helvic Dream (Ire) (Power {GB}) was back in third. That followed a narrow verdict over Thundering Nights (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) over the same course and distance in July and the eventual exploits of that filly now show that performance in a positive light. Starting this term with third placings behind the Ballydoyle duo Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Listed Devoy S. at Naas Mar. 28 and the May 6 G3 Ormonde S. at Chester respectively, the chestnut took Limerick's Listed Martin Molony S. over 12 1/2 furlongs June 18 before finishing sixth over the Ebor track and trip in the July 10 G3 Silver Cup.

Coming out on top in his battle with the talented Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who has also come out to score subsequently in dramatic style in a conditions race at Salisbury, Sonnyboyliston had every bit of resilience tested here with the G2 Curragh Cup winner Amhran Na Bhfiann (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) storming off in front. Twilight Payment attacked first in the straight and at first glance he looked to be travelling sweeter than the Murtagh stalwart in behind, but as soon as it became a true grind the winner came into his own to give the best time performance of the day. Search For a Song, who was sent off the 10-3 favourite, flattered briefly in the straight but was unable to get involved in the fight and ended up sixth.

Murtagh was keen to deflect praise afterwards. “I'm just a front man to a lot of people who do a lot of hard work,” he said. “I'm so proud of everybody behind the scenes and my family also. It means a lot to win a Classic on your local track. This horse never disappoints and I thought he did very well to win today. It looked like a proper race and he had a good position all the way. He comes off the bridle, but I thought from two furlongs out Ben looked confident on him. He got into a battle, but he never lacks in a battle. I can't say enough about the horse and enough about Liam Clarke and the Kildare Racing Club. They have been great supporters of mine from the word go. It would take a fair offer to take him away from the owners now, but the Melbourne Cup is worth €2.5million. It mightn't be for him this year, but he's only four and could end up down there for us sometime yet.”

Sonnyboyliston's seven-times-winning dam Miss Macnamara (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) is a half to the Argentinian group 3 winner Karamela (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and the Listed Silken Glider S. winner and G3 Park Express S. runner-up Gemstone (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The latter is the dam of the Listed Newmarket S. scorer UAE Jewel (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), while the family also features the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Bachelor Duke (Miswaki) and the GI Shoemaker Mile S. winner Talco (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}). Miss Macnamara's 2-year-old filly is by Starspangledbanner (Aus), while she also has a filly foal by Gleneagles (Ire).

Sunday, The Curragh, Ireland
COMER GROUP INTERNATIONAL IRISH ST LEGER-G1, €560,000, Curragh, 9-12, 3yo/up, 14fT, 3:02.05, gd.
1–SONNYBOYLISTON (IRE), 137, g, 4, by Power (GB)
1st Dam: Miss Macnamara (Ire), by Dylan Thomas (Ire)
2nd Dam: Kincob, by Kingmambo
3rd Dam: Gossamer, by Seattle Slew
1ST GROUP WIN, 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€26,000 Ylg '18 TIRSEP). O-Kildare Racing Club; B-Diane O'Neill (IRE); T-Johnny Murtagh; J-Ben Coen. €290,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Eng, 14-6-0-3, $906,133. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Twilight Payment (Ire), 137, g, 8, Teofilo (Ire)–Dream On Buddy (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB). (€200,000 HRA '18 GOFHIT). O-Lloyd J Williams Syndicate; B-J. S. Bolger (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €100,000.
3–Baron Samedi (GB), 137, g, 4, Harbour Watch (Ire)–Dame Shirley (GB), by Haafhd (GB). (3,500gns Wlg '17 TATFOA). O-LECH Racing Limited; B-Usk Valley Stud (GB); T-Joseph O'Brien. €50,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1HF, 2 3/4. Odds: 4.00, 4.50, 6.00.
Also Ran: King of the Castle (Ire), Emperor of the Sun (Ire), Search For a Song (Ire), Carlisle Bay (Ire), Aircraft Carrier (Ire), Seattle Creek (GB), Barbados (Ire), Amhran Na Bhfiann (Ire), Passion (Ire), Master of Reality (Ire). Scratched: Barrington Court (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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