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St Mark’s Basilica Looks For Opening at The Curragh

2.00 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, 8fT
WORDSWORTH (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is the latest progeny out of the G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Chelsea Rose (Ire) (Desert King {Ire}) and is therefore a full-brother to the G1 St Leger and G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Kew Gardens (Ire) and the smart group-placed 3-year-old Snow (Ire). Aidan O’Brien saddles the April-foaled chestnut, who is joined by stablemate High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a full-brother to last year’s G2 Beresford S. scorer Innisfree (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

2.35 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, 6fT
ST MARK’S BASILICA (FR) (Siyouni {Fr}) goes back to maiden company after finishing fifth as the 7-2 favourite for the G1 Phoenix S. over this course and distance earlier this month. Ballydoyle’s half-brother to their 2019 G1 2000 Guineas hero Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) who cost 1.3million gns at Tattersalls October Book 1 is one of a trio from the yard including the $950,000 purchase Prince of Verona (American Pharoah), a half-brother to the graded-stakes scorer You’re To Blame (Distorted Humor) from the family of Gio Ponti.

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Futurity Is the Key at The Curragh

While York’s Ebor Festival wraps up with its £250,000 feature handicap on Saturday, The Curragh stages the G2 Galileo Irish EBF Futurity S. and G2 A.R.M. Holding Debutante S. for the budding Classic contenders of 2021. Twelve months ago, Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was finishing fifth to Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) in the Debutante which underlines what these vital staging posts can play host to. While Aidan O’Brien was unable to extend his record tally of a dozen winners despite having that ammunition, the fillies’ contest has been collected by his former stable luminaries Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), so it is clear that he targets this with his elite. The Ballydoyle 2-year-olds have hardly shone so far this term, but the July 4 G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies’ Sprint S. winner Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) is the pick of Seamie Heffernan as she steps up from six furlongs having finished third in the July 19 G2 Airlie Stud S. here.

Aidan’s other contender Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was fourth behind Donnacha’s Shale (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Joseph’s TDN Rising Star Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}) in the G3 Silver Flash S. over this seven-furlong trip at Leopardstown Aug. 6 and that form could be key. One notable withdrawal from the Silver Flash was Jim Bolger’s 11-length July 28 Galway maiden scorer Meala (Ire) (Epaulette {Aus) and she will pose fierce opposition to the O’Briens if in the same heart.

One domestic pattern race that Aidan does not hold the record in is the Futurity, where the late great Dr Vincent O’Brien still holds sway with his 16 renewals. Just three behind at this stage, the current master of Ballydoyle has won six of the last seven and the last four and it is significant that Heffernan sticks with the maiden Van Gogh (American Pharoah) who was a neck second to the stable’s Military Style (War Front) in Leopardstown’s G3 Tyros S. over this seven-furlong trip Aug. 6. Whether Van Gogh is another Giant’s Causeway, Hawk Wing, Gleneagles (Ire) or Churchill (Ire) remains to be seen, but as a son of the Triple Crown hero and the operation’s 2001 G1 Epsom Oaks and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Imagine (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) he is a truly special commodity.

Missing from the Tyros as Leopardstown’s ground firmed up was Alpha Racing 2020’s Cadillac (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who had impressed when winning by nine lengths on debut over that course and distance July 1. This easy surface will suit ideally and Jessie Harrington could be celebrating another major win with a son of the sire after the G1 Phoenix S. success of Lucky Vega (Ire) earlier this month. “He’s in great form, he’s doing very well,” Harrington said. “The only reason I didn’t run him at Leopardstown was because the ground was very quick that day. I took him out then, but he has been in great form since and we’re hoping for a big run from him.”

Other important 2-year-old action takes place at Deauville, with the G2 Shadwell Prix du Calvados featuring two significant overseas raiders in the July 21 Listed Star S. winner Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) and the O’Callaghans’ impressive July 7 Roscommon maiden scorer No Speak Alexander (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}) with the stranded Frankie booked for the ride on the latter. He also partners the July 5 G2 Oaks d’Italia heroine Auyantepui (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) in the G2 Shadwell Prix de la Nonette, but she should at best be playing second-fiddle to the sponsors’ five-length June 14 G1 Prix Saint Alary winner Tawkeel (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) in that 10-furlong contest.

At York, the G2 Sky Bet City of York S. sees Lael Stable’s dual G1 Prix de la Foret heroine One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) look to build on her latest success over this seven-furlong trip in the G3 Oak Tree S. at Goodwood July 31. She should be a tough nut to crack with conditions ideal, but Roger Varian could have thrown a spanner in the works by dropping San Donato (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) back in trip following his eyecatching effort when sixth in the G1 Sussex S. also at Goodwood July 29.

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Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale Moves To Newmarket

In light of Ireland’s widespread 14-day quarantine requirement for visitors, Tattersalls Ireland will stage its September Yearling Sale on Sept. 21 to 23 at Park Paddocks in Newmarket rather than its Fairyhouse headquarters.

“The decision to relocate the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale to the Tattersalls headquarters in Newmarket has not been an easy one, but the sale traditionally attracts large numbers of overseas visitors and at present Britain, while also being the source of many of our buyers, is significantly more accessible than Ireland,” said Tattersalls Ireland Chief Executive Officer Matt Mitchell. “The primary objective at Tattersalls Ireland since the outbreak of the global pandemic has been to deliver sales which combine the minimum of disruption with the optimal conditions for both vendors and purchasers alike. We are confident that, bearing in mind the prevailing COVID-19 related restrictions in Ireland, this difficult decision allows us to fulfil this objective and to provide as vibrant a market as we possibly can.”

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Goffs Orby, Sportsman’s Sales To Be Held In Doncaster

Goffs will stage its Orby and Sportsman’s Sales at its Goffs UK sales complex in Doncaster this year rather than at Kildare Paddocks in Ireland. The dates for the sales have also been slightly adjusted; the Sportsman’s Sale has been moved a week earlier to Sept. 24 and 25, while the Orby Sale will take place slightly later than planned on Oct. 1 and 2 to allow buyers who wish to attend Books 1 and 2 of Keeneland September to self-isolate for two weeks before traveling to Doncaster.

The location change is in light of the Irish government’s 14-day quarantine requirement for visitors to the country.

“In view of the Covid-19 pandemic and the current Irish and localised protocols, and in the best interests of our clients and the Irish breeding industry, the board of Goffs are announcing today that it will, on a purely once off occasion, stage the Orby and Sportsman’s Sales in the Goffs UK sales complex in Doncaster,” said Goffs Chairman Eimear Mulhern. “Goffs shareholders have always sought to provide the Irish industry with an independent sales company with its own ethos, integrity and values and it is in line with this core principle that we have decided to stage the sale at our own premises in the UK.”

Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby added, “Naturally our first preference would have been to hold what is the Irish National Yearling Sale in Kildare Paddocks but, given the current issues caused by Covid-19, we judge that is not in the best interests of our vendors who have supported us with a stellar selection of wonderful yearlings. Our job is to attract the widest and most diverse group of buyers to our sales and we feel that can best be achieved in 2020 by moving our yearling sales to our UK site as a one-off to deal with the uniquely challenging problems caused by Covid-19.”

“The showing areas for the yearlings [at Doncaster] are second to none and we will ensure that the facilities for attendees are enhanced as much as possible once we have taken the UK Government’s directives into account,” Beeby added. “In addition Doncaster is easily accessible from every part of the UK and is just 1 1/2 hours from central London by train whilst our superb network of international agents will continue to promote these world-class Orby yearlings around the globe. Alongside that Goffs Online will allow absent buyers to participate in the sale and we will ensure that clear videos of yearlings are available for inspection as well as accommodating any buyers who want to bid by telephone. In short, Orby and Sportsman’s will provide their usual world-class service and the only difference will be geographical on this occasion”.

The remaining Goffs sales programme for 2020 will stay in Ireland, including the Goffs November Foal and Breeding Stock Sale. Any vendors not wishing to sell in the UK will be accommodated in the Goffs Autumn Sale on Nov. 2 to 4.

“The situation with our market-leading foal sale is entirely different as by far the biggest group of buyers are Irish so, to be clear, the November Sale will be held in Kildare Paddocks on its planned dates,” Beeby added. “Goffs foals are true market leaders with Europe’s top-priced foals being sold at Goffs in five of the last six years headed by the world’s best in 2019 at €1.2 million, and this year of all years it makes most sense to sell Irish foals in Ireland whilst the Breeding Stock section will be enhanced with our online platform, videos and agents on the ground.”

The Orby and Sportsman’s sales will continue to have the full support of Irish Thoroughbred Marketing.

“We would far prefer that the Orby and Sportsman’s Sales be held in Ireland but regrettably, that is not realistic in the current uncertain climate,” said Horse Racing Ireland Chief Executive Brian Kavanagh. “Horse Racing Ireland understands Goffs’s decision to relocate the sales on a once-off basis and will support Goffs and Irish breeders in these unique circumstances through the continued and proactive work of our subsidiary, Irish Thoroughbred Marketing.”

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