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Longines Irish Champions Weekend to Be Held Without Spectators

The Longines Irish Champions Weekend, held Sept. 12-13, will take place behind closed doors, the Longines Irish Champions Weekend Committee confirmed on Wednesday. The committee’s recommendation, which was made as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, was approved by the Board of Horse Racing Ireland at their July meeting on Monday, July 20. The Sept. 12 card at Leopardstown features the G1 Irish Champion S., and G1 Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron S. The Curragh plays host on the second day, with four Group 1 races on tap: the Comer Group International Irish St Leger, the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National S., the Moyglare Stud S. and the Derrinstown Stud Flying Five S.

“With less than eight weeks to go before Longines Irish Champions Weekend, it was the committee’s view that this was the optimum time to give people certainty,” said HRI Racecourses Chief Executive Paul Dermody. “It is a great shame that our feature weekend of Flat racing will not be enjoyed by racegoers in person this September, but we will ensure a warm welcome for everybody when they return next year. In the meantime, we will be refunding all of those who availed of early-bird and advance ticket offers. We will now focus our attention on providing racing fans with a brilliant at-home experience.”

Added Harry McCalmont, Chairman of the Longines Irish Champions Weekend Committee, “We had dearly hoped that circumstances would allow us have racegoers back on the racecourse for Longines Irish Champions Weekend but that doesn’t look at all likely so it is best to make a call on it now. It is a great pity, but we still have a wonderful weekend of racing to look forward to. The committee would like to take the opportunity to thank the sponsors of all races for their loyalty and we look forward with interest to see the array of horses that will line up at Leopardstown and The Curragh.”

It was also announced on Wednesday that the seven-day Listowel Harvest Festival from Sept. 20-26 would also be conducted without spectators. The Listowel Race Company Committee met on Tuesday evening, and, after consulting with Horse Racing Ireland, decided to hold the festival behind closed doors. The Guinness Kerry National is the featured highlight.

Pat Healy, Chairman of Listowel Race Company, said, “In these unprecedented times, and in line with Government guidelines, the Listowel Race Company has made the extremely difficult decision to race behind closed doors, this means the event will not be open to the general public this year. The health and safety of everyone is our number one priority and with crowd restrictions in place, it would be very difficult for us to run the festival, as it attracts significant numbers of visitors to Listowel each year.”

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Nazeef Team Eyes Prix Rothschild

Sheikh Hamdan’s G1 Falmouth S. winner Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) looks set to race outside Britain for the first time, with Deauville’s G1 Prix Rothschild on Aug. 2 her likely next target.

“We’re looking at the Prix Rothschild, but we are just going to look at the Nassau as well in case we can’t get to France for any reason,” confirmed the sheikh’s racing manager Angus Gold. “The first priority has always been Deauville, but she’ll probably be in the Nassau.”

He added of the 4-year-old filly, “I’m sure one day she will go over 10 furlongs, but the thinking was to stay at a mile for the time being. That does depend on the travel arrangements, though, if we are struggling to get anyone over to Deauville with her.”

Beaten only once when third on debut, the Shadwell-bred Nazeef has put together an impressive string of six victories since June 2019. Her three wins this year include the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot and she was one of six winners for Sheikh Hamdan at the meeting.

Gold continued, “We thought she’d be Group class this year, but you can only hope they win a Group 1—you don’t expect them to. We knew she had a lot more to give and she’s rewarded us in spades. She’s got ability, is very good looking and has a fantastic attitude, which counts for an awful lot. It’s a strong combination.”

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Lyons Takes Long View For Even So

Ger Lyons took his second Irish Classic of the season on Saturday with the Coolmore-owned Even So (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and is already looking forward to her 4-year-old season.

“A real plan hasn’t been made, but her real career could kick in at four because there’s a good programme for the older fillies,” he said of the three-time winner. “There’s obviously the Yorkshire Oaks, but I wouldn’t be in a rush to take on Love, without talking to connections they let all of their horses take each other on, but I don’t think I need to do that with her.

“There’s no plan at the moment for Even So—she’s out in the paddock with Yaxeni and Lemista and she’ll be there all of this week at the very least to help her get over her exertions.”

He added: “The initial thinking was to find a little prep and head for [Champions Day at] Ascot.”

Lemista (Ire) (Raven’s Pass) added to a fantastic weekend for the Lyons stable with her victory in the G2 Kilboy Estates S. over nine furlongs. The filly, who was racing in the colours of American owner Peter Brant, has Even So behind her in third when winning the G3 Park Express S. in March before racing was halted. She then bounced back to win the listed Victor McCalmont Memorial S. on June 20.

“Lemista is a great filly. It was a big decision to sell her for David Spratt,” said the trainer. “She’s winning over a trip shorter than I think is her best, and on ground quicker than I think she wants. If you could see her and Even So work on the gallops you’d be scratching your head, but they turn it on on the track. They lead the baby 2-year-olds on the gallops.”

Lyons added, “The day she won the Park Express we were speculatively black-type hunting, but Chris Hayes rode her and told us we were under-estimating her. I don’t think she’s an [Irish] St Leger type–I have Nickajack Cave for that, who won the Saval Beg. You could run Even So over a mile and six, or Yaxeni.”

A maiden winner last season, Yaxeni (Fr) (Maxios {GB}), owned by SBA Racing Ltd, which also races the smart juvenile Frenetic (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), finished sixth in the Irish Oaks and has also been Group 3-placed this year.

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New-look NHRM Set To Reopen

Newmarket’s National Horse Racing Museum (NHRM) has a new name and a new look ahead of its reopening to the public on Tuesday, July 28. The museum, situated in the centre of the town just off the high street, has been closed for four months during the coronavirus pandemic.

One-way systems and social-distancing measures are in place to ensure that visitors can return safely to the venue which is also home to a number of high-profile retired racehorses who reside in the Rothschild Yard.

“Not only does the museum present a rich and fascinating panorama of a sport which is very much at the centre of the nation’s story, it’s also a great day out for everyone, whether they already know about racing or not,” said NHRM chief executive Dr Steven Parissien. “We want to become an essential resource for the town and believe that our unique combination of art, heritage, horses, open spaces and great food and drink is exactly what Newmarket needs in these trying times.”

He continued, “There will be new catering outlets, more space, a dedicated community gallery and displays which will reflect the history of the town as well as of racing. This autumn, for example, we will be showing a compilation of BBC archival films on Newmarket, from a profile of the old railway station’s famous heavy horses of the 1960s to the Blue Peter special on the town of 2003.”

The popular Tack Room restaurant will also reopen, along with the former bakery in the King’s Yard, which will offer bread, cakes, coffee and picnic boxes. Further changes include the transformation of the museum’s paddocks into a picnic area with benches and, in the coming months, a miniature zoo for companion animals such as sheep and goats. The museum store is also being relaunched and will include a second-hand book room.

Dr Parissien added, ‘We want the museum’s fabulous open spaces to be a key venue for the town—for eating and drinking, for art, for music and for shows and events, as well as for reflection and for relaxation. Keep in touch with us through our new website and you can find everything that’s coming up.”

This summer’s special exhibition, entitled The Good Companions, opens on Friday, July 31, and explores the portrayal of dogs in art. Tickets can be booked via visit the temporary ticketing website.

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