Spectacular performances at the Curragh

It was day two of the Irish Champions Weekend at the Curragh on Sunday and it is fair to say the card lived up to its billing with some spectacular displays. Star juvenile Sun Goddess made her racecourse debut on the 9th May at Naas and has thrived on racing performing at the top level throughout the summer and early Autumn. Aidan O'Brien's filly was beaten in two of her first three races, including at Royal Ascot, but hasn't looked back since. Between the 27th June and the 13th September, the Sioux Nation filly has won four times, including two Group 1 events. Having beaten the colts in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh last month, she then destroyed nineteen opponents in the Goffs Sale race at York eleven days later. Returning to the highest level, she produced arguably her best effort yet when streaking clear in the Moyglare Stud Stakes. Tackling seven furlongs for the first time, Ryan Moore's mount quickened up on the outside before powering clear to win by six and a half lengths. Her trainer suggested afterwards that she may contest the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket later this month before being trained with the 1000 Guineas in mind next year. Featured in the Ballydoyle Juveniles section in Ahead on The Flat, she is a tremendous filly and it will be interesting to see if she can reproduce such a level of form next season after such a busy campaign. 

Over the two days, Aidan O'Brien sent out 3 winners from 26 runners, while his son Joseph was also responsible for 3 winners from 32 runners, plus the first two home in the St Leger at Doncaster. One couldn't help be impressed by Thundering On's victory in the Group 2 Blandford Stakes. The Frankel filly won the Epsom Oaks in devastating fashion in June before possibly finding the ground too quick in the Pretty Polly Stakes over ten furlongs next time. Off the track 78 days, the O'Brien filly was back to her best coming from the rear of the field under a confident ride by Ryan Moore. Quickening up on the outside, she hit a top speed of 40.54mph covering the penultimate furlong in 11.16 seconds. Effective over ten and twelve furlongs, her connections have options next month with either the Group 1 Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe or Prix de L'Opera at Longchamp her likely destination. Granted ease underfoot, she will be a dangerous opponent regardless of her chosen target. 

Joseph O'Brien captured the Group 1 National Stakes for the fourth time in the last seven years with Folsom Blues beating his stablemate Monogram by six lengths. Runner-up behind the aforementioned Sun Goddess in the Phoenix Stakes last month, the Blue Point appreciated the return to seven furlongs. Ridden by Joey Sheridan, who was tasting Group 1 glory for the first time, he cruised into contention before quickening clear. While no match for the winner, the runner-up will have learned plenty and remains a most promising colt for the future. A maiden winner over C&D in August, this represented a big step up in class and his inexperience was evident early on. Slowly away, it took a while for Colin Keane's mount to hit top gear before staying on behind the runaway winner. It is worth noting the winning time was 1m 27.80 seconds compared to 1m 27.68 seconds in the Moyglare Stud Stakes. 

Aside from watching the action on Sunday, I added the final touches to the new edition of One Jump Ahead. Over the weekend, I received news of three exciting purchases from France - the trio have joined high profile stables in Ireland and all three have been added to OJA. Thank you to all the bloodstock agents who forwarded the news, it is greatly appreciated. It is fair to say, they won't be featuring in any other horses to follow book because the news is literally hot off the press. 

Thank you to those clients who have ordered OJA and the Updates over the weekend - once everything is completed at the printers, I will start processing all the orders. Then, later this week, I am heading to Ayr for a couple of days for the Western meeting. With temperatures dropping and plenty of rain about, the ground is likely to be on the slow side.

If you haven't ordered OJA or the Updates, please head to the Publications section of the site. In addition, the Autumn Update is available to purchase - the Update will be emailed to clients on Thursday 24th September.