Auguste Rodin, Sprewell and White Birch head the nine contenders for Sunday’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh.
The trio finished first, third and fourth for trainers Aidan O'Brien, Jessica Harrington and John Murphy in the Epsom Derby. They will clash again in the first Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby to be run on a Sunday since 2011. Furthermore, Sunday’s card is a Tote World Pool event for the first time, ensuring extensive international coverage for the race.
Should Auguste Rodin be successful, not only would he give Ryan Moore a first Irish Derby win, but he would also be a 100th European Classic winner for Aidan O'Brien. The Ballydoyle maestro runs five in the race in total. Likely outsiders Adelaide River, Covent Garden, Peking Opera and San Antonio set to take their chance.
Also heading for the €1.25m showpiece are Joseph O'Brien's Leopardstown Derby Trial second Up and Under and the Donnacha O'Brien-trained Proud and Regal.
Sunday's Racing Card
Sunday's card kicks-off with the Group 2 GAIN Railway Stakes. With, the nine-runner field is headed by Aidan O'Brien’s course winner His Majesty.
Fourth in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, he will be joined in the race by stable companions. Previous Curragh winners Democracy and Unquestionable. Adrian Murray runs his Coventry Stakes third Bucanero Fuerte, another with winning Curragh form to his name. While supplementary entry Supersonic Man goes for Jessica Harrington. Whereas, the maiden I Am Invictus no forlorn hope for trainer Michael O'Callaghan.
The first of two listed races is the Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Dash Stakes, for which 11 horses have been declared. Michael Dods’ nine-time winner Commanche Falls a leading contender along. Along with Pat Foley’s hat-trick seeker Tango Flare and the three-year-old Wodao, trained by Donnacha O'Brien.
Local hopes Tarawa, trained by Dermot Weld and the Michael Halford & Tracey Collins-trained Cosmic Vega, along with the Joe Murphy-trained Lord Massusus and Aidan O'Brien’s Salt Lake City look to be the big players in the 12-runner Listed Dubai Duty Free Celebration Stakes.
Four handicaps
The first of four handicaps on the card is the Dubai Duty Free Rockingham Handicap. Among the 19 runners are last year’s runner-up Big Gossey, trained by Charles O'Brien. While, Sheikh Maz Mahood for trainer Declan Carroll who won the race in 2013 with Whozthecat. Whereas, the Dubai Duty Free Derby Festival Handicap features recent winners Rahmi and Farnborough, and the hat-trick seeking Chazzesmee in a field of 23 hopefuls.
Restricted to fillies and mares, the Dubai Duty Free Summer Handicap has a field of 11 runners. Including Eoghan O’Neill’s No Niki No, the Andy Slattery-trained Independent Expert and the Gavin Cromwell-trained Transcendental.
The final race of the three-day festival is the Dubai Duty Free Irish EBF Ragusa Handicap. Among the 18 runners are the Paul Flynn-trained Timourid which steps back up in distance after winning over 10 furlongs at the Curragh on Guineas weekend. The James Barrett-trained Dame Rapide and Emmet Mullins’ Teed Up.
Click here to see the declarations for Sunday’s card at the Curragh
Ground
Following a dry day yesterday and 3mm of rain overnight, the ground remains good.
Forecast
Today will remain overcast with light rain, further 2mm approximately, clearing this evening and tonight. Turning dry in westerly breeze on Saturday and Sunday.
Track
Racing on stand side with stalls in centre for all sprints
