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The James Fanshawe-trained son of Gleneagles had to settle for second place in Epsom behind Aidan O’Brien’s emphatic winner City Of Troy, but Ambiente Friendly was this morning supplemented for the Sunday’s €1,250,000 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby where he will renew his rivalry with Epsom’s third placer Los Angeles.
Both the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas at The Curragh were claimed by British-trained runners last month and a strong contingent from across the Irish Sea for racing this weekend is headed by Fanshawe’s current stable star.
“Ambiente Friendly appears to have come out of Epsom in really good form,” Fanshawe confirmed on Tuesday. “He worked last Wednesday and seems nice and bright in himself ahead of the weekend and I’m very happy with the colt.
“He really came into his own in the Derby Trial at Lingfield back in May, which he won really well, and then showed further progress in the Derby at Epsom and appears in good shape since.”
Fanshawe added: “I just had a look at the weather forecast for the week and there doesn’t appear to be a lot of rain around. The ground was just on the slow side of good at Epsom and I don’t envisage any issues with the ground at The Curragh as he is a lovely moving horse and we are all very much looking forward to it.”
Varian is eyeing more Curragh Classic success
Fresh from Group 1 success at Royal Ascot a week ago, Roger Varian will be hoping to snare another major winner at The Curragh when saddling Matsuri in Ireland’s premier Classic race on Sunday.
Aidan O’Brien’s quest for a remarkable 16th Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby triumph is aided by Agenda, Chief Little Rock, Euphoric, Grosvenor Square and The Euphrates joining their stable companion Los Angeles.
David Menuisier will be represented by Sunway while Ger Lyons will look to win the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby for the first time with Keeper’s Heart.
Racegoers to The Curragh will be treated to a nine-race card with each of the eight supporting events worth at least €100,000 on Sunday.
Racing will get underway at 1.10pm on Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day with the Paddy Power ‘From The Horse’s Mouth’ Podcast Handicap in which the Karl Burke-trained Arabic Legend is likely to top the weights.
The Group 2 GAIN Railway Stakes will pitch some of the leading juvenile horses against each other as course and distance winners Arizona Blaze, Henri Matisse and Tunbridge Wells also hold entries. The theme of strong British representation is continued here though Richard Hannon’s Goodwood winner Principality and Kevin Ryan’s York victor The Strikin Viking.
Dods is returning for the Dash
Last year’s winner Commanche Falls looks set to return for another tilt at the Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Dash Stakes for trainer Michael Dods, while the Dubai Duty Free Rockingham Handicap will see Kate McGivern’s recent Curragh winner Kendall Roy look for a landmark success.
The Dermot Weld-trained Tarawa is a notable entry in the Colm McLoughlin Celebration Stakes and racing continues after the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby with a trio of €100,000 handicaps to treat racegoers.
Last season’s Juddmonte Irish Oaks runner-up Bluestocking looks a likely favourite to win the Group 1 Cairn Community Games Pretty Polly Stakes on Saturday.
The Ralph Beckett-trained four-year-old was a facile winner on her seasonal debut at York last month and is one of 13 entries which stood her ground for Saturday’s showpiece.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained Emily Upjohn has also been confirmed for the race as she looks to bounce back from finishing fourth behind Luxembourg in the Coronation Cup at Epsom.
Purple Lily represents the Twomey team
Paddy Twomey won the race in 2022 with La Petite Coco and is likely to be represented by Purple Lily on this occasion.
Twomey’s American Bar is one 14 entries for the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes on Saturday. Aidan O’Brien’s bid for a third successive win in the race is led by Easy Mover and January while Jessica Harrington’s course and distance winner Barnavara is also included.
The Group 3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai International Stakes also features on Saturday with The Willie McCreery-trained Self Belief likely to take on the Joseph O’Brien-trained Trustyourinstinct in what looks a strong renewal with the Karl Burke-trained duo of Bolster and Liberty Lane also among a strong team entered by the trainer this weekend.
Racing on Saturday begins with the Barronstown Stud Irish EBF Maiden at 1.15pm and also features the Sherry FitzGerald Country Homes Handicap and the eagerly anticipated Kildare Village Ladies Derby. The Molton Brown EBF Median Auction Maiden and the La Celia Wines Irish Maiden close the card on day two of Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby weekend.
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