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James Fanshawe’s Epsom Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly will be aiming to become a third English-trained winner of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby in four years with both the Charlie Appleby-trained Hurricane Lane and Ralph Beckett’s Westover landing the spoils at the Curragh after finishing third in Epsom.
Aidan O’Brien will be responsible for saddling the Epsom third place finisher in the Irish Derby this year as Los Angeles spearheads the four-strong Ballydoyle challenge at the Curragh.
O’Brien is targeting an incredible 16th victory in the race since his first with Desert King in 1997 and has also declared Euphoric, Grosvenor Square and The Euphrates.
Ryan Moore won the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby for the first time in 11 attempts when guiding Auguste Rodin to victory a year ago and will aim to win back to back editions aboard Los Angeles in the €1,250,000 showpiece on Sunday.
Varian aiming for biggest winner on Irish soil
A theme of this Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby weekend has been the strong presence of British-trained runners and Matsuri will bid to give trainer Roger Varian his biggest ever winner on these shores.
A two-time winner from just three starts, Matsuri was an eight-length winner on his only outing at Leicester this season and will be the mount of James Doyle.
David Menuisier will be represented by the Oisin Murphy-ridden Sunway who finished seventh in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club earlier this month. Sunway was a winner of the Group 1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud last term.
The Ger Lyons-trained Keeper’s Heart will carry the hopes of owners David Spratt, Sean Jones and Lynne Lyons and was just over a length and a half behind Los Angeles at Leopardstown earlier this season.
Dreams begin with the Railway Stakes
Irish Classic hopes will be realised in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby but the Group 2 Gain Railway Stakes earlier on Sunday’s card will begin the dream for connections of a very smart juvenile.
The roll of honour includes plenty of subsequent Classic and Group 1 winners and last year’s winning trainer Adrian Murray will be once again hoping to snare a big result, this time with two time Curragh winner and Norfolk Stakes placed Arizona Blaze.
Aidan O’Brien will saddle three runners with Henri Matisse was a Curragh maiden winner last month, while Tunbridge Wells scored here earlier this month and the champion trainer will also saddle Gowran Park winner The Parthenon. The Strikin Viking, named in honour of Manchester City Erling Haaland, will represent Kevin Ryan, while Sean Levey is booked to ride Principality for Richard Hannon and the field is completed by Michael O’Callaghan’s Red Evolution.
The Michael Dods-trained Commanche Falls will look to claim back to back renewals of the Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Dash Stakes when taking on the John Feane-trained Ano Syra and My Mate Alfie for Ger Lyons.
Azada, who finished sixth in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas, will try to continue to the good run of form of Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes in the Colm McLoughlin Celebration Stakes where she will face eight rivals.
Compeitive handicaps galore on Sunday
Sunday’s nine race card will feature five €100,000 handicap races, the first of which is the opening Paddy Power From The Horse’s Mouth Handicap. The three-year-old only event is headed by the Karl Burke-trained Arabic Legend, while John Velazquez will team up with old friend Johnny Murtagh aboard Thor’s Hammer.
A field of 17 runners will go to post for the Dubai Duty Free Rockingham Handicap where Kate McGivern’s Kendall Roy will look to claim another big prize at the Curragh while Harry’s Hill will bid for a third course and distance winner for trainer Martin Hassett.
The hat-trick seeking State Actor will also be searching for a third course and distance win when lining up in the Dubai Duty Free Derby Festival Handicap. State Actor will be ridden by champion jockey Colin Keane as will Ross O’Sullivan’s recent two-time winner Dance Night Andday in the Dubai Duty Free Summer Fillies Handicap.
Irish Derby weekend will draw to a close on Sunday with the Dubai Duty Free Irish EBF Ragusa Handicap over a mile and a half in which Willie Mullins has booked Ryan Moore to ride Lot Of Joy and Jessica Harrington’s Saturn will return after winning the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Handicap earlier this month.
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