Irish racing will be thriving this weekend when the Irish Champions Festival brings together many of Europe’s best horses across two outstanding days at Leopardstown and the Curragh.
For the first time, the festival will feature seven Group One races following the promotion of the Golden Fleece Stakes, with more than €5 million in prize money available across the weekend.
Saturday’s card at Leopardstown features three Group Ones, headed by the €1.25 million Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, before the action moves to the Curragh for four consecutive races at the highest level on Sunday.
The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes is set to provide the headline act as the first three horses home in last month’s Juddmonte International prepare to renew their rivalry over 2000 metres.
Item caused an upset at York when charging home to defeat Almaqam, with Constitution River finishing third after racing much closer to the speed than expected.
Trained by Andrew Balding, Item has now won five of his six starts and has developed into one of the most improved middle-distance horses in Europe.
His Derby failure remains the only blemish on his record, with his victories in the Dante Stakes, York Stakes and Juddmonte International confirming his preference for a more conventional track and distance.
Almaqam lost little in defeat at York, having already established his Group One credentials with victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh earlier in the season.
Trainer Ed Walker initially considered bypassing Leopardstown following the Juddmonte International, but the five-year-old has pleased connections since returning home.
“He has been really fresh and well,” Walker said.
“I was probably more likely not to take in the Irish Champion than to run straight after York, but he has come out of that race very well and is in great form.”
The strongest home challenge is likely to come from Constitution River, who will attempt to return to the form which saw him complete a remarkable Group One double in the Prix du Jockey Club and Eclipse Stakes.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt carried a five-race winning sequence into the Juddmonte International but pulled hard after being forced to race close to the leader when the intended pacemaker missed the start.
Despite those circumstances, he remained in contention deep into the race before finishing third.
The Leopardstown rematch offers Constitution River an immediate opportunity to reverse the York result and reassert himself as Europe’s leading three-year-old following the retirement of Bow Echo.
O’Brien has won the Irish Champion Stakes on 13 occasions, including last year with Delacroix, and the tight-turning Leopardstown circuit has regularly rewarded Ballydoyle’s tactical strength.
The race has been won by some of the greatest middle-distance horses of the modern era, including Sea The Stars, Golden Horn, Australia, Magical and Auguste Rodin.
The fillies and mares take centre stage in the Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes, where Blue Bolt will attempt to continue a brilliant campaign for Balding.
The powerful four-year-old has won all four of her starts this season, progressing from Listed company to victories in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes, Falmouth Stakes and Prix Rothschild.
Her victory at Deauville came at the expense of Irish 1000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes winner Precise, who may again provide the strongest opposition at Leopardstown.
Blue Bolt has now won seven of her 10 career starts and has proven effective on varying ground conditions, a significant advantage heading into an unpredictable Irish autumn.
Defending champion Fallen Angel is also among the leading contenders.
Karl Burke’s mare won the Matron during a remarkable three-race Group One sequence last season. She has yet to win in three appearances this year but remains one of the most accomplished mares in the field.
Aidan O’Brien is attempting to win the race for the first time since Hydrangea prevailed in 2017, while progressive performers Carolina Jetstream, City Of Memphis and Joseph O’Brien’s Sindria add further depth.
The opening Group One of the festival will also create a piece of Irish racing history.
Formerly known as the Champions Juvenile Stakes, the Golden Fleece Stakes has been promoted from Group Two level and extended from 1600 to 1800 metres as part of an industry push to encourage the development of middle-distance horses.
The race has already produced several future champions.
Australia won the 2013 edition before completing the English and Irish Derby double, while Auguste Rodin used his 2022 victory as a stepping stone towards six Group One successes around the world.
Last year’s winner Benvenuto Cellini subsequently developed into an Irish Derby winner.
The inaugural Group One edition has attracted a strong collection of emerging juveniles, including Aix La Chapelle, Giant Sequoia, Haffner and Florida Bay.
The distance makes it a particularly intriguing test for the two-year-olds and could provide an early indication of Ireland’s leading Derby prospects for next season.
Sunday’s programme at the Curragh features a rare sequence of four consecutive Group One races, beginning with the Moyglare Stud Stakes for two-year-old fillies.
Sun Goddess brings the strongest credentials after winning the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes before producing a remarkable performance at York, overcoming a seemingly impossible position to win the valuable Harry’s Half Million.
The major question is whether she can transfer that speed to 1400 metres for the first time.
Joseph O’Brien’s Green Empress has already proven herself over the Curragh course and distance, defeating stablemate Dancing Destiny and Aidan O’Brien’s Alpha in the Group Two Debutante Stakes.
Ballinea Star, winner of the Group Three Anglesey Stakes, adds another proven Curragh performer to a race which has produced future Classic winners including Love, Tahiyra, Fallen Angel and last year’s winner Precise.
One of the most open races of the weekend could be the Bar One Racing Flying Five Stakes over 1000 metres.
Comanche Brave returns to Group One company following his breakthrough victory in the July Cup for Donnacha O’Brien, while Royal Ascot winner Mission Central will attempt to protect his unbeaten Curragh record.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Mission Central secured the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot and appears ideally suited by the fast five furlongs.
British sprinters Starlust, Rumstar and Time For Sandals bring strong Nunthorpe Stakes form into the race after finishing behind American speedster Bacio at York.
Time For Sandals was denied a clear passage at a crucial stage and could easily have finished closer with better luck.
The Flying Five was elevated to Group One level in 2018 and has since produced eight different winning trainers, with Ireland and Britain sharing four victories apiece.
The Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes will provide another important early guide towards next season’s Classics.
The unbeaten Dr Rascal has won each of his three starts despite encountering trouble on more than one occasion.
Oliver Cole’s colt overcame a difficult passage when winning the Group Two Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, and that form was strengthened when runner-up Haffner subsequently dominated the Acomb Stakes at York.
Haffner is set to reoppose alongside Ballydoyle stablemate Giant Sequoia, who won the Group Two Futurity Stakes over the Curragh course and distance.
Joseph O’Brien has an excellent recent record in the National Stakes, winning with Thunder Moon, Al Riffa and Scorthy Champ since 2020.
His leading hope this year appears to be Folsom Blues, runner-up in both the Phoenix Stakes and Tyros Stakes, while Juddmonte paid a supplementary fee to add impressive Curragh debut winner Monogram.
The National Stakes has consistently produced future stars. St Mark’s Basilica finished third in the 2020 edition before becoming European Horse of the Year, while former winners include Pinatubo, Native Trail, Churchill and Dubawi.
The Group One programme concludes with Scandinavia seeking an eighth consecutive victory in the Comer Group International Irish St Leger.
A winner of four Group Ones during his current sequence, the Ballydoyle stayer has developed into the dominant force in Europe’s staying division.
His winning run includes last year’s St Leger at Doncaster, two Goodwood Cups and a memorable Ascot Gold Cup victory over Trawlerman.
The four-year-old combines a high cruising speed with proven stamina and now returns to the course where his winning sequence began.
Stablemates Jan Brueghel and Queenstown provide Aidan O’Brien with additional strength, while the experienced Dubai Honour and Arabian Force are potential challengers for William Haggas.
Course specialist Trustyourinstinct also deserves respect after recording four wins and another five placings from nine appearances at the Curragh, although he will be competing at Group One level for the first time.
Unlike the English St Leger, the Irish version is open to older horses, allowing the leading three-year-olds to test themselves against established stayers.
That difference has helped the race produce multiple winners including Vinnie Roe, who won four consecutive editions, and Kyprios, who claimed the prize in 2022 and 2024.
By Scott Bailey
