Defending champion Giavellotto pursued Sosie and jockey Maxime Guyon all the way to the line but could not reverse the placings from October’s Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m), in which the pair finished third and fourth.

Breaking from stall eight, Guyon had Sosie nicely placed one off the rail and two places back from the early leader Eydon. The latter was overtaken halfway down the back straight by Urban Chic as Christophe Lemaire attempted to inject some urgency into proceedings.

As the field began to turn for home, Guyon went the safe route to the outside of the fading Urban Chic, while Christophe Soumillon took the daring route up the rail aboard Goliath, staying on well for third.

“Everything went very smoothly,” Guyon said, who added to wins in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase aboard Flintshire (2014) and Junko (2023).

“I followed Los Angeles for three-quarters of the race, but halfway round the home turn, Ryan’s (Moore, jockey) horse began to falter. This horse can really sustain his run, and he is such a hard horse to pass.

“The horse has such a great temperament and he is so easy to put anywhere in a race.”

Earlier this season, Sosie also triumphed in the Group 1 Prix Ganay and the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan.

“He is an incredible horse,” Guyon said. “This was the first time he’d travelled across continents, and yet he’s been relaxed every morning this week, and he’s looked amazing.”

"Same owner, same trainer, same jockey… I'm really happy for us!"

Maxime Guyon landed the prize aboard Junko for the same connections in 2023 and now reacts to guiding Sosie to success in the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin…@HKJC_Racing | @HongKong_Racing | #HKIR | #HKRacing pic.twitter.com/OQSy2iQSLP

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 14, 2025

This season’s Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden winner, Goliath, claimed third place. Joseph O’Brien’s Al Riffa, in the hands of Dylan Browne McMonagle, was fourth, with the Donegal rider stating:

“He ran a super race. He wasn’t the quickest into stride from the gates which wasn’t ideal over this trip but he finished good.”

Los Angeles, in his final race before taking up NH stud duties was fifth home under Ryan Moore, the English jockey saying post race:

“He ran very well, I was happy with him.”

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The Irish contingent will be led, as always, by a strong team from Ballydoyle.

Aidan O’Brien, who was crowned champion flat trainer in Britain last weekend, and who will be confirmed as champion trainer in Ireland for a 28th time this weekend, will have a strong hand over the two-day meeting with eight runners in six Grade 1 races.

Horses from Ballydoyle towards the top of the betting market include True Love (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint), Precise (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf), and Gstaad (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf).

25 Group 1s so far in 2025 for O’Brien

Gstaad will be joined in the Grade 1 race by his stable companions Mission Central and Brussels. O’Brien bids to add to his 25 Group 1 wins this season and edge him closer to his own world record of 28 wins at the highest level which he set back in 2017.

A disaster draw?

Precise and Gstaad have been eased in the betting for their respective @BreedersCup assignments…

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 28, 2025

Minnie Hauk, runner-up in the recent Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp, will contest the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Saturday instead of the Filly and Mare Turf. The Coolmore partners will be represented in the latter named race by Bedtime Story instead. The Lion In Winter, well touted for both the 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby earlier in his career, will contest the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

“We have your gates back home as well.”@ScottFDTV caught up with trainer Aidan O’Brien after his horses came off the track this morning. Who’s your favorite horse that’s come over with him for this year’s @BreedersCup? pic.twitter.com/T2Xby5TDZ6

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 29, 2025

O’Brien’s sons Joseph and Donnacha will also have runners at Del Mar this weekend.

Joseph and Donnacha O’Brien compete

Joseph, a former Breeders’ Cup-winning rider, will be represented by Queen Of Hawaii in the Juvenile Fillies’ Turf and North Coast in the Juvenile Turf on Friday evening.

Donnacha takes three runners to California, namely Havana Anna (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint), Balantina (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf) and Atsila (Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf).

Champion jumps trainer in Ireland and Britain Willie Mullins travels his Royal Ascot and Ebor hero Ethical Diamond to the Californian sunshine to compete in the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Saturday.

Adrian Murray and Jack Davison runners

County Westmeath-based handler Adrian Murray will have two runners in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on day two of the meeting, with both Arizona Blaze and Bucanero Fuerte carrying the Amo Racing silks. Meath trainer Jack Davison has She’s Quality engaged in the same contest.

Adrian Murray’s Valiant Force has been declared for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint but the horse is currently ranked as first reserve, so the Irish trainer will be hoping one horse comes out of the race.

There will be coverage of the 2025 Breeders’ Cup from Del Mar on Virgin Media Two from 8pm on Friday, with coverage beginning on Saturday 8.30pm.

There will also be comprehensive coverage on At The Races/Sky Sports Racing.

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A last start winner of the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes over seven furlongs at The Curragh, the Ballydoyle filly was stepping up to the mile first time at Newmarket.

Partnered by Christophe Soumillon, the two-year-old Starspanglebanner filly was settled towards the rear of the 10-strong field. She began to make significant headway quarter of a mile from home. Taking the leading approaching the final furlong, Precise quickened right away for a very comfortable three and a quarter length success over 40/1 chance Venetian Lace.

Seventh win in Fillies’ Mile

Aidan O’Brien, who previously won the race with Sunspangled (1998), Listen (2007), Together Forever (2014), Minding (2015), Rhododendron (2016) and Ylang Ylang (2023), said of his seventh winner Precise:

“She is incredible really. There are so many people involved with her and every week she has got better.

“We ran her over six the first day and Wayne (Lordan) said she just drifted out in front and other than that she would have won. She would be unbeaten otherwise and when you see a filly like her do that over six on a sharp track like Fairyhouse you know they are very special.

“On her pedigree she is out of a very good Galileo mare and will stay. I think she is a Classic filly. We saw today she got the mile on her ear and Christophe was super confident on her. She cantered at all stages through the race and Christophe said if he knew her better he would have waited longer but she got there.

Bred by Aidan O’Brien’s Whisperview Trading, Precise is the first stakes-winner among three winners from placed Galileo mare Way to My Heart, a sister to stakes-winner Kingfisher from stakes-winner Mystical Lady.

The master of Ballydoyle is closing in on his own world record of 28 Group/Grade One winners in a calendar year, which he set in 2017.

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Diamond Necklace, an unbeaten juvenile daughter of St Mark’s Basilica, won the Group 1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac under Belgian jockey Christophe Soumillon.

The 11/10 favourite, owned by the Coolmore partners, was a one-length winner over Green Spirit (9/4), with Narissa (10/1), a length and a quarter further back in third.

Puerto Rico brings up Group 1 double

Puerto Rico (3/1) gave handler Aidan O’Brien a 10th success in the Group 1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, a Breeders’ Cup “Win And You’re In” for the Juvenile Turf.

This two-year-old son of the recently deceased Wootton Bassett had two and a half lengths in hand on Nighttime (5/1) at the winning post, with a further length and a quarter back to the race favourite Rayif (7/4 favourite) in third.

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Trained at Ballydoyle by Aidan O’Brien, the Coolmore partners-owned son of the recently deceased Wootton Bassett, was a length and a quarter winner over August George (28/1).

The cross-channel prepared runner-up, a gelded son of Night Of Thunder, is trained by Ivan Furtado and ridden by Steven Donohoe.

The second O’Brien-handled runner in the €1,000,000 contest over seven furlongs, Composing (5/6), the race favourite, was a half length further behind in third, in the hands of Ronan Whelan.

Hawk Mountain (5/4 favourite) had earlier won the Group 2 Qatar Racing & Equestrian Beresford Stakes for O’Brien, the Coolmore partners, and Ronan Whelan.

The two-year-old colt, a son of Wootton Bassett, had three and a quarter lengths in hand on Geryon (9/4) in the one-mile race.

The latter, trained by Ger Lyons for Newtown Anner Stud, was piloted by Colin Keane, while Al Haarith (5/1) was a head further back for Joseph O’Brien and stable jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle.

A 22nd win in the Beresford for Aidan O’Brien courtesy of Hawk Mountain @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/vQkXBIGbrK

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 27, 2025

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The win was a 13th success in the contest for trainer Aidan O’Brien, with the winning son of Dubawi ridden by Christophe Soumillon.

The runner-up and third places were taken by the English-trained challengers, Anmaat (4/1) and Royal Champion (18/1), the mounts of Chris Hayes and Clifford Lee respectively.

DELACROIX is a fine winner of the €1.25m Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes! @LeopardstownRC | @BahrainTurfClub pic.twitter.com/WnGT9hdb2v

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 13, 2025

Another Irish Group 1 for Fallen Angel

Fallen Angel (9/4 favourite) took the first Group 1 contest of Irish Champions Festival when winning the Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes for Karl Burke.

The four-year-old grey daughter of Too Darn Hot, winner of the Group 1 Moyglare Stakes at The Curragh as a juvenile and the Tattersalls Ireland 1000 Guineas last year, was ridden this afternoon by James Doyle for Wathnan Racing.

Group 1 glory!

Fallen Angel makes it FOUR top-level triumphs in the €400,000 @coolmorestud ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes on an afternoon to remember for @karl_burke pic.twitter.com/3J0c00rIVJ

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 13, 2025

The victory was completing a quick double for English trainer Burke, who had earlier claimed the Group 3 CMG Group Stakes with Convergent in the colours of Newtown Anner Stud Farm. The three-year-old bay son of Fascinating Rock was ridden by Clifford Lee.

O’Brien and Soumillon win Champions Juvenile

Benvenuto Cellini (1/2 favourite) won the Group 2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes for trainer Aidan O’Brien and Belgian jockey Christophe Soumillon.

Racing behind the leader for most of the one-mile contest, the son of Frankel quickened inside the final furlong to complete an impressive five-length victory from Hardy Warrior.

The winner of the race, in which all four runners were trained by Aidan, Joseph and Donncha O’Brien, now gains an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar later in the season.

Benvenuto Cellini is bred to be top-class and the Frankel colt is very good in the Group 2 @KPMG_Ireland Champions Juvenile Stakes, scoring under Christophe Soumillon for Aidan O’Brien @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/AjUzUhIzdB

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 13, 2025

Necklace is all Diamond in Ingabelle Stakes

Diamond Necklace, backed into 1/2 favourite before the off, won the Listed Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle Stakes for Aidan O’Brien.

Deputising for the injured Ryan Moore and the suspended Wayne Lordan, Christophe Soumillon oozed confidence in the final furlong as the bay juvenile daughter of St Mark’s Basilica pulled away from the field for a comfortable two and a quarter length victory.

Johnny Murtagh double

Johnny Murtagh’s topweight Rahmi (14/1) came late and wide of the field to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Sovereign Path Handicap for seven-pound claimer Rory Mulligan.

Alakazi (7/2) completed a Murtagh double on the day, as Ben Coen rode the three-year-old to victory in the Group 2 Tonybet Solonoway Stakes.

A double at the Irish Champions Festival for @JohnnyMurtagh!

Alakazi hits the line strongly in the €200,000 Tonybet Solonaway Stakes under @BenCoen2 in the iconic Aga Khan colours @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/oTFnkcJxM5

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 13, 2025

Happy Pharoah (9/1) gave Donnacha O’Brien and Paddy Hartnett a win in the Petingo Handicap, while the final contest of the nine-race card went the way of 22/1 shot Pink Oxalis for trainer Stephen Thorne and jockey David Egan.

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Winner of the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy Stakes at Newmarket last month, Scandinavia needed every yard of two miles under Cork jockey Wayne Lordan, as he overtook the front-runner Illinois (7/4 favourite) close home after a sustained battle.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained duo were two and a half lengths clear of Sweet William (4/1). Sadly, the race was overshadowed by a fatal injury to 2021 winner Trueshan, who was pulled up sharply by Hollie Doyle mid-contest.

Scandinavia, a son of Justify, is the first three-year-old to take the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup since Stradivarius in 2017.

“He stays forever”

The successful handler, Aidan O’Brien, said of the winner:

“I am delighted. Wayne gave Scandinavia a brilliant ride. He ran a lovely race at Ascot when Wayne rode him, as he got trapped six wide all the way but he kept coming and coming, and then Ryan rode him at Newmarket and said he was a very good horse. He said he stays forever and is very classy.”

Discussing possible future race plans, the Ballydoyle trainer stated:

“The lads will make those decisions [about the St Leger and so on], but obviously Lambourn didn’t go to the King George because Jan Brueghel was going there, so he has his eye on the Voltigeur, and then he could go anywhere after that – to an Arc or a St Leger. All of those things are open, but I’d say this horse looks ready made for the St Leger as he stays forever, handled an ease in the ground here today, and is very straightforward.”

Another big win for Lordan

This year’s Betfred Derby-winning rider Wayne Lordan said of his most recent major victory:

“Credit to Scandinavia, he has improved all year. He was stepping up to two miles today against the older horses; it was a tough task, but I thought he stepped forward quite well.

“Illinois is a very genuine horse, a Group One horse, and this horse was stepping into his company today. He had never run in that company before, so today was going to find out how smart he is. Obviously, he is a very smart stayer.

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Winner of the Betfred Derby at Epsom last month under Wayne Lordan, the son of Australia  took Ireland’s premier classic in the hand of Ryan Moore on Sunday.

Trained at Ballydoyle by Aidan O’Brien, it was a 17th success in the race for the County Wexford-born trainer, it was his 15th win in the last 23 years.

His stable companion, Serious Contender (28/1), ridden by Gavin Ryan, gave him most to do, coming home just three-quarters of a length behind.

The English challenger, Lazy Griff (14/1) was third for jockey William Buick and trainer Charlie Johnston, two and a quarter lengths behind the runner-up.

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Second to her stable companion Minnie Hauk in the Betfred Oaks at Epsom, the Aidan O’Brien-trained filly out-battled the English raider and race favourite Kalpana (5/6) this afternoon.

Urged into the lead from the stalls by Ryan Moore, the daughter of Wootton Bassett, took the field along in the one mile two furlong contest.

When Colin Keane aboard Kalpana came to Whirl in the final furlong, it looked as though it was only a matter of time before the Andrew Balding daughter of Study of Man would claim her race.

"The ultimate racing machine, really."

Aidan O'Brien hails Pretty Polly winner Whirl and a fantastic spectacle in the Group 1 @paddypower-backed highlight at @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/i4VuqfyRbd

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 28, 2025

Whirl battled, however, when asked by Moore and was not for passing, completing a treble on the day for Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore and the Coolmore partners, but incredibly a three-timer also for Coolmore Stud stallion Wootton Basseett.

There was a length and quarter between Whirl and Kalpana at the winning line with a further length and three-quarters back to the French-trained Survie (18/1) in third in the seven-runner Group 1.

Group 1 glory!

Whirl strikes from Kalpana in a thrilling €300,000 @paddypower Pretty Polly Stakes for Ryan Moore, Aidan O'Brien and Ballydoyle @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/76Eys2rB3i

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 28, 2025

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British raiders look to extend their dominance in the Group 1 Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes this Saturday, as Kalpana lines up for Andrew Balding in a field of seven high-class fillies. The British-trained runner will be ridden by Colin Keane following a fine third in the Tattersalls Gold Cup last month at the same venue.

Trainer Andrew Balding was upbeat, saying: “She is a very high-class filly. While we think she might be even better over further, a mile and a quarter should suit her well – especially if the ground stays good.”

International Challenge

The French-trained Survie, a Group 2 winner, joins Kalpana as part of the international challenge. She will be ridden by Stéphane Pasquier for Nicolas Clément and Flo Hermans.

Irish Contenders

• Whirl – Aidan O’Brien’s narrow Oaks runner-up represents strong claims.
• Wemighttakedlongway – Joseph O’Brien’s filly bids to follow in the footsteps of Iridessa (2019) and Thundering Nights (2021).
• Magical Hope – Trained by 2022 winner Paddy Twomey.
• Jancis – Willie McCreery’s charge will be partnered by Ben Coen.
• Higher Leaves – Represents Henry de Bromhead and Shane Foley.

More Group Action on the Card

Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes: Six juveniles line up, including Ger Lyons’ Lady Iman (chasing a four-timer) and Aidan O’Brien’s Beautify, with Ryan Moore booked.

Group 3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai International Stakes: Elizabeth Jane runs for Dermot Weld with Chris Hayes aboard.

Group 3 Anglesey Stakes: Flushing Meadows heads a quality field that includes Stop The Nation and debut winner Suzie Songs.

Ladies Derby & Handicaps

• Sherry FitzGerald Country Homes Ladies Derby: Jody Townend (Tatateo) and Hannah Smullen (Desert Friend) feature.
• Fitzpatrick’s Mercedes-Benz Handicap: Recent winner Cold Hearted aims to follow up for Jessica Harrington.

Full Race Schedule – Saturday

• 1.15pm – Barronstown Stud Irish EBF Maiden
• …
• 5.15pm – Keadeen Hotel Irish EBF Maiden

Pretty Polly Stakes – Odds (Paddy Power)

• 6/4 – Whirl
• 9/4 – Kalpana
• 6 – Wemighttakedlongway
• 7 – Higher Leaves
• 12 – Jancis
• 14 – Survie
• 20 – Magical Hope

Going Update

Straight course: Good to firm in places
Round course: Good
Stalls: Centre for all sprint races

Admission & Bundles

• Saturday General Admission: €30 online / €35 on the day
• Sunday Premium Admission: €150 (Winning Line Lounge access)
• Derby Bundles: From €33 – includes admission, €5 bet, food voucher, racecard, afterparty access

Transport & Parking

Free shuttle buses from Newbridge & Kildare
Free parking at the Curragh Racecourse

Where to Watch

• Racing TV – Full coverage
• TG4 & RTÉ – Selected races live on Saturday and Sunday

Entertainment

• Friday – The Classic Beatles (afterparty)
• Sunday – The Whistlin’ Donkey’s (afterparty)

For tickets, discounts and more: curragh.ie/tickets

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