Ballydoyle maps out Curragh and Newmarket plans with Ascot form in mind
Aidan O’Brien has signalled a busy autumn for his juvenile and older flat horses, with potential engagements at the Irish Champions Festival at the Curragh and the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket featuring prominently. Several of the horses in contention have previously crossed paths at Royal Ascot, giving racegoers familiar form lines to follow as the season moves into its autumn phase.
Sun Goddess and Alpha in frame for the Moyglare
Sun Goddess, who produced an eye-catching performance at York, is under consideration for a step up to seven furlongs in the Moyglare Stud Stakes on day two of the Irish Champions Festival. O’Brien indicated the filly handled an ease in the ground well at York and that connections believe she could stay seven furlongs, making the Curragh an option en route to the Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket later in September.
Stablemate Alpha has been prepared with the Moyglare in mind and remains a key contender. Although beaten when third in the Debutante Stakes, Alpha is described by her trainer as a big, powerful filly who is likely to appreciate a stronger gallop.
Jockey selections and tactics
With both fillies being considered for the same race, the choice of rider could be finely balanced. O’Brien indicated the decision will reflect which runners ultimately travel to the Curragh, with the tactical implications of Alpha’s pace and Sun Goddess’s stamina potential both factors in the selection process.
Two-pronged attack for the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes
Ballydoyle are also planning a two-horse challenge in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, naming Giant Sequoia and Haffner as possible starters in the Group One contest. Giant Sequoia has been consistent through the season, while Haffner impressed on his most recent start and appears to have come out of that run well. Both remain under consideration for the nine-furlong classic for juveniles.
Flying Five and Irish St. Leger targets
On the sprinting front, Mission Central, Charles Darwin and Brussels have been mentioned among those who could contest the BAR 1 Betting Flying Five Stakes. Meanwhile, Scandinavia is set to head the Ballydoyle challenge in the Comer Group International Irish St. Leger, with Jan Brueghel and Queenstown also possible contenders for the staying contest.
Leopardstown Group Ones and the Precise–True Love rivalry
O’Brien’s squad will be well represented at Leopardstown a day earlier, where Precise and True Love are both under consideration for the Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes. The pair have met three times this season: True Love prevailed in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, while Precise reversed that form in the Irish Guineas and again in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Neither filly has recaptured that winning momentum since Royal Ascot; Precise has finished runner-up in the Falmouth Stakes and the Prix Rothschild and was third in the Prix Jacques le Marois, while True Love’s most recent outing saw her finish close up in the Prix Maurice de Gheest. Both are expected to go to Leopardstown, with the decision on final declarations likely to be influenced by draw and the expected pace scenarios.
Golden Fleece entries and further prospects
In the newly upgraded Golden Fleece Stakes over nine furlongs, O’Brien anticipates running a small team. Aix La Chapelle, Sergei Diaghilev and Shakespeare are among the named possibilities, with Darkness Falls — successful on his most recent start — also in the mix.
What this means for racegoers
For followers of the big summer meetings, several of the names involved will be familiar from Royal Ascot and other Group engagements. The choices O’Brien makes between the Curragh, Newmarket and Leopardstown will shape late-summer and early-autumn Group race narratives, particularly in juvenile Group Ones and fillies’ mile contests. Declarations and jockey bookings over the coming days will clarify the picture ahead of two key festival weekends in Ireland and Britain.
