Asfoora scoring the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes. (focusonracing.com)
Sunday’s Bar One Flying Five and Moyglare Stud Stakes at The Curragh Offer Automatic Starting Positions into Breeders’ Cup World Championships
Breeders’ Cup Release
CURRAGH, Ireland —Two high-class Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In races take place at The Curragh this Sunday on the second day of the Irish Champions Festival.
The Noor Elaine Farm Pty-owned Asfoora (AUS) booked her ticket to Del Mar when she comfortably landed the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) last month, which was a Win and You’re In contest for the $1 million Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1). She faces 15 high-quality rivals on Sunday who will all be hoping to join her in winning this race and gaining an automatic berth into the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.
The winner of the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1), the card’s second Win and You’re In race, will earn an automatic position into the $1 million John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 93 stakes races in 15 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California.
Asfoora leads 16 runners in Bar One Racing Flying Five Stakes
Asfoora returned to form in decisive fashion on the third day of the Ebor Festival at York to earn her berth in the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, having bounced back from three disappointing performances in the first half of the season. The 7-year-old mare now heads to The Curragh for what represents a first start in Ireland, and connections are hoping this can prove the perfect steppingstone to the Breeders’ Cup.
Chenelle Ellis, Asfoora’s groom, said: “She likes good to firm ground, so providing we get that sort of ground, I think she will be hard to beat. I think she is just peaking at the right time and hopefully that continues. I think the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint would be a good race for her.
She added: “We’d love to get to Del Mar. She’s taken us all over the world already – and to end up in America would be unreal.”
Among her opposition is the hat-trick seeking AMO Racing-owned Bucanero Fuerte (GB) who is a four-time course winner at The Curragh. The 4-year-old is a Group 1 winner and is unbeaten in two starts in 2025. He will be joined by stablemate Arizona Blaze (GB) who also carries the silks of AMO Racing.
Karl Burke won this Group 1 showpiece back in 2018 with Havana Grey (GB) and his Wathnan Racing-owned Night Raider (IRE) showed a bit more in defeat when beaten just 2 1/4-lengths by Asfoora at York. The Dark Angel (IRE) colt has never won on turf or over this 5- furlong distance.
Fellow British challenger Art Power (IRE) loves his trips to this track, having won here four times in the past. The King Power Racing-owned gelding is now an 8-year-old and has not tackled this 5-furlong trip for almost two years.
Dual course and distance winner Two Stars (IRE) is steadily improving and won a ‘Listed’ event last time, though this represents a steep rise in grade for the Mrs. Anne Gaffney & Tom Gaffney & Liam J Butler-owned 5-year-old.
She’s Quality (IRE), Mgheera (GB), Whistlejacket (IRE), Nighteyes (IRE), Powerful Nation (IRE), Erosandpsyche (IRE), Grande Marques (IRE), Saratoga Special (IRE), Lady With The Lamp (IRE), andV adream (GB) complete the field.
Venetian Sun and Composing face off in Moyglare Stud Stakes thriller
The unbeaten Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy-owned Venetian Sun (IRE) will take on Composing (IRE) in another highly anticipated renewal of the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1).
Venetian Sun steps up in trip to 7 furlongs for the first time and will look to emulate stablemate Fallen Angel (GB) in landing this Group 1 contest for trainer Karl Burke. The daughter of Starman (GB) is four for four and notched a first Group 1 victory in the Sumbe Prix Morny (G1) at Deauville last month.
Chief market rival Composing recorded a third consecutive win with the minimum of fuss when comfortably accounting for Suzie Songs (IRE) by 2 1/2 lengths in the Aug. 23 Alpa Centauri Debutante Stakes (G2) at The Curragh.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has won a record 10 renewals of this contest. He said: “Composing is a lovely filly who has done everything we have asked of her. She stays very well and was very impressive the last day. She’s gone through all the different stages and we’re looking forward to her.”
Owners Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael B. Tabor are also represented by and Precise (IRE) and Beautify (IRE), whose chances are by no means underestimated. The former gained an automatic berth into the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf when she captured the Aug. 24 Prestige Fillies’ Stakes (G3) at Goodwood in her third start. Beautify is returning from a break after defeating Lady Iman (IRE) in the June 28 Airlie Stud Stakes (G2) at The Curragh going 6 furlongs.
O’Brien added: “We always thought 7 furlongs would suit Beautify well. She is working very well. Precise won at Goodwood and has been training well, too.”
The field is completed by the Robert J. W. Moran-owned Pivotal Attack (GB) who was a ready winner of a Galway maiden in July, and the Al Shira’aa Racing-owned Skydance (GB) who has been highly tried in all four career starts but is the sole filly in the field without a win.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of the Flying Five Stakes to start in the $1 million Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, which will be run at 5 furlongs, and for the winner of the Moyglare Stud Stakes to start in the $1 million John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, which will be contested at 1 mile. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 20 in order to receive the rewards.
