Bradsell (GB) defeats Highfield Princess (FR) in the King’s Stand (Eclipse Sportswire)
Ylang Ylang Stars in Moyglare Stud Stakes
Sunday’s Flying Five and Moyglare Stud Stakes Offer Automatic Starting Positions into Breeders’ Cup World Championships
Breeders’ Cup Press Release
CURRAGH, Ireland― Two top-class Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In races will take place at The Curragh on Sunday to round off what is set to be a thrilling Irish Champions Weekend.
The Trainers House Enterprises Ltd-owned Highfield Princess (FR) will bid to join an exclusive band of four horses to have won back-to-back renewals of the 5-furlong Al Basti Equiworld, Flying Five Stakes (G1) when the 6-year-old daughter of Night Of Thunder (IRE) lines up among the 10 runners scheduled to start. The winner will gain an automatic berth into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1).
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 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 80 Graded/Group stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.
Despite being beaten in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) in her most recent start, earlier this week trainer John Quinn issued a positive update on Highfield Princess, a three-time Group 1 winner.
Quinn said: “She’s come out of York well, touch wood, she seems fine. There’s no reason to change the plan just because she got beaten. All being well, if she comes out of The Curragh well, we’d like to run her in the [Oct. 1 Prix de l’] Abbaye [Longines, G1] and we’ll see from there.”
Among her rivals in the Flying Five Stakes is the King Power Racing Co Ltd-owned 6-year-old gelding Art Power (IRE), who is unbeaten in four starts at The Curragh, including a 4 1/4-length win in the July 22 Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes (G2) at 5 furlongs.
The Archie Watson-trained Bradsell (GB) earned an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint when he won the June 20 King’s Stand Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, defeating Highfield Princess by a length at odds of 14-1. Bradsell finished third in the Nunthorpe Stakes last time out. The Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds II-owned Equality (GB) and Get Ahead (GB) complete the five-strong British contingent.
The Charlie Bit Me Syndicate-owned Moss Tucker (IRE) heads the Irish challengers. The son of Excelebration (IRE) has experienced a smooth preparation for this Group 1 contest after winning the Aug. 12 Rathasker Stud Phoenix Sprint Stakes (G3) over 6 furlongs at The Curragh.
Ylang Ylang Stars in Moyglare Stud Stakes
The highly exciting Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, and Westerberg-owned Ylang Ylang (GB) is the headline act among nine declared runners for the 7-furlong Moyglare Stud Stakes.
The daughter of Frankel (GB) will try to give trainer Aidan O’Brien a record 10th victory in this race. Ylang Ylang is unbeaten in two starts, winning on debut over the course and distance on June 30. She appears ready for this step up to Group 1 company after a convincing win in the July 27 Jockey Club Of Turkey Silver Flash Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown, beating the Willie McCreery-trained Vespertilio (FR), who also lines up on Sunday.
The Donnacha Aidan O’Brien-trained Porta Fortuna (IRE) brings Group 1 form to the table after a career-best effort when runner-up to the talented Bucanero Fuerte (GB) in the Aug. 12 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (G1) over the course.
Group 3-winning Fallen Angel (GB) and the Amo Racing Limited-owned Ornellaia (GB), who finished second in the Prix du Calvados (G2) at Deauville last month,represent a strong British challenge.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the winners of the Challenge Series races to start at this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships. 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 Championships’ pre-entry deadline of Oct. 23 to receive the rewards.
