Economics and Auguste Rodin are among the 12 elite contenders confirmed for the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday. Trained by William Haggas and Aidan O’Brien, respectively, Economics will be making his Group One debut, while Auguste Rodin, last year’s winner, aims for his seventh Group One victory.
O’Brien also has the option of including Irish Derby hero Los Angeles, 2022 winner Luxembourg, Continuous, and Hans Andersen.
Adding to the intrigue, Japanese raider Shin Emperor is in the mix, with British challengers including Clive Cox’s Ghostwriter and Karl Burke’s Royal Rhyme.
The French challenge looks strong, with Jerome Reynier’s Zarakem and Facteur Cheval still in contention, and Mario Baratti’s French 2000 Guineas winner Metropolitan also a potential runner.
The Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes, the first of six Group Ones during the Irish Champions Festival, features 14 fillies. Donnacha O’Brien’s Porta Fortuna will be seeking a Group One hat-trick after victories in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket. The Burke-trained Fallen Angel, who defeated Porta Fortuna in the Moyglare Stud Stakes last year, is set to make her first appearance since winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas in May.
Other contenders include George Boughey’s Soprano, who might travel from Britain, Willie McCreery’s unbeaten Jancis, and Aidan O’Brien’s Ylang Ylang.
Sunday’s Curragh card highlights the Comer Group International Irish St Leger, featuring Ballydoyle’s star stayer Kyprios. The six-year-old, who was a beaten odds-on favourite while defending his title last year, has regained top form this season with four wins, including the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and the Goodwood Cup.
Kyprios will face competition from stablemate Continuous, Marco Botti’s Giavellotto, and Willie Mullins’ Vauban.
The British challenge for the Group One Bar One Racing Flying Five Stakes is led by Archie Watson’s dual Group One winner Bradsell, with George Boughey’s Believing and defending champion Moss Tucker, trained by Ken Condon, also among the 20 contenders.
In the Moyglare Stud Stakes, Aidan O’Brien fields six of the eight fillies, with the unbeaten Bedtime Story likely to be the favourite. Ger Lyons’ course and distance winner Red Letter and Ollie Sangster’s Simmering, who has won a Group Three at Ascot and a Group Two in France in her last two starts, pose strong challenges.
O’Brien’s Henri Matisse heads a potential field of 10 for the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes. The dual Group Two winner may be joined by stablemates Rock Of Cashel and The Parthenon, while Joseph O’Brien has both Cowardofthecounty and Scorthy Champ in contention.
Adrian Murray’s Hill Road is also a notable entry, and Charlie Appleby has supplemented Vintage Stakes winner Aomori City, adding him to a British trio with Hugo Palmer’s Wolf Of Badenoch and Seagulls Eleven.