It was a second Group 1 victory in two days for Keane and Juddmonte, having won the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes with Item yesterday.

The Andrew Balding-trained Kalpana, winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on her most recent racecourse appearance, started today’s contest as the 10/11 favourite in the nine-runner field.

Her opposition included the winner of this race last year, Minnie Hauk (4/1), and the recent Group 1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks winner, Johanna Walsh (5/1), the mount of Dylan Browne McMonagle.

Sugar Island, the stable mate of the betting market’s second choice, Minnie Hauk, set a strong pace under Ronan Whelan, and the pair found themselves about 20 lengths ahead as they headed for the home bend.

The daughter of Dubawi found for Whelan in the straight and made the remainder of the field work to close the gap, before she was finally headed at the one-furlong pole.

As Kalpana and Keane took the lead at that stage, Jim Bolger’s Sparán Nua (25/1), with Rossa Ryan in the saddle, went second, while Minnie Hauk and Ryan Moore were third.

The favourite soon began to drift as she battled for the line, with Sparán Nua, in the Newton Anner Stud colours, staying on strongly to challenge the eventual winner, as Minnie Hauk didn’t have the pace to live with either of the main protagonists.

As they hit the finishing line, Kalpana had an advantage of a half-length over Sparán Nua, while the Aidan O’Brien-trained Minnie Hauk was two-and-a-half lengths behind the runner-up.

Earth Shot (20/1), Tattycoram (25/1) and Johanna Walsh, who had all been prominent in the earlier stages of the race, faded to finish fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

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Irish-trained fillies will hold a strong hand in this race with recent Juddmonte Irish Oaks winner, Johanna Walsh, and Aidan O’Brien’s 2025 Yorkshire Oaks victor, Minnie Hauk, leading the Irish challenge in a race the Ballydoyle handler has taken in five of the past six years. The Irish team will be completed by Jim Bolger’s Sparán Nua and Aidan O’Brien’s Sugar Island.

Juddmonte Farms, winning owners of the Juddmonte International hero yesterday, Item, will likely add another Group 1 with Kalpana here.

The five-year-old daughter of Study Of Man is a multiple winner at the highest level, most recently defeating Calandagan, Benvenuto Cellini, Lambourn and one of today’s opponents, Minnie Hauwk, in the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

Legacy Link, runner-up to Thundering On in the Betfred Oaks at Epsom in June, is also among the nine-runner field, and will add strength to the Juddmonte challenge.

In the opening Group 2 for fillies, the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes, Paddy Twomey (Big Negotiator), Ger Lyons (Livenka) and Joseph O’Brien (Star Of State) will all be represented, with the latter, a recent Leopardstown maiden winner, likely to head the market.

Recent Group 1 Phoenix Stakes winner at The Curragh, Sun Goddess,  £120,000 purchase at the Goffs UK premier yearling sale, qualifies to run in the Harry’s Half Million By Goffs at 2.25pm. If she has come out of the Phoenix Stakes well, she should be very difficult to beat in this race. The other Irish contender here is the Donnacha O’Brien-prepared Where Love Lies.

Both Paddy Twomey and Joseph O’Brien have runners in the listed fillies and mares race at 4.10pm. The 97-rated Perfect Your Craft represents the former, while the Carriganóg handler will saddle the consistent, and 98-rated, Vauntingly. Ryan Moore takes the ride aboard Morrophore for John and Thady Gosden and will start the race as favourite.

Irish-trained runners at York on Thursday, 20 August 2026:

1.50 Sky Bet Lowther Stakes (Fillies’ Group 2)

Big Negotiator (GB) P Twomey
Livenka (GB) G M Lyons
Star Of State (IRE) Joseph Patrick O’Brien

2.25 Harry’s Half Million By Goffs (GBB Race)

Where Love Lives (IRE) Donnacha Aidan O’Brien
Sun Goddess (IRE) A P O’Brien

3.35 Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks (Fillies’ And Mares’ Group 1)

Minnie Hauk (IRE) A P O’Brien
Johanna Walsh (IRE) Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Sparan Nua (IRE) J S Bolger
Sugar Island (IRE) A P O’Brien

4.10 British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes (Fillies’ And Mares’ Listed) (GBBPlus Race)

Perfect Your Craft (IRE) P Twomey
Vauntingly (IRE) Joseph Patrick O’Brien

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The 10-furlong contest forms part of the British Champions Series and is the first significant contest where those from the Classic generation take on their elders.

Heading the entries is Mishriff. The John and Thady Gosden-trained four year old landed last season’s French Derby. He has won both his starts so far in 2021, the Saudi Cup and the Dubai Sheema Classic.

St Mark’s Basilica is one of 13 remaining entries for Aidan O’Brien. The three year old Siyouni colt is a dual Classic winner in France this season. Last weekend, he won the Group One Prix du Jockey-Club at Chantilly.

The only other Irish trainer with a runner engaged is Jim Bolger. MacSwiney, the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas winner is among the 31 remaining horses.

The five-day confirmation stage for the Coral-Eclipse is on Monday 28^th June, when there is also a supplementary entry stage.

THE CORAL-ECLIPSE (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

SANDOWN PARK – Saturday 3^rd July

Addeybb (IRE) 7 9 7 Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum William Haggas

Armory (IRE) 4 9 7 Mrs John Magnier,Mr M.Tabor & Mr D.Smith Aidan O’Brien IRE

Japan (GB) 5 9 7 M Matsushima/D Smith/Mrs Magnier/M Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

Lord North (IRE) 5 9 7 HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing John & Thady Gosden

Mishriff (IRE) 4 9 7 Prince A. A. Faisal John & Thady Gosden

Mogul (GB) 4 9 7 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

My Oberon (IRE) 4 9 7 Sunderland Holding Inc. William Haggas

Palace Pier (GB) 4 9 7 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum John & Thady Gosden

Regal Reality (GB) 6 9 7 Mr Peter Done Sir Michael Stoute

Sangarius (GB) 5 9 7 Juddmonte Sir Michael Stoute

Love (IRE) 4 9 4 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

Wonderful Tonight (FR) 4 9 4 Mr Christopher Wright David Menuisier

Battleground (USA) 3 8 11 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

Bolshoi Ballet (IRE) 3 8 11 Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg Aidan O’Brien IRE

El Drama (IRE) 3 8 11 Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum Roger Varian

High Definition (IRE) 3 8 11 D Smith/M Tabor/Mrs J Magnier/Westerberg Aidan O’Brien IRE

Highland Avenue (IRE) 3 8 11 Godolphin Charlie Appleby

John Leeper (IRE)3 8 11 Anamoine Ltd Ed Dunlop

Mac Swiney (IRE) 3 8 11 Mrs J. S. Bolger Jim Bolger IRE

Mohaafeth (IRE) 3 8 11 Shadwell Estate Company Ltd William Haggas

Mostahdaf (IRE) 3 8 11 Shadwell Estate Company Ltd John & Thady Gosden

Naamoos (FR) 3 8 11 H.H. Shaikh Nasser Al Khalifa & F. Nass Mark Johnston

New Mandate (IRE) 3 8 11 Mr Marc Chan Ralph Beckett

One Ruler (IRE) 3 8 11 Godolphin Charlie Appleby

Royal Champion (IRE) 3 8 11 Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum Roger Varian

St Mark’s Basilica (FR) 3 8 11 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

Wembley (IRE) 3 8 11 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

Joan of Arc (IRE) 3 8 8 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

Mother Earth (IRE) 3 8 8 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

Santa Barbara (IRE) 3 8 8 Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg Aidan O’Brien IRE

Snowfall (JPN) 3 8 8 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

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MacSwiney, who won a Group 2 on soft ground at The Curragh in August displayed his stamina and tenacity in the final British Group 1 of the season to win by three-quarters of a length.

The winner (12/1) was last to challenge under Kevin Manning as he overhauled eventual third Baradar (9/1) and held of the 6/4f One Ruler.

It was a first British Group 1 for Manning since Pléascach took the 2015 Yorkshire Oaks.

The winning rider said of MacSwiney:

“He’s got a great attitude and didn’t fight me through the race, but at the business end he’s there when you want him.”

Named after Terence MacSwiney

The colt is named after the Irish playwright and politician Terence MacSwiney, who died 100 years ago on 25 October 1920, in Brixton prison. The Cork man had been on hunger strike have been placed in Brixton charged with sedition.

“I must have known he was good back in January when I named him Mac Swiney” said winning trainer Jim Bolger. “It wouldn’t have been good for me or anyone around here to name a horse after a Cork man if he wasn’t very good”, he joked.

“He’s one of our outstanding patriots and I’m thrilled for his memory that this fellow was able to go back to England 100 years after his death and win like he did.”

Van Gogh wins French Group 1

Van Gogh produced an impressive burst of speed to win the Group One Criterium International for Aidan O’Brien at Saint-Cloud.

Ridden by French jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot, Van Gogh was last of the six runners until entering the home straight. Boudot quickly moved the 2-year-old to the rail on the stand side before he ran on for a comfortable victory.

It was a first European Group 1 win for the colt’s sire, American Pharoah, as Van Gogh won by our lengths from long-time leader Normandy Bridge.

Though it was his seventh career start, it was Van Gogh first race on heavy ground, something he seemed to relish.

Winning jockey, Boudot, said of the winner:

“He is impressive. Aidan told me before the race that he needed cover, for a nice trip and be relaxed. He has a nice turn of foot. He is still green and tricky when he arrived in front, but he won in very good style.”

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The opening part of Foley’s brace came when Protagonist (1/1f) claimed his second success in six days as the Michael Buckley-owned Jessica Harrington-trained French-bred took the Download the BoyleSports App Handicap.

Foley later teamed up with Charles O’Brien to take the Follow Fairyhouse On Social Media Handicap (Div II) with Rain Or Shine (8/1). The son of Zoffany came from last to first on the outside of the field to deny Pulsating (13/2) by half a length.

Today’s double for Shane Foley means the Kilkenny rider has won 19 races from 18 fixtures since the resumption of the sport earlier this month. He is now 3 wins ahead of Colin Keane in the jockeys’ title race.

Apprentice Gavin Ryan also rode a brace of winners at the Co. Meath track with both Reverberation (11/1) and Baby Power (5/2f) visiting the winners’ enclosure.

The Tipperary jockey and Reverberation won the Follow Fairyhouse On Social Media Handicap (Div I) with the James Lambe-trained five-year-old gelding achieving a four-length victory, despite having his first outing since Dundalk last March.

Ryan rode the favourite, Baby Power (5/2), in the Thanks To All Our Frontline Workers Handicap over 6 furlongs. When Ryan’s mount hit the front, the filly had to respond tenaciously to Powersville, winning by half a length for Garry Caldwell and his owner-breeder father Bernard.

Jim Bolger, who provided Gavin Ryan with his first winner in the form of Locus Standi at Dundalk in March 2017, was among the winners himself this afternoon as Bolger’s son-in-law Kevin Manning steered Slaney East (7/2) to a battling success in the 1m 2f Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, taking a half-length victory.

Another in-form rider, Billy Lee, partnered Paddy Twomey’s Pontchateau (9/1) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for three-year-old colts and geldings over 10 furlongs.

Rachael Blackmore, who will ride in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on Saturday, won the first division of the Meath Handicap, as the 3/1f Oromo took the honours for trainer Karl Thornton by a length and a quarter.

Former Galway Plate-winning jockey Kevin Coleman recorded his first winner on native soil as a trainer when Red Vermillon (22/1), under Seán Davis, took the last race of the day, the Meath Handicap (Div II).

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