Irish flat racing will return to the Curragh Racecourse on Saturday, 18 July, for one of the most important fixtures of the summer season. The nine-race programme will begin at 1:10 PM and conclude at 5:45 PM, offering more than €1 million in prize money across maiden contests, competitive handicaps and four Pattern races. The highlight of the afternoon will be the €500,000 Irish Oaks, while the Sapphire Stakes, Railway Stakes and Meadow Court Stakes will further strengthen an outstanding card that will attract leading trainers, jockeys and high-quality runners from across Ireland and Britain.
The meeting will begin with The Juddmonte ‘Lead Artist’ Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden at 1:10 PM. Run over seven furlongs and carrying prize money of €25,000, the contest will provide an early opportunity for promising colts and geldings to begin their careers. Several well-bred newcomers and lightly raced runners will line up in a race that could produce future winners later in the season.
The second event, The Hailey Equine Irish EBF Fillies Maiden, will follow at 1:40 PM over the same seven-furlong distance with another €25,000 on offer. Young fillies from leading Irish yards will seek to make a successful start, while others with previous racing experience will attempt to build on encouraging debut performances. The race will also offer valuable clues for upcoming juvenile and fillies’ events during the second half of the campaign.
The quality of the afternoon will rise further in The Al Shira’aa Racing Meadow Court Stakes (Group 3) at 2:15 PM. Worth €70,000 and run over one mile and two furlongs, the race will bring together an accomplished group of middle-distance fillies and mares. The expected field will include Dreamasar, Francophone, Moody, Nyra, One Look, Rhapsody, Spicy Margarita and Subsonic. Each runner will arrive with solid credentials, ensuring that the Group 3 contest will become an informative test as connections continue preparations for major late-summer targets.
At 2:50 PM, The Liverpool FC Foundation Scurry Handicap will be staged over six furlongs and 63 yards for a purse of €100,000. The substantial prize fund will encourage a deep and competitive field of experienced handicappers.
The afternoon’s second Group race will arrive at 3:25 PM with The Tulfarris Hotel and Golf Resort Sapphire Stakes (Group 2) over five furlongs. The €130,000 sprint will feature several accomplished speedsters capable of competing at the highest level. The anticipated runners will include Bucanero Fuerte, Cover Up, Jakajaro, Kendall Roy, Partisan Hero, Rosy Affair, Brussels, Charles Darwin, Havana Anna and Ipanema Queen. Their presence will ensure a high-class sprint in which early acceleration, consistency and experience at the highest level will play significant roles.
The juvenile division will take centre stage in The GAIN Railway Stakes (Group 2) at 4:00 PM. Run over six furlongs with €130,000 in prize money, the contest will feature several of Ireland’s most promising two-year-olds. The expected line-up will consist of Carry The Flag, Celeron, Confucius, Immortal Guard, Switching Sides, The Scallionator and Tribeca. With many of these youngsters still improving, the Railway Stakes will provide an important opportunity to establish themselves among the leading juveniles of the season.
The feature event of the afternoon will be The Juddmonte Irish Oaks (Group 1) at 4:35 PM. Run over one mile and four furlongs with prize money of €500,000, the prestigious Classic will once again stand among the most significant races in the Irish flat racing calendar. The expected runners will include Amelia Earhart, Beautify, Cameo, Composing, Earth Shot, Inis Mor, Johanna Walsh, Rebel Moon, Sparan Nua, Sugar Island and Thundering On. The field will combine proven Group performers with progressive fillies seeking Classic success.
Following the Irish Oaks, The Hill Of Allen Stud Handicap will be contested at 5:10 PM over one mile and two furlongs for €26,000. The race will provide another competitive opportunity for established handicappers to add valuable prize money to their records before the meeting concludes.
The final event, The WTW Willis Handicap, will be run at 5:45 PM over five furlongs with a purse of €25,000. A fast and competitive sprint will bring the curtain down on a high-quality afternoon that will offer competitive racing from the opening maiden through to the concluding handicap.
The combination of informative maiden races, valuable handicaps and prestigious Group contests will ensure that the Curragh stages one of Ireland’s strongest race meetings of the season. The Irish Oaks will deservedly take centre stage, but every race on the programme will contribute to an afternoon that will showcase the depth and quality of Irish flat racing.
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