The Irish Champions Festival will reach its second day at the Curragh Racecourse on Sunday with an eight-race programme featuring four consecutive Group 1 contests and a formidable gathering of Irish and British talent. With 28 runners representing 22 British stables, the afternoon will bring together accomplished sprinters, promising juveniles, leading fillies and some of the most distinguished stayers in European racing.
The Irish Champions Festival will offer a demanding progression from five furlongs to one mile and six furlongs, with the Curragh providing the setting for a programme rich in quality, depth and international competition.
Irish Champions Festival will showcase four Group 1 contests
The opening race will be the Irish EBF Bold Lad Sprint, a five-furlong Premier Handicap that will bring together a strong field of established sprint performers. Sondad will carry top weight after producing an impressive victory in the Scurry Handicap at the Curragh in July before adding another major success at York. Rated 109, he will arrive with substantial credentials. Coul Angel will also command attention following several strong performances in valuable York handicaps, while Tango Flare will return after defeating Big Gossey in last year’s renewal. Keke, Bear On The Run, Genesis, Headmaster and Staysound Susie will also bring previous course-and-distance winning form.
The second contest will be the Tattersalls IRE Auction Sales Stakes, a six-furlong event restricted to graduates of the 2024 Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling and Sapphire Sales. Star Of State will carry significant interest after finishing behind Livenka in the Ballyhane Stakes before responding with a nine-length victory at Leopardstown and a strong second in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York. Switching Sides and Atlantic Bridge will arrive with winning form, while British challengers Alpe d’Huez, Treasurer and Lord Ragnar will add further depth.
The first Group 1 of the afternoon will be the Moyglare Stud Stakes, a seven-furlong contest for two-year-old fillies. Aidan O’Brien has established an extraordinary record in the race, winning it 11 times since 2000, including the last two renewals. Sun Goddess will enter with an imposing profile after winning the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh before producing a dominant performance at York, where she overcame traffic trouble and surged clear to score by six lengths. Stablemate Alpha will also bring considerable ability, while Green Empress, Dancing Destiny and Ballinea Star will provide strong opposition.
The second Group 1 will arrive in the Flying Five Stakes, a five-furlong sprint that has developed into one of the most distinguished speed contests on the Irish calendar. Comanche Brave will be among the leading names after progressing from a mile campaign into an elite sprinting performer, winning the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh before claiming the Group 1 Darley July Cup. Starlust, Rumstar and Time For Sandals will add further Group 1 credentials, while Mission Central will bring a Royal Ascot Group 1 success. Course-and-distance winner Cover Up and popular nine-year-old Big Gossey will further strengthen the field.
The third Group 1 will be the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, where Monogram will attempt to build on a striking recent performance at the Curragh. After losing considerable ground at the start, the Juddmonte-owned colt displayed a sharp turn of foot to prevail on the line and will be expected to benefit from the experience. Folsom Blues will bring Group 1 placing form, while Ballydoyle will be represented by Giant Sequoia, Haffner and Florida Bay. Dr Rascal will arrive unbeaten after winning the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, while Porto Vecchio will bring an interesting pedigree as a brother to Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Homeless Songs.
The afternoon’s principal staying examination will be the Comer Group International Irish St Leger, run over one mile and six furlongs. Scandinavia will arrive after a remarkable sequence of seven victories, including four Group 1 successes, and will be the horse to beat on recent achievements. Queenstown will return following a four-length victory in the Irish St Leger Trial, while dual Group 1 winner Jan Breughel will add further class. Arabian Force will represent William Haggas after several notable stakes placings, and Trustyourinstinct will bring an exceptional record at the Curragh, having won four of nine starts at the venue.
The penultimate contest will be the Moyglare Jewels Blandford Stakes, a Group 2 race over one mile and two furlongs for three-year-olds and upwards. Thundering On, a sensational Epsom Oaks winner, will return after finishing fourth in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh in June. Red Letter, Lilt, Timeforshowcasing and Jennifer Jane will provide formidable opposition, while Symbol of Majesty will bring valuable form from Royal Ascot and Deauville.
The final race will be the Irish EBF Northfields Premier Handicap, where 23 runners will produce an intensely competitive conclusion. Fixation will arrive after victories at Gowran Park and the Curragh, while Retracement will return to a course where previous success has already been recorded. High Degree has shown consistency throughout the summer, while God Of Power will add further intrigue to a contest in which trainer Andy Slattery will arrive in particularly strong form.
The Irish Champions Festival will therefore bring an exceptional second day of racing to the Curragh Racecourse, combining four Group 1 contests with valuable handicaps and high-class juvenile races. From the speed of the Flying Five Stakes to the stamina required in the Irish St Leger, the programme will offer a broad examination of racing talent and provide a compelling international showcase.
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