The Irish Champions Festival will bring seven Group 1 contests to Leopardstown and The Curragh on September 12 and 13, creating a distinguished two-day programme that will combine established international stars with some of the most promising emerging talent in Irish Flat racing.
Three Group 1 races will take place at Leopardstown on Saturday, September 12, before four top-level contests will follow at The Curragh on Sunday. The weekend will offer an exceptional concentration of quality, with major prizes, accomplished performers and intriguing renewals providing the principal narrative across both venues.
Leopardstown Rivalries Will Define the Opening Day
The G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes over 1m2f for three-year-olds and upwards will provide the principal contest at Leopardstown, with €1.25 million in prize money ensuring considerable prestige around the race.
Item, Almaqam and Constitution River will renew their rivalry after occupying the first three positions in the Group 1 Juddmonte International at York. The return encounter will bring together three accomplished performers whose recent campaigns will have established them among the leading middle-distance horses.
Constitution River will arrive having already captured the French Derby and Coral-Eclipse before finishing third at York. Aidan O’Brien will now look for a stronger outcome after attributing that York defeat to the tactical circumstances of the race.
Item will return with an impressive record at York, where he will have secured another significant victory this season. Andrew Balding will continue to train the Juddmonte-owned colt, while Colin Keane will retain the riding assignment.
Almaqam will provide another formidable challenge after narrowly finishing behind Item at York. His previous visit to Ireland will have produced a Group 1 success in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh in May, giving him an established record on Irish soil.
A Boy Named Susie, Lambourn, Hotazhell and Purview will add further depth to the field, while Wimbledon Hawkeye will join the contest after being supplemented for €75,000 following his latest Group 3 victory.
The G1 Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes over 1m2f for three-year-old and older fillies and mares will provide another compelling contest.
Blue Bolt will arrive in exceptional form after securing consecutive Group 1 victories in the Falmouth Stakes and Prix Rothschild. Precise will provide a familiar rival, having finished behind Blue Bolt in both contests after previously claiming the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes.
True Love will renew her rivalry with Precise for the fourth time this season after her 1,000 Guineas triumph at Newmarket. City Of Memphis will also enter the equation after maintaining an unbeaten sequence through Group 3 and Group 2 company in May.
Fallen Angel will bring particularly strong course credentials. She will return to the Matron Stakes having finished second in 2024 before securing victory in 2025, while her Irish record will include three Group 1 successes from four starts.
The G1 HKJC Golden Fleece Stakes over 1m1f for two-year-olds will complete the Leopardstown programme. The newest addition to Ireland’s Group 1 roster will attract a high-quality field, with 15 horses remaining at the relevant stage.
Nola Soul will arrive as a Royal Ascot winner following success in the Chesham Stakes, while Darkness Falls will bring the benefit of a commanding seven-length maiden victory at The Curragh.
Quest For Stars will arrive unbeaten after three starts, including a Listed success in the Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury. Pikachu will also warrant attention after producing creditable performances in major juvenile contests in Britain, with Charlie Johnston expected to welcome the opportunity to test his Frankel colt over the longer distance.
Curragh Classics Will Complete the Irish Champions Festival
Sunday’s programme at The Curragh will comprise four consecutive Group 1 races, beginning with the G1 Comer Group International Irish St Leger over 1m6f.
Scandinavia will provide the outstanding benchmark after winning his last seven starts, including four Group 1 contests. His remarkable sequence will include two Goodwood Cups, last year’s St Leger at Doncaster and the Ascot Gold Cup, where he will have defeated Trawlerman.
Trustyourinstinct will provide a strong local challenge after recording four victories and five placed efforts from nine appearances at The Curragh. The Irish St Leger will nevertheless represent his first Group 1 assignment.
William Haggas will also bring Arabian Force and Dubai Honour into consideration, with Dubai Honour carrying the distinction of four Group 1 victories on the international circuit.
The G1 Bar 1 Flying Five Stakes over 5f will provide a wide-open sprinting examination. Comanche Brave will arrive with Group 1 credentials following his success in the Darley July Cup, while Starlust, Rumstar and Time For Sandals will also enter after finishing prominently in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes.
Time For Sandals will warrant particular consideration after encountering an unfavourable passage at York, while Mission Central will arrive unbeaten in two appearances at The Curragh after securing the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The G1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes over 7f will then bring together leading two-year-olds.
Dr Rascal will set a high standard for trainer Oliver Cole after maintaining an unbeaten record through three starts. Haffner will renew his challenge after subsequently producing a dominant performance in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York.
Giant Sequoia will provide Ballydoyle representation after his Group 2 success at The Curragh, while Joseph O’Brien will pursue another victory in the race with Folsom Blues and Monogram.
The G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes over 7f for two-year-old fillies will complete the weekend’s Group 1 programme.
Sun Goddess will arrive after Group 1 success at The Curragh and an impressive York performance, while Green Empress will return following her Group 2 Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes victory over the same course and distance.
Dancing Destiny and Ballinea Star will add further substance to the field, with Ballinea Star entering after her Group 3 Anglesey Stakes success at The Curragh.
The Irish Champions Festival will therefore provide an exceptional concentration of Group 1 racing, with Leopardstown’s compelling rivalries followed by a distinguished sequence of The Curragh classics. Across the two days, established champions and emerging stars will combine to create one of the most significant weekends of the Irish Flat-racing calendar.
The Irish Champions Festival will unite seven Group 1 contests across Leopardstown and The Curragh, bringing together elite performers, accomplished international campaigners and leading two-year-old prospects.
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