APOB said: "We haven't made any definite decisions yet but it's quite possible Found and Tapestry will both run in the Arc Ryan Moore will ride Found with Joseph O'Brien on Tapestry should both run in the Arc.

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Easter Drawn 5 Heff Rides - Outstanding Drawn 7 Colm rides (The First Lady Stakes grade One) - War envoy Drawn 1 Heff Rides (Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes grade One) Both races Saturday Night At Keenland

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Arc Day Sunday Longchamp (2nd Forfeit Stage)

17 Left In Prix L'Opera including Found Diamondsandrubies & Tapestry

19 Left in Pric Jean Lagaderre including Johannes Vermeer Leutenant General General MacArthur Shogun Landofhopeandglory Hit It A Bomb Air Vice Marshall

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With the Arc a matter of Days had to do something to remember Dylan Thomas Aidan's Only Arc Winner

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Coolmore & China Horse Club Purchases Day One Goffs Orby Yearling Sale

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The yummiest of Mummy's YOU'RESOTHRILING

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Hearing this fella is very highly regarded

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Sir Isaac Newton, left
(Healy Racing Photos)

Sir Isaac Newton is Aidan O'Brien's only representative after eight horses were confirmed for the Diamond Stakes at Dundalk on Friday evening.

The Ballydoyle maestro has saddled three of the last six winners of the Group Three contest, with multiple Group One winners Mastercraftsman (2009) and Declaration Of War (2012) both on the roll of honour.

Sir Isaac Newton looked set for a profitable campaign after an impressive victory at Gowran in May, but he has run just twice since, performing with credit in both the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Boomerang Stakes at Leopardstown.

The highest rated horse in the extended 10-furlong heat is Andrew Oliver's course and distance winner Panama Hat.

Runner-up in the American St Leger on his penultimate start, the four-year-old was last seen chasing home Fascinating Rock in Leopardstown's Enterprise Stakes.

Ger Lyons has three possible runners in Brendan Brackan, Sacrificial and Unsinkable.

Dermot Weld's Carla Bianca, the Kevin Prendergast-trained Mohaayed and Kevin Ryan's potential British challenger Flaming Spear complete the entries.

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International Ratings Updated (Ballydoyle Juveniles) 

2YO Raced 46 Unraced 71

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ENOUGH SAID

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P1 War Envoy after arriving at Keeneland

P2 Easter after arriving at Keeneland 

P3 Outstanding after arriving at Keeneland

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War Envoy Easter & Outstanding Arrive at Keeneland 

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Team Coolmore At Goffs Inspecting Tomorrows Champions

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BALLYDOYLE - Pride of a Nation

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The Race Aidan O'Brien has won more than any other The Beresford Stakes Roll Of Honour

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Sires Title Tables updated - Galileo Moves clear - Zoffany on verge of first season sire championship 

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Coolmore Port Douglas & Hit It A Bomb all Curragh Winners yesterday

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Coolmore: stayed on well to win the Group 3 Park Stakes

 PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Group-race double at 
the Curragh for Galileo

COOLMORE and Port Douglas capped a glorious spell for Galileo when scoring at Group level at the Curragh on Sunday.

Galileo has supplied one or more Group winners in each of the last three weekends, including Irish St Leger hero Order Of St George, Moyglare Stud Stakes scorer Minding and Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup winner The Corsican.

Coolmore came with a late charge to land the Group 3 Park Stakes under a power-packed ride from Joseph O'Brien, while Port Douglas led from pillar to post and stuck on gamely to win the Group 2 Beresford Stakes. Galileo has now sired three winners of the Beresford Stakes as well as two winners of the Park Stakes.

Port Douglas, who became a 130th Group winner for Galileo, is the sixth foal out of the Kingmambo mare Walzerkoenigin and with a stout German pedigree, he should be capable of staying a mile and a half next year. He is a half-brother to Wiener Walzer, whose biggest success came in the Deutsches Derby, Prix Maurice de Nieuil scorer Walzertakt, and to Group 3 winner Walzertraum.

Walzerkoenigin, a dual Group 2 winner for trainer Peter Schiergen and owner Gestut Schlenderhan, has produced a Galileo brother to Port Douglas this year.

Coolmore is the third stakes winner from as many foals out of the Storm Cat mare You'resothrilling. Coolmore could bid for Classic glory next year and follow in the footsteps of her siblings Gleneagles and Marvellous.

You'resothrilling's first foal Marvellous struck in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, while her second foal Gleneagles, who won the top-flight National Stakes at two, landed the 2,000 Guineas and Irish 2,000 Guineas as well as the St James's Palace Stakes this year.

The family could be set for more success as the trio, owned and bred by the Coolmore partners, have a yearling brother and a foal sister who was born in February.

You'resothrilling was a leading two-year-old for Aidan O'Brien, with her biggest success coming in the Group 2 Cherry Hinton Stakes. She also won the Group 3 Swordlestown Stud Sprint Stakes and was runner-up in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2007.

She ran twice as a three-year-old finishing fourth behind Lush Lashes in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown and eighth in the Prix de l'Opera.

You'resothrilling is out of the Rahy mare Mariah's Storm, who was bought at the Keeneland November Breeding-Stock Sale in 1996 by Coolmore supremo John Magnier for $2.6 million. The mare was carrying a foal by Storm Cat and the resulting offspring turned out to be Giant's Causeway, who won six races at the highest level for O'Brien before developing into an outstanding sire.

Galileo, who also supplied Saturday's US Grade 1 winner Photo Call, has ten lots up for grabs at next week's Goffs Orby Yearling Sale, including a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Lahaleeb.

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Found: classy filly was impressive on Arc day last year

 PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

O'Brien pins Arc hopes 
on Found's stamina

AIDAN O'BRIEN is optimistic Found will not find stamina a problem when she steps up to 1m4f for the €5 million Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Tromphe on Sunday.

The three-year-old, whose season has been geared towards Europe's richest race, won nicely over 1m2f at the Curragh last month and kept on well to finish second behind Derby hero Golden Horn over that trip in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown this month.

Successful in the Prix Marcel Moussac on Arc day at Longchamp 12 months ago, she is 16-1 with Coral to topple Treve, Golden Horn, New Bay and Jack Hobbs.

Will she stay?

O'Brien, who saddled Dylan Thomas to win the prestigious Group 1 in 2007, takes some hope Found will stay from her pedigree.

"She seems to be fine," he said on Sunday. "She hasn't done much since her last run, but I'm happy with her so hopefully she'll be okay this week and we look forward to seeing what she can do.

"I suppose her dam [Red Evie] was a miler, but she's by Galileo who is usually a big influence for stamina so you'd think and hope she'd stay, but you can't guarantee it until they do it."

The Ballydoyle trainer, who was speaking to At The Races, added: "She loved Longchamp last year and we said if everything went well we'd give her an easy enough spring and train her for the Arc for the second half of the season and that's what we've done."

Found is owned by the Coolmore partners, whose main jockey Ryan Moore is set to be on board.

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Aidan O'Brien has a powerful squad lined up for Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend subject to ground conditions.

Found: Going for the Arc

Johannes Vermeer, Shogun, Ballydoyle and Minding are in contention for the two Group One juvenile contests on the Longchamp Sunday card, the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and Prix Marcel Boussac.

O'Brien won last year's Boussac with Found, who is this year bound for the Arc itself, while Gleneagles was first past the post in the Lagardere only to be disqualified for causing interference.

O'Brien said: "Johannes Vermeer could go for the Lagardere, while Shogun could run if the ground came up nice. The wheels were spinning the last day (third in the Futurity Stakes) but I liked the way they didn't get away from him.

"Ballydoyle can go for the Boussac if the ground is nice, while Minding could run if the ground was on the slow side."

Winner of two of his three starts, Johannes Vermeer claimed a Group Three at Leopardstown earlier this month, with Shogun third to Herald The Dawn in the Futurity Stakes.

Minding was a surprise winner of the Moyglare Stud Stakes when beating Ballydoyle by three-quarters of a length.

Found will contest the main event, with O'Brien looking forward to her clash with Treve and Golden Horn having been second to the latter in the Irish Champion Stakes last time out.

He said: "She hasn't done much (since Leopardstown), obviously it's a step up to a mile and a half and we're happy with her.

"Hopefully she will be OK this week and we're looking forward to seeing what she can do."

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Team Coolmore inspecting yearlings at Goffs Orby 

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Port Douglas (left) responds well under Emmet McNamara

 PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Douglas digs in for Beresford king O'Brien

Report: Curragh, Sunday

Juddmonte Beresford Stakes (Group 2) 1m, 2yo

AIDAN O’BRIEN captured a record-breaking 15th Beresford Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday, but it was Port Douglas, the outsider of the trainer’s three runners, who prevailed to give jockey Emmet McNamara his most significant success.

O'Brien began Sunday level on Beresford winners with the legendary Vincent O'Brien and edged ahead, but not with the runner many may have expected him to.

The winner was tracked by True Solitaire, who shared favouritism with Beacon Rock, and looked to be headed two from home only to rally and win by a short head. Beacon Rock got going late to claim third in a tight finish.Port Douglas, who went off a 14-1 shot, was rushed into the lead by McNamara as his better-fancied stablemates Beacon Rock (9-4) and Unicorn (11-4) were settled further back.

Port Douglas was quoted at 25-1 by Coral for next year's Investec Derby, although it might be asking too much for him to match the achievements of Beresford winners Sadler's Wells, Alamshar, Azamour, Sea The Stars and St Nicholas Abbey. Connections, nonetheless, were delighted with the son of Galileo.

Lots to look forward to

O'Brien, who was completing a treble on the Curragh card after wins for Hit It A Bomb and Coolmore, said: "He won his maiden very nicely, but was very lazy on his next two starts so we put blinkers on him at home and his work improved.

"Emmet gave him a lovely ride and the horse really battled - he's a real nice horse, who'll be a lovely middle-distance colt next year.

"I was very happy with Beacon Rock. He was a bit green, but came home well so you'd be looking forward to him as well."

Unicorn, ridden by the trainer's son Joseph, was seventh of the nine runners and O'Brien added: "He's a little bit weak. He's a lovely horse, but is probably a next-year horse and Joseph looked after him when his chance had gone."

While O'Brien, who will consider the Racing Post Trophy for Port Douglas and Beacon Rock, has won many of the world's best and biggest races, it was a first Group victory for McNamara.

He said: "The horse was tough and battled well. The blinkers helped him. He's a nice horse and stays very well. He's a strong stayer and Aidan said from halfway to keep him going.

"I'm delighted to get the opportunity and am grateful to Aidan and the owners."

Port Douglas (Winner of the G2 Beresford Stakes) - Emmet Mcnamara & Aidan with Connections

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Coolmore- C.L. & M.F. Weld Park Stakes (Group 3)-2015

Port Douglas- Juddmonte Beresford Stakes (Group 2)- 2015

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Coolmore (nearside) powers home under Joseph O'Brien to win
(Healy Racing Photos)

Half-an-hour on from his win in the maiden with Hit It A Bomb (Ryan Moore) Aidan O'Brien doubled his score in the C.L. & M.F.Weld Park Stakes (Fillies Group 3) as Coolmore (Joseph O'Brien) shed her maiden tag at the third time of asking.

Equipped with first-time cheek-pieces, the chestnut daughter of Galileo powered home in the final furlong, after being slightly hampered two furlongs out, to gain the day by half a length and a short head over Anamba and Last Waltz.

Ryan Moore, was on Coolmore's stable companion, How High The Moon here, but she could manage no better than sixth.

"I'm delighted with that. I thought she would win in Leopardstown but it was on the inside track and she was a bit green and the ground was a bit dead," said Aidan O'Brien.

"I always thought she wanted to go a mile, and she ran today to get more experience. She is crying out to go a mile this year. They went a good gallop, and she came home well.

"I was disappointed with How High The Moon. The last day I thought a mile was stretching her a bit. She is still a bit babyish and is a big filly that will make a nice horse next year."

Betfair Sportsbook and Paddy Power 14/1 (from 20/1), Boylesports introduced 20/1, Ladbrokes 16/1 - Coolmore for the 1,000 Guineas.

For the Oaks about Coolmore: Betfair Sportsbook 12/1 (from 25/1), Paddy Power 14/1 (from 20/1), 16/1 Ladbrokes, 20/1 (from 25/1) Boylesports.

(AM & EM)

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COOLMORE Breaks her Maiden in a Group 3 Race and lives up to the hype

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PICTURE OF THE DAY: Ryan Moore briefs owner Evie Stockwell after Hit It A Bomb wins at the Curragh

Ryan Moore (light blue and brown) wins on Hit It A Bomb

"He's a nice horse and ran green. He was drawn badly and did well to win. Ryan (Moore) was happy with him," explained Aidan O'Brien as Ryan Moore returned to the fray in Ireland to land the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden (Plus 10) on first-timer Hit It A Bomb (2/1 favourite).

"The Racing Post Trophy may come a bit quick but we'll see how he comes out of this first. If he'd had a run (earlier) he could have been a Dewhurst horse," added the Ballydoyle maestro.

"He handled that ground but he's a War Front and would like some nice ground."

The Mrs Stockwell-owned Hit It A Bomb only had his neck verdict over Agent Of Chaos confirmed after a steward's enquiry (general bunching in its nature).

Only about a length and three parts covered the first six home, that position going toDermot Weld's Munaashid.

That one contracted into a starting price of 5/2 from 6/1 earlier in the day.

(AM & EM)

He's back Ryan with Aidan And Hit It A Bomb's Owner Evie Stockwell

Aidan on Hit It A Bomb "He did well to win from a bad draw & ran green. The Racing Post may come a bit quick" ,

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Big JUVEFORM update here is the weekly Supplement

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Zoffany continues to shine for Coolmore 

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How High The Moon: second in the Listed Flame of Tara Stakes last month

 PICTURE: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Stablemates bid to emulate Classic heroine

QUALIFY, this year’s Investec Oaks winner, landed the Group 3 Park Stakes race 12 months ago and her trainer Aidan O’Brien is three-handed as he seeks a fourth victory in a contest sponsored by Dermot Weld in memory of his parents, Charlie and Marguerite.

O’Brien said: "Only half a length separated Kind Of Magic and How High The Moon when they were first and second in the Flame of Tara Stakes. Although they’re dropping back a furlong in trip, they’re in good form and we’re hoping they can improve. Coolmore hasn’t won but she’s run well in her two races and deserves to take her chance."O’Brien, who won the race with another subsequent Classic winner, Imagine, in 2000, saddles Kind Of Magic, a 33-1 shot for the Oaks, and How High The Moon, who return to the Curragh having been separated by half a length when first and second in the Listed Flame of Tara Stakes last month, along with Coolmore, the only maiden in the line-up but who has been placed on both starts.

How High The Moon, 25-1 for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks, is one of three rides on the card for Ryan Moore.

Joseph O’Brien, successful on Magical Dream in 2012 and on Qualify last year, partners Coolmore, who wears first-time cheekpieces, while Michael Hussey is on Kind Of Magic.

Also fielding a trio of contenders is Jim Bolger, who runs maiden winners Mimicking, Leafy Shade and Mrs King.

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Beresford Maestro O'Brien has 3

Beacon Rock and Joseph O'Brien (right) come late to snatch victory from

The Ryan Moore-ridden Beacon Rock is one of three runners for Aidan O'Brien as the master of Ballydoyle bids for a record-breaking 15th victory in the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes on Sunday.

O'Brien, currently tied on 14 Beresford triumphs with the great Vincent O'Brien, first claimed the prize with Johan Cruyff in 1996 and has since struck gold with the likes of Septimus (2005), St Nicholas Abbey (2009) and Ol' Man River 12 months ago.

Moore, who returned from a lengthy injury absence earlier this week, travels to the Curragh to steer course-and-distance winner Beacon Rock for the O'Brien team.

O'Brien's son Joseph partners runaway Leopardstown scorer Unicorn, while his blinkered stable companion Port Douglas will be ridden by Emmet McNamara.

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Aidan O'Brien: seeking a record 15th win in the Group 2 Stakes

 PICTURE: Patrick McCann/racingpostpix.com

O'Brien eyes another record in the Beresford

BREAKING records - most of them set by his predecessor at Ballydoyle, the great Vincent O'Brien - has become something of a habit for Aidan O'Brien.

And victory for one of his three runners in today's Curragh feature will give the trainer a record 15th win in the contest, one more than his namesake achieved during his illustrious career.

Since the turn of the century, winners of the event, which is run on the round course, have included such leading lights as Alamshar, Azamour, Septimus, Sea The Stars and St Nicholas Abbey.Beacon Rock - the mount of Ryan Moore despite being
the lowest rated of the Ballydoyle trio on official figures - Unicornand Port Douglas will be attempting to give O'Brien a fifth consecutive success in a race first run in 1857.

First time headgear

All three Ballydoyle runners are being fitted with headgear for the first time, with Beacon Rock and Unicorn - on whom Joseph O'Brien will be bidding to win the race for the fourth year in a row - wearing cheekpieces, and Emmet McNamara's mount Port Douglas sporting blinkers.

The trainer said: "We didn't think Beacon Rock would make as hard work of winning his maiden as he did and we're hoping for improvement. We've worked him in cheekpieces and they seem to suit him. Hopefully he'll progress from his last race."

Beacon Rock, a 33-1 shot for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas and twice that price for the Investec Derby, won his maiden over the straight mile at the Curragh, while Unicorn's maiden win was achieved over today's trip at Leopardstown. He is quoted at 33-1 for the Guineas.

"Unicorn won his maiden nicely, although he was quite green and we think cheekpieces will help him," O'Brien said of the brother of Bondi Beach.

Classic clues

Port Douglas, 33-1 for both colts' Classics next year and who will be tackling the trip for the first time, has been beaten on his two starts since scoring over seven furlongs on his debut at Leopardstown in June.

"He was very lazy last time," said O'Brien. "We've tried him in blinkers at home and they seemed to work. We're happy with him."

Dermot Weld is represented by Galway maiden winner True Solitaire, who finished second to the O'Brien-trained Johannes Vermeer in a Group 3 at Leopardstown 15 days ago, and the twice-placed maiden Ample Sufficiency.

'Should make into a nice three-year-old'

On 108, True Solitaire is the highest rated in the nine-runner line-up and Weld said: "He's been very consistent and ran an excellent race at Leopardstown last time. He's in good form and we're looking forward to the race.

"Amble Sufficiency is a lovely big colt who should make into a nice three-year-old. He takes his chance and we're hoping he runs a nice race."

Stellar Mass represents Jim Bolger. A son of Sea The Stars, Stellar Mass has been placed behind two of today's rivals on both his starts, finishing second to the Ger Lyons-trained Restive here last month before being beaten two short heads in third in the maiden won by Beacon Rock.

The John McConnell-trained Play The Game, a maiden winner and second at Listed level from three starts, and the Johnny Levins-trained maiden Lex Talionis complete the line-up.

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Leading Light: well supported during his first season at Grange Stud

 PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Leading Light covers 320 mares in first season

ASCOT Gold Cup winner Leading Light was the busiest first-season sire this year in Britain and Ireland, covering a mammoth book of 320 mares at Grange Stud - part of Coolmore's jumps arm - in County Cork.

The son of Montjeu developed into a leading stayer for the Coolmore partners and Aidan O'Brien, landing eight of his 12 starts, with his biggest victories coming in the St Leger and Gold Cup, in which he stuck on gamely to deny Estimate, who was subsequently disqualified, and Missunited.

Leading Light, who commanded a fee of €4,500 this year, covered a host of top jumps mares, including Gesse Parade, the dam of Grade 1-winning chaser Rebel Fitz, and Newtown Dancer, who is responsible for Nicky Henderson's high-class hurdler Different Gravey.

 Ocovango to stand at Beeches Stud in County Waterford was also vindicated, with the son of Monsun covering an eye-watering 310 mares.

The five-year-old was well supported by jumps breeders and mares in foal to the sire include Fashionista, the dam of Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth, Grade 1-winning hurdler Won In The Dark's dam Meseta, and Annalecky, dam of Willie Mullins' classy runner Black Hercules.

Jet Away, who won the Listed Festival Stakes for the late Sir Henry Cecil before striking at Group 3 level in Australia for David Hayes, was also in high demand with the jumping fraternity, covering a book of 180 mares at Eoin Banville's Arctic Tack Stud in County Wexford.

Dual Derby winner Australia was received enthusiastically by breeders who sent 178 mares to him in his first season at Coolmore Stud.

The son of Galileo covered 32 Group winners, two more than exceptional miler Kingman, who covered 143 mares, including Frankel's dam Kind and Kazeem, whose son Al Kazeem notched his fourth win at the highest level this year when landing the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.

Dark Angel has firmly established himself as a sire of the highest calibre, with the likes of Group 1 winners Lethal Force and Mecca's Angel, and breeders clearly think he will make his mark as a sire of sires, with his Group 2-winning son Alhebayeb being supported with 161 mares at Tara Stud in County Meath.

Next with 160 covers was the Irish National Stud's Gale Force Ten, whose biggest success came in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.

War Command, who became the second son of the fashionable Kentucky sire War Front to stand in Europe after Declaration Of War, proved a hit with breeders covering a book of 152 mares at Coolmore.

Australia
Sire: Galileo
Stud, fee: Coolmore, €50,000
Mares covered: 178
Mares who were runners: 157
...who were winners: 131
...who were black-type performers: 80
...who were black-type winners: 55
...who were Group winners: 32

Battle Of Marengo
Sire: Galileo
Stud, fee: Ballyhane, €6,000
Mares covered: 117
Mares who were runners: 92
...who were winners: 54
...who were black-type performers: 10
...who were black-type winners: 6
...who were Group winners: 0

Coach House
Sire: Oasis Dream
Stud, fee: Bucklands Farm, £3,000
Mares covered: 108
Mares who were runners: 91
...who were winners: 60
...who were black-type performers: 4
...who were black-type winners: 2
...who were Group winners: 0

El Salvador
Sire: Galileo
Stud, fee: Killack, private
Mares covered: 85
Mares who were runners: na
...who were winners: na
...who were black-type performers: na
...who were black-type winners: na
...who were Group winners: na

Gale Force Ten
Sire: Oasis Dream
Stud, fee: Irish National Stud, €5,000
Mares covered: 160
Mares who were runners: 123
...who were winners: 74
...who were black-type performers: 12
...who were black-type winners: 7
...who were Group winners: 2

Kingsbarns
Sire: Galileo
Stud, fee: Coolmore, €6,000
Mares covered: 39
Mares who were runners: 29
...who were winners: 21
...who were black-type performers: 1
...who were black-type winners: 0
...who were Group winners: 0

Leading Light
Sire: Montjeu
Stud, fee: Coolmore NH, €4,500
Mares covered: 320
Mares who were runners: na
...who were winners: na
...who were black-type performers: na
...who were black-type winners: na
...who were Group winners: na

No Nay Never
Sire: Scat Daddy
Stud, fee: Coolmore, €20,000
Mares covered: 146
Mares who were runners: 121
...who were winners: 77
...who were black-type performers: 28
...who were black-type winners: 18
...who were Group winners: 4

Ocovango
Sire: Monsun
Stud, fee: Coolmore NH, private
Mares covered: 310
Mares who were runners: na
...who were winners: na
...who were black-type performers: na
...who were black-type winners: na
...who were Group winners: na

Ruler Of The World
Sire: Galileo
Stud, fee: Coolmore, €15,000
Mares covered: 80
Mares who were runners: 58
...who were winners: 42
...who were black-type performers: 14
...who were black-type winners: 7
...who were Group winners: 2

War Command
Sire: War Front
Stud, fee: Coolmore, €15,000
Mares covered: 152
Mares who were runners: 117
...who were winners: 74
...who were black-type performers: 26
...who were black-type winners: 13
...who were Group winners: 4

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A little promo video of KINGSBARNS. From @DrakensteinStud

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First mare in foal for Kingsbarns

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2015 COVERINGS FOR FIRST SEASON STALLIONS AT COOLMORE BELOW:

- Australia - 178 mares

- Kingsbarns - 39 mares

- Leading Light - 320 mares

- No Nay Never - 146 mares

- Ocovango - 310 mares

- Ruler Of The World - 80 mares

- War Command - 152 mares

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Beacon Rock, Port Douglas & Unicorn Run in  G2 Beresford Stakes Coolmore, How High The Moon, & Kind of Magic Run in G3 Weld Stakes Both Races Sunday at Curragh. Weekend Ballydoyle Runners Below

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Aidan Aiming to go one ahead of Vincent in Beresford Roll of Honour 

Both O'Brien's have won the Race 14 times.

9 runners to line up in Juddmonte Beresford Stakes

September 25, 2015

25th September 2015

9 runners to line up in featured Juddmonte Beresford Stakes at Curragh this Sunday

Nine runners will go to post for the prestigious Juddmonte Beresford Stakes taking place at the Curragh this Sunday. The Group 2 contest for two year olds will feature as part of an eight race programme starting at 1.50pm.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien will be seeking a fifth consecutive win in the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes and a record breaking 15th in total and he is responsible for Beacon Rock, Port Douglas and Unicorn. The Dermot Weld trained pair of True Solitaire and Ample Sufficiency, Restive trained by Ger Lyons and Stellar Mass trained by Jim Bolger are other notable runners.

O’Brien won last year’s C.L & M.F Weld Park Stakes with subsequent Epsom Oaks heroine Qualify and he will be strongly represented by Coolmore, How High The Moon and Kind of Magic, while the Sir Mark Prescott trained Sun’aq is the sole British trained entry and Mick Halford’s exciting filly Anamba who had Coolmore just behind at Leopardstown recently will also take the step up to Group 3 company for the first time.

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2012 Bay Colt Malibu Moon - Layreebelle by Tale of the Cat = One Point Three

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Akira and Joseph O'Brien (right) beat Tamadhor
(Healy Racing Photos)

Akira wore down the front-running Tamadhor in the closing stages to win on her first start for Aidan O'Brien at Cork this afternoon.

Only three went to post for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Race, over a mile, but it served up a good finish.

11/8 favourite Tamadhor was ridden along two furlongs from home but stuck on well in front.

6/4 shot Akira, wearing a hood and tongue-tie for the first time, was asked for her effort over a furlong out and knuckled down well in the closing stages to get on top in the last 50 yards for a three-parts-of-a-length victory.

The winner had been Listed placed three times for Shay Barry last season.

Winning rider Joseph O'Brien said:- "She settled well and quickened up well. The ground was plenty slow enough but she coped with it well.

"We'll try to get more black type with her. She's settled in well and is a very uncomplicated filly."

(Quotes by Alan Magee)

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I'm Just glad to be back competing

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Ballydoyle Entries Update for Arc weekend at Longchamp - Special Thanks to our Friend Jason Doyle for compiling info.

Aidan O'Brien mobbed by press following the decision on Wednesday

 PICTURE: Dan Abraham

Beach team take Leger reversal on the chin

A MAGNANIMOUS Aidan O'Brien on Wednesday accepted the loss of a Classic at the BHA's headquarters in London as Bondi Beach was demoted back to second after an appeal into the Ladbrokes St Leger resulted in Simple Verse being awarded the race.

While connections of Simple Verse were elated at the panel's verdict to revert to the original result in what was a lengthy and highly-charged appeal, O'Brien took defeat stoically despite Bondi Beach initially being handed victory by the Doncaster stewards.

O'Donoghue was widely praised for his presentation of the controversial finish which was screened live on Channel 4, and he again argued his case fluently, getting into several heated exchanges with Graeme McPherson QC, who led the Simple Verse legal team.He said: "Some you win some you lose and that's racing. I think it's great for the connections of the mare. Colm [O'Donoghue] did his best to give the horse a perfect brilliant ride and conducted himself like the professional jockey he is. He has lost a Classic but has won others and will get more."

But he, like O'Brien, did not dwell on the result when it was announced the panel had found in favour of Simple Verse and their connections. He said: "I felt on the day the stewards made the right decision. The appeal is over. They have changed the decision again and that's racing."

Key exchanges

The appeal focused on the two instances of interference between Bondi Beach and Simple Verse in the home straight, and arguing for Simple Verse, McPherson said: "Mr Atzeni is a head or a neck up all the way up the straight. He won comfortably. He knew Colm O'Donoghue was not catching. He was always holding Bondi Beach. A head in Flat racing terms is a significant distance."

However John Kelsey-Fry QC for Bondi Beach, argued that O'Brien's runner very nearly did recover in getting to within a head of Simple Verse despite receiving two bumps in the race.

"The incident which caused most interference was the first and it is quite clear if no interference had taken place and Simple Verse was ridden according to the rules Bondi Beach would have been first," he said.

However the panel had concluded that although the first incident had caused some loss of momentum but they were "not persuaded" that it improved the filly's finishing position. The second incident had "little or no effect".

John Randall offers historical perspective

Simple Verse is the first British Classic winner to be disqualified and then reinstated, but it famously happened in Ireland in 1981.

In both the 1981 Irish 2,000 Guineas and the 2015 St Leger the racecourse stewards disqualified a home-trained horse in favour of a foreigner, only for the original result to be restored on appeal.

Kings Lake, owned by the Coolmore/Ballydoyle syndicate of the day, finished first in the Irish 2,000, beating the Guy Harwood-trained To-Agori-Mou by a neck, only for the Curragh stewards to relegate him to second for hampering his rival.

The stewards of the Turf Club controversially allowed the appeal lodged by Kings Lake's trainer, Vincent O'Brien; many felt that decision to be a miscarriage of justice.

John Magnier: has been on both sides of a Classic reversal

 PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

John Magnier, the driving force behind the Kings Lake and Bondi Beach syndicates, has now been both winner and, 34 years later, loser in this rare situation.

St Leger appeal blog: All the news, reaction and comment to a dramatic afternoon of events:

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Oaks heroine Qualify (red silks) won the Weld Park Stakes last year

 PICTURE: Getty Images 

Bluebloods out to follow path of Oaks star Qualify

AIDAN O'BRIEN looks set to rely on two blueblooded fillies when he attempts to follow up last year's win in the Weld Park Stakes with subsequent Oaks heroine Qualify at the Curragh on Sunday.

"How High The Moon is a full-sister to Diamondsandrubies and she won her conditions race nicely at the Curragh on debut and is likely to go back there on Sunday, while Coolmore is a full sister to Gleneagles and she may also run," said O'Brien. "We've been happy with both fillies at home since they last ran."Surprisingly that was only the third time since the turn of the millennium he has won the Group 3 and he is responsible for four of the 14 entries in a race that looks sure to cut up with O'Brien considering running just two and Jim Bolger responsible for a further five.

Well related

The regally bred Coolmore is a full sister to Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Marvellous, as well as Gleneagles who has rattled off four Group 1 wins and has been first past the post on every start since his debut, but she is yet to win in two starts in maiden company despite being sent off the odds-on favourite on each occasion.

How High The Moon, who made a winning debut and was a half-length second in a Listed race last time out, is a Fastnet Rock full sister to Diamondsandrubies who accounted for the season's dominant filly Legatissimo by a short head in the Pretty Polly Stakes.

Long list

Ireland's perennial champion trainer has a far better record in the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes, which he has won for the last four years - and 14 times in total - for which O'Brien is responsible for 11 of the 17 entries.

Narrowing his team down, he added: "Shogun is a possible runner if the ground is nice and we'd love to run him. Beacon Rock, who won his maiden at the Curragh last month, and Deauville are also the most likely to run at the moment, but we'll take another look at it later in the week. I'd imagine we'll probably run a few in the race."

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Ryan Moore is back riding tomorrow and hearing he will be on duty for Ballydoyle in the Newmarket G1s this weekend. Here is some of what he can look forward to before the end of the season

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NEW HORSES BY CHRIS PALMER

In Australia

2013 BF Fastnet Rock - Mennetou has been named Dawn Wall. Owned by Coolmore & Flaxman Stables Ireland.2015 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling $1,300,000

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What an absolute gentleman just a class act always shows class win loose or draw thats why we love and respect you.

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Bondi Beach (near) and Simple Verse fight out the finish to the St Leger

 PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Simple Verse regains 
St Leger after appeal

SIMPLE VERSE has been reinstated as the winner of the Ladbrokes St Leger after a BHA hearing on Wednesday reversed the decision of the Doncaster stewards to demote her in favour of Bondi Beach.

The decision to alter the result means Simple Verse is the first horse to win a British Classic, be disqualified from first and then be awarded the race again in an appeal.

Simple Verse had crossed the line in front at Doncaster but was stripped of victory in the Classic and placed second after a stewards' inquiry on the day deemed the interference she had caused cost Bondi Beach victory in the race.

However, that view was altered on Wednesday following an outcome which took over an hour to be deliberated.

In a hearing lasting three hours, the team representing Simple Verse's chances made a strong argument to have the result overturned. Simple Verse had been the first St Leger winner since 1789 to be disqualified.

The hearing became heated at times, especially when it came to the head-to-heads between Graeme McPherson QC, representing Simple Verse, and Colm O'Donoghue, rider of Bondi Beach.

Leger day drama

Trainer Ralph Beckett had been left "astonished" following the stewards' inquiry at Doncaster, and immediately vowed to appeal, with the backing of owners Qatar Racing.

Emotions ran high on Town Moor, with jockey Andrea Atzeni visibly upset when the result was announced, and he admitted to crying in the stalls in the next race after the St Leger.

Such a result will be a boon for connections, who hope Secret Gesture will be reinstated as the winner of the Beverley D, having been demoted in the Arlington Grade 1 last month.

The American stewards debated the appeal last week, but are yet to announce their verdict.

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Landofhopeandglory pictured winning on debut at Galway
(Healy Racing Photos)

Landofhopeandglory will bid to make it two from two as he lines up in the feature at Naas on Wednesday, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Premier Nursery Handicap.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained son of High Chaparral won on debut at the Galway Festival last month and he holds a whole host of big-race entries.

O'Brien's son Donnacha takes a valuable 5lb off his back here and he can be expected to give a good account of himself in what looks a wide open contest.

Ana O'Brien takes the ride on the other Ballydoyle representative Dancing On Air and it will be interesting to see how this daughter of Fastnet Rock gets on fitted with blinkers for the first time.

Jefferson Davis, Reddot Roman, Sevenleft and Clon Rocket are other leading contenders.

Willie McCreery trains Clon Rocket and he has Ohh Lala and Expreso Brasileiro in the opening Panoramic Restaurant At Naas Racecourse Handicap.

They both look to have solid claims while others to consider in this competitive six-furlong heat are Mutazen, Chaplin Bay, Ring Presence and Gladly.

Jealika and Our Max both won last time out and they are sure to have plenty of supporters in the Follow Naas On Facebook Handicap.

Ceol Na Ghra was a good second at the Curragh on her most recent outing and she looks the one to side with in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden while the hat-trick seeking Three Bells should go close in the naasracecourse.com Handicap.

Blue De Vega was the subject of a gamble on his debut at Dundalk earlier this month and he finished a fine third there after breaking slowly from the stalls.

With that experience under his belt he looks the one to beat in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C & G) Maiden.

Duchessofflorence, Rainfall Radar, Athassel Abbey, Vintage Charm and Out Of Context would appear to have the concluding Hospitality At Naas Fillies Maiden between them.

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Barrage of Ballydoyle bluebloods on show Today 

SEVERAL of the regally-bred two-year-olds ensconced at Ballydoyle emerge onto the racecourse for the first time at Naas today.

In the 7f fillies' maiden (3.25) Aidan O'Brien takes the wraps off Eavesdrop, a Galileo half-sister to dual Group 1-winning sprinter Kingsgate Native, who is still going strong this year at the age of ten - as shown by his victory in the Listed Achilles Stakes.

A Sadler's Wells three-parts sister to Derby hero Pour Moi, Gagnoa has already produced Listed-placed Galateia when matched with Dansili.O'Brien also unleashes Etched, a daughter of Dansili and dual Group 3 winner and twice Classic-placed Gagnoa.

Another interesting newcomer in the race, not from Coolmore, is Suvenna, an Arcano half-sister to Group 3 scorer Bocca Baciata and Topeka. She is trained by Mick Halford for Antoinette Kavanagh.

Colts with persuasive pedigrees

The O'Brien-trained trio of newcomers in the 7f colts' and geldings' maiden all possess tip-top pedigrees too.

Hudson Canyon is by Galileo out of Cheveley Park Stakes and Temple Stakes winner Airwave, making him a brother to stakes winners Aloof and Orator and a half-brother to another stakes winner in Meow.

Immortal Bridge is a Fastnet Rock half-brother to rags-to-riches filly Byrama, not sold for £8,000 as a two-year-old who went on to win the Grade 1 Vanity Handicap in the US.

Another half-brother, Klammer, won the Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes and was the ten-length runner-up to Frankel in the Royal Lodge Stakes.

Schubert is a War Front half-brother to Grade 2-placed Timely Tally bought by MV Magnier for $1.3 million at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

One of their rivals who can be expected to improve on his debut run is Almanaara, a Shamardal half-brother to Middle Park Stakes winner and red-hot young sire Dark Angel.

The 370,000gns Tattersalls October yearling purchase, trained by Dermot Weld for Hamdan Al Maktoum, was a promising seventh on his debut at the Curragh last month.

Five horses from Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle yard have been placed into quarantine with a view to competing at the Melbourne Spring Carnival in Australia.

Highland Reel: One of the runners expected to travel

Respective Irish and English St Leger winners Order Of St George and Bondi Beach have been entered in the Emirates Melbourne Cup alongside Kingfisher.

Leigh Jordon, international chief scout for Racing Victoria, said Highland Reel was set for the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley - a race O'Brien won last year with Adelaide - while stablemate Ol' Man River was likely to run in the Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington the following week.

Jordon told www.racing.com: "Aidan has notified me that he is going to put five horses into quarantine at Ballydoyle.

"The only thing I would temper that with is that they still have to get on the plane.

"Albeit by putting them into quarantine, he (O'Brien) misses the Arc weekend with any of those horses.

"He's one of the world's leading trainers. He won the Cox Plate last year and I know he hasn't been back since 2008 (in the Melbourne Cup), and obviously his experience last year was very good."

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O'Brien five to target Melbourne Carnival

                                                                                                                                                                              BONDI BEACH 

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Superpowers Melbourne-bound

Aidan O’Brien may have won last year’s Cox Plate with Adelaide, but had been absent from the Melbourne Cup since being hauled back from the airport before stewards to explain the riding tactics and poor performance of Septimus, Alessandro Volta and Honolulu in the 2008 Cup.

It wasn’t a pleasant experience for the world’s best trainer, and it was clear that Melbourne wasn’t on his agenda any time soon.

There are few more influential racing figures in Australia than Lloyd Williams and it is thanks to his intervention that O’Brien and his famous Coolmore outfit find themselves back in Australia this Spring.

Williams has a long and fruitful relationship with Coolmore, buying plenty of horses off them over the years, and earlier this year, Lloyd was keen on a trio of gallopers with an eye to Spring riches.

But Coolmore wasn’t keen to sell, meaning Lloyd needed to find another solution. So an agreement was reached that Team Williams would buy into the horses, which would remain under O’Brien’s care. Lloyd had proved the circuit breaker.

While it was never certain that they would come to Australia this year, with both Bondi Beach and Order Of St George recently winning big races, this is the year they are best placed for Melbourne Cup success.

So Jordon now finds himself with an impressively full hand.

Racing’s biggest superpowers will be major players in the Melbourne spring, with Coolmore, Godolphin, Juddmonte and Qatar Racing all featuring as well as Japan’s biggest owners Sunday Racing, and even the Queen is set to have a Cup runner - the David Hayes-trained Bold Sniper.

It’s a frightening line-up for the local owners and trainers to think about taking on. Another clean sweep is a distinct possibility.

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Ballydoyle Beresford Stakes Entries (SUNDAY)

Aidan O'Brien seems intent on trying to equal Vincent O'Brien's record of 15 wins in the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes as he is responsible for 11 of the 17 confirmations for Sunday's Group Two at the Curragh.

Aidan O'Brien: Plenty of option

O'Brien's plethora of possibles include Superlative Stakes second Air Vice Marshal, the unbeaten Deauville, General Macarthur, Johannes Vermeer and Unicorn as he looks to pick up the prize for the fifth year running.

Air Vice Marshal and Deauville are among several O'Brien horses who remain in the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

O'Brien named Shogun, who was third to Herald The Dawn in the Futurity Stakes on this course last month, as one of the handful of horses he is considering for the race.

"Shogun is a possible runner if the ground is nice and we'd love to run him," said the Ballydoyle trainer.

"Beacon Rock, who won his maiden at the Curragh last month, and Deauville are also the most likely to run at the moment but we'll take another look at it later in the week.

"I'd imagine we'll probably run a few in the race."

Dermot Weld is double-handed with Ample Sufficiency and True Solitaire while Ger Lyons' Restive and the Jim Bolger-trained Stellar Mass, who were first and second in a Curragh maiden last month, are others in the mix.

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Ballychorus is one of three horses declared for the feature contest
(Healy Racing Photos)

Only three go to post for the Eamon Sheridan Plant Hire Chase at Ballinrobe and two of the contenders are bidding for a hat-trick.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Carriganog looks the one they have to beat in the two-mile-seven-furlong event as he returns to the larger obstacles after picking up a conditions race over hurdles at Kilbeggan last month.

He had also opened his account over fences at the same track in good style the previous month and looks to have found a nice opportunity to add to his haul.

The JP McManus-owned gelding was pulled out of a event on the opening day of Listowel because of very testing conditions but has handled soft ground in the past.

His main rival looks to be the mare Ballychorus, who is aiming for a third win on the bounce.

Her two most recent runs have come in conditions hurdles but she was good winner when last seen over fences at Down Royal in May.

Judged on her hurdles rating she would have a few pounds to find with Carriganog but Mags Mullins' charge looks open to improvement over fences.

Clar Na Mionn completes the trio but looks to have it all to do judged on recent form.

McManus also has a strong hand in a competitive looking Hollymount Nursing Home Beginners Chase.

He has four running in his colours and first jockey Barry Geraghty partners the Dermot Weld-trained Waaheb.

The eight-year-old should have learned plenty from a couple of outings over fences at Galway and comes into the race off the back of a confidence boosting success over timber at Roscommon.

Art Of Payroll, who contested some hot beginners' chases last winter, could be a danger on his return to action.

Earlier on the card Balofilo, an impressive winner at Listowel on Sunday, turns out again quickly under a 5lb penalty in the Killeen Sports Grounds Handicap Hurdle.

She gave trained Martin Cullinane his first winner in over 14 months when winning in Kerry and the Athenry handler will be hoping it is a short wait for his next success.

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New Ballydoyle Horse he was 3rd on debut behind SHOGUN now Trained By Aidan 

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                                  REEL & RIVER REMAIN IN COX PLATE MIX  

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• Unbeaten Deauville In Royal Lodge

Aidan O'Brien trains nine of the 18 acceptors for the Royal Lodge Stakes Including Deauville 

The Galileo colt is a full-brother to The Corsican and built on his reputation when beating Sanus Per Aquam in the Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown on his second outing.

He is 16/1 second-favourite with Sky Bet behind Godolphin's Emotionless in the ante-post betting for next year's Investec Derby

O'Brien has also left in eight of Deauville's stablemates - Shogun, Air Vice Marshal, Beacon Rock, General Macarthur, Landofhopeandglory, Port Douglas, Unicorn and Lieutenant General.

John Gosden's Foundation is also unbeaten in two starts and barely came off the bridle in winning a Listed race at Haydock.

Richard Hannon's Listed winner Tony Curtis and stablemate Humphrey Bogart are still engaged, as is the Roger Varian-trained Haalick.

Beast Mode, Ibn Malik, Muntazah, Lazzam and Sixth Sense also have the option of running in the Group Two over a mile.

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Deauville (left) beating Sanus Per Aquam
(Healy Racing Photos)

Aidan O'Brien's unbeaten Deauville is still among the 18 possibles for the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

The Galileo colt is a full-brother to The Corsican and built on his reputation when beating Sanus Per Aquam in the Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown on his second outing.

O'Brien has also left in eight of Deauville's stablemates - Shogun, Air Vice Marshal, Beacon Rock, General Macarthur, Landofhopeandglory, Port Douglas, Unicorn and Lieutenant General.

John Gosden's Foundation is also unbeaten in two starts and barely came off the bridle in winning a Listed race at Haydock.

Richard Hannon's Listed winner Tony Curtis and stablemate Humphrey Bogart are still engaged, as is the Roger Varian-trained Haalick.

Beast Mode, Ibn Malik, Muntazah, Lazzam and Sixth Sense also have the option of running in the Group Two over a mile.

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Waterloo Bridge
(Healy Racing Photos)

Aidan O'Brien's Royal Ascot hero Waterloo Bridge is one of 15 possibles for the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

The son of Zoffany hasn't been sighted since that Group Two Norfolk Stakes success but could line up alongside stablemate Painted Cliffs.

The classy Shalaa seems set to prove the star attraction in the Group One event, the Al Shaqab-owned colt having won the July Stakes, the Richmond Stakes and the Prix Morny on his last three outings and now going for five wins in a row.

In the same ownership is Richard Hannon's Gutaifan, second in the Prix Morny and winner of the Flying Childers since.

Hannon could also run Log Out Island, Madrinho and Orvar, a winner in Turkey last time out.

Mark Johnston's Coventry Stakes winner Buratino would be a big threat if the ground was on the quick side but he has missed several engagements since his big day at Ascot.

The Gimcrack winner Ayaja gives William Haggas a strong hand along with Ornate while Charlie Appleby has two contenders in Rouleau and Venturous.

Saeed bin Suroor's Steady Pace is also in the frame with Kevin Ryan's Mont Kiara and Johnston's Riflescope completing the list.

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Sires Tables Updated - Galileo Storms Clear - Canford closes the gap on Zoffany 

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Bondi Beach (left) beating Order Of St George
(Healy Racing Photos)

Bondi Beach and Kingfisher could be Aidan O'Brien's first runners in the Emirates Melbourne Cup for seven years.

Irish St Leger hero Order Of St George is a third possible for the 'race that stops a nation' after leading Australian owner Lloyd Williams purchased shares in all three.

The trio will go into quarantine, although O'Brien revealed that Bondi Beach, the promoted Ladbrokes St Leger winner, and Ascot Gold Cup runner-up Kingfisher were the more likely to make the trip to Australia for the Flemington showpiece on November 3.

Speaking at Gowran Park, O'Brien said: "The three of them are possibles for the Melbourne Cup, obviously. They have to go into quarantine with us on Tuesday and they'll possibly go in anyway.

"It's looking very possible that Bondi Beach and Kingfisher will go and we have to make a final decision on Order Of St George.

"It's a very prestigious race and obviously a very hard race to win. Not many races stop a nation."

Though O'Brien has not had a Melbourne Cup runner since the stewards there questioned his three jockeys on their riding instructions in 2008, he did send out Adelaide to lift the Cox Plate last year.

O'Brien expressed his delight at Williams - who is a four-time Melbourne Cup-winning owner, the latest with Green Moon in 2012 - being involved with the trio of horses.

The Ballydoyle trainer said: "Lloyd is a legend in his own lifetime.

"We feel very privileged to have horses to train for him."

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Jack Naylor Just gets the better of Ballydoyle Duo Easter & Outstanding

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GLENEAGLES HEADING FOR ASCOT AND QUEEN ELIZABETH II STAKES

Dual 2000 Guineas winner Gleneagles is set to have his next run in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on British Champions Day.

Aidan O'Brien's miler has not been seen since landing the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, with ground conditions scuppering plans to run in the Sussex Stakes and likewise eagerly-awaited clashes with Golden Horn over 10 furlongs in the Juddmonte International and Irish Champion Stakes.

Speaking at Gowran Park on Sunday, O'Brien said: "He's probably going to be trained for the mile race at Ascot (October 17). At the moment that's what we are thinking."

On missing his intended engagements over the last couple of months, O'Brien added: "It's not ideal, but what can we do. That's just the way it is."

Should Gleneagles take his chance in the QEII, it would set up a likely clash with Freddy Head's stable star Solow, winner of his last eight starts, including the Sussex Stakes.

RaceBets quote Gleneagles as the 6-1 second-favourite for the Ascot showpiece, with Solow the 5-6 market leader

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Best in the World (Middle) ran a cracker on debut she has a very bright future

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Macedon Lodge buy into Coolmore Cup noms

Kingfisher (Photo Steve Cargill/Racingfotos.com)

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Best In The World has big name to live up to

THERE may only be two Flat meetings across Britain and Ireland today, but there's no shortage of well-bred runners, particularly in the opening 1m fillies' maiden at Gowran Park (1.55). Top of the pile is the portentously-named Best In The World, a Galileo sister to last week's Irish Champion Stakes runner-up Found trained by Aidan O'Brien. The pair are out of Lockinge and Matron Stakes heroine Red Evie, a daughter of Intikhab and also the dam of CL Weld Park Stakes winner Magical Dream.

Joining Best In The World in making her debut is Dark Seductress, a Dark Angel half-sister to Oaks d'Italia winner Menhoubah. Dark Angel has been enjoying a stellar season in 2015, his in-form progeny spearheaded by Nunthorpe Stakes heroine Mecca's Angel.

Making her fourth outing today is Best In The World's stablemateWay To My Heart. The filly, also by Galileo, is a sister to Irish Derby runner-up and Dee Stakes winner Kingfisher, who could be seen next in the Melbourne Cup.

Coolmore contenders

Half an hour later it's the turn of the boys in the 1m EBF maiden for colts and geldings (2.25), with another host of well-related contenders.

Galileo colt Black Sea bids to get off the mark at the first time of asking for Coolmore and O'Brien, who also saddled his half-brothers Father Christmas, by Bernardini, and Michaelmas, by Elusive Quality.

Black Sea's name marks a departure from the festive-theme that stems from the trio's dam Christmas Kid. A daughter of Lemon Drop Kid, the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes winner sold to Aisling Duignan for $4.2 million at Keeneland in 2011 from the dispersal of the late Edward P Evans.

Another Coolmore runner out of a seven-figure mare isHousesofparliament, whose dam Sharp Lisa - winner of the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes - was bought by BBA Ireland for $3.4m at Fasig-Tipton in 2006. Her produce, including Great Voltigeur runner-up Foundry, have been bred by Smithfield Inc.

East Coker, who makes his debut for Jessica Harrington and Favourites Racing today, is a Pour Moi half-brother to smart Scandinavian performer Hurricane Red.

Barabau aiming to bounce back

Hamilton hosts the only Flat maiden in Britain today, with seven runners due to go to post for the 1m65y contest (3.20).

Hoping to get back on track - but not fancied in the betting - isBarabau, the latest runner out of Anglo-Irish Oaks heroine Balanchine. By Bernardini, the Mark Johnston-trained colt has finished unplaced in both of his previous outings.

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Bondi Beach (near): awarded the St Leger in the stewards' room

 PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Williams takes share in 
O'Brien Melbourne trio

Australia: The prospects of Aidan O'Brien having his first runners in the Emirates Melbourne Cup for seven years appear to have increased after leading Australian owner Lloyd Williams revealed he had purchased shares in Order Of St George, Kingfisher and Bondi Beach.

According to reports in Australia, Williams, the wealthy property and casino entrepreneur, has taken a stake in O'Brien's two St Leger winners along with Kingfisher, who was second in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June.

Williams's son Nick told racing.com that no decision had been made about who, if any, of the three horses would make the trip to Melbourne although a choice will need to be made by Thursday when any runners would have to enter quarantine.

Who is Lloyd Williams?

The 75-year-old Williams made his fortune in Melbourne property before building the gargantuan Crown Casino in 1994.

He has increasingly turned his attention to racing in recent years building a 300-acre private training establishment Macedon Lodge on the outskirts of Melbourne, with his son Nick handling most of the media and sales enquiries.

Williams has won the Melbourne Cup four times with Just A Dash (1981), What A Nuisance (1985), Efficient (2007) and Green Moon (2012).

Green Moon: one of four Melbourne Cup winners for Lloyd Williams

 PICTURE: Getty Images

Williams has landed the Melbourne Cup on four occasions, most recently with ex-European Green Moon in 2012.

Order Of St George is a 20-1 shot for the Melbourne Cup after an 11-length win in the Palmerstown House Estate Irish St Leger last time out. He has been handed 54kgs (8st5lb) for the Melbourne Cup.

Bondi Beach, successful in a controversial Ladbrokes St Leger, is 25-1 for the Melbourne Cup and Kingfisher is a 20-1 chance to take victory in Australia's greatest race.

O'Brien has not had runners in the Melbourne Cup since running three horses in 2008 when he was widely criticised in Australia for the tactics he used.

Order Of St George Bondi Beach & Kingfisher registration Pending with RSA Australian Racing Authorities

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Ballydoyle Entries Newmarket Next Thursday & Friday

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Former Ballydoyle Resident Granddukeoftscany won today in Australia 

Kingston Hill retired to Coolmore:

2014 Classic winner Kingston Hill has been retired from racing and will join his sire Mastercraftsman by standing at Coolmore Stud in Fethard, County Tipperary, from 2016. 

Trained by Roger Varian and owned by Coolmore partner Derrick Smith's son, Paul, the four-year-old won Group 1 races at two and three years of age, including a four and a half length romp of the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster under Andrea Atzeni, leaving high calibre horses for dust such as The Grey Gatsby and Snow Sky, just five weeks after winning his debut at Newbury. 

At the tail end of his three-year-old campaign, Kingston Hill returned to Doncaster to win a first Classic for trainer and jockey when landing the St. Leger by a length and a quarter from Romsdal. That result on Town Moor franked the form of Epsom Derby and now fellow stud resident Australia, where he was second and Romsdal was third. 

Inbetween his Classic efforts, Kingston Hill continued to race at the highest level, where he was fourth in the Coral Eclipse, and rounded off his season with an excellent fourth to Treve in the Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe, being the highest placed three-year-old colt in the contest.

Kingston Hill was set to race on at four with the main target again being the Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe but Roger Varian revealed in March that his stable star had suffered a superficial injury to his left fore, before a fresh setback in July ruling him out for the rest of the season.

Roger Varian hailed his colt a 'very special horse', saying: We had hoped to get Kingston Hill back for the latter part of this season but sadly this has not been possible and the decision has been made to retire him. He was a very special horse for the yard, giving us our first twotwo-year-old Group 1 and Classic successes. In another year he might well have won the Epsom Derby but he ran into a very good horse in Australia. He's a beautiful mover with a great cruising speed and a turn of foot - pretty much everything you look for in a top class racehorse. 

Paul Smith added: 'I was a huge fan of Mastercraftsman as a racehorse and was thrilled that Kingston Hill became his first Group 1 winner when he won the Racing Post Trophy. It's unfortunate we haven't been able to get him back this year as Roger was convinced he would have made an even better four-year-old. It's great to see Mastercraftsman having another fantastic year with six Group winners, including Amazing Maria.'

Kingston Hill retires to Coolmore with four race wins, from eight starts, with earnings of £1,104,278.

(Article by Kingsy, journalist for www.aidanobrienfansite.com)

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Kingfisher is not guaranteed a start in this year's Melbourne Cup according to the entries order

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Breeders Cup 2015 Ballydoyle Contenders

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2 New Ballydoyle Horses 1 Raced 1 Unraced 

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Look who Ruby Walsh & his kids Bumped into at Leopardstown 

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Air Force Blue takes the National Stakes in impressive fashion
(Healy Racing Photos)

National Stakes hero Air Force Blue heads 13 entries from the Aidan O'Brien stable in the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on October 10.

The son of War Front leapt to favouritism for the Qipco 2000 Guineas with an emphatic three-length call over Herald The Dawn at the Curragh on Sunday to supplement his success in the Phoenix Stakes.

O'Brien, with three Dewhurst triumphs in the bag, has an exceptionally strong team that also includes Royal Ascot winners Washington DC and Waterloo Bridge and the unbeaten Group Three scorer Deauville.

Stunning Champagne Stakes winner Emotionless is Charlie Appleby's sole entry, while John Gosden has seven representatives including the exciting Shalaa, the winner of his last four starts including the Group One Prix Morny at Deauville.

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Air Force Blue among star names in contention for Dewhurst at Newmarket

National Stakes hero Air Force Blue heads 13 entries from the Aidan O'Brien stable in the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on October 10.

The son of War Front leapt to favouritism for the Qipco 2000 Guineas with an emphatic three-length call over Herald The Dawn at the Curragh on Sunday to supplement his success in the Phoenix Stakes.

O'Brien, with three Dewhurst triumphs in the bag, has an exceptionally strong team that also includes Royal Ascot winners Washington DC and Waterloo Bridge and the unbeaten Group Three scorer Deauville.

Stunning Champagne Stakes winner Emotionless is Charlie Appleby's sole entry, while John Gosden has seven representatives including the exciting Shalaa, the winner of his last four starts including the Group One Prix Morny at Deauville.

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I Think He's one of the best Ballydoyle Juveniles we have seen in some time

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Aint no stopping us now

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     Timeform Global Rankings European Division Ballydoyle Spotlight & News

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Aidan at Keeneland yesterday assessing yearlings with Coolmore & his son 

Joseph STRANGE move if he was leaving. He Aint going nowhere guys

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AIR FORCE BLUE Joins Aidan's all time great Juveniles

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Order Of St George: Irish St Leger winner is a Melbourne Cup possible

 PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos

Cup chiefs hoping for O'Brien runners

Australia: It has taken a long time to entice Aidan O'Brien to have another crack at the Emirates Melbourne Cup after his trio of runners ended up well beaten in 2008.

He now has four possibilities for the race, including Sunday's Irish St Leger winner Order Of St George.

Racing Victoria international recruitment officer Leigh Jordon admitted it has been a hard job courting O'Brien back for another go after 2008, when the trainer's three jockeys were all questioned about their riding instructions after straggling home at the rear having earlier led the field.

"I'm hoping that this year's the year that he comes back," Jordon said.

Jordon said the O'Brien stable was preparing for quarantine but wanted to assess Tuesday's weights set by Racing Victoria handicapper Greg Carpenter.

Carpenter is more bullish and believes O'Brien will have multiple Melbourne Cup runners rather than one.

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Order Of St George
(Healy Racing Photos)

Order Of St George has been allotted 54kg for the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 3.

The Irish St Leger hero is one of four entries for Aidan O'Brien, with Doncaster Leger first and third Bondi Beach and Fields Of Athenry weighted on 52.5kg and 51kg respectively, while Ascot Gold Cup runner-up Kingfisher has 53kg

Racing Victoria's chief handicapper Greg Carpenter assessed Order Of St George as the equal of last year's winner Protectionist and Snow Sky, who have joint top weight.

He explained: "Order of St George could not have been more impressive winning the Irish St Leger on Sunday by 11 lengths and the 54kg I have allotted him as a northern hemisphere three-year-old is the same as 58kg for an older horse with both being 1.5kg below the weight-for-age benchmark."

Sir Michael Stoute's Snow Sky ran out an impressive winner of the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot back in June prompting Carpenter to saddle him with 58 kilograms, the equivalent of 9st 2lb, for the Cup.

Both Snow Sky and Protectionist, who is now trained by Kris Lees in Australia after winning for Andreas Wohler last year, will have history to overcome as no original top weight has won the race since 1950.

Carpenter told www.racing.com: "There have been 22 original topweights contest the Melbourne Cup since Comic Court's win in 1950 and none have placed, so Protectionist and Snow Sky would rightfully earn their place among the Cup's true greats if they were to be successful.

"The handicap presents a challenge to both Protectionist and Snow Sky, however, they have earned their position at the heads of the weights based on their performances over the past 12 months.

"Protectionist was a dominant winner of last year's Melbourne Cup carrying 56.5kg and rises 1.5kg for this year's renewal, while Snow Sky is the highest-rated horse in the field having won the coveted Hardwicke Stakes in emphatic fashion at this year's Royal Ascot Carnival."

Protectionist will join an elite band of Makybe Diva (2003-05), Think Big (1974-75), Rain Lover (1968-69), Peter Pan (1932, '34) and Archer (1861-62) as the multiple winners of the Melbourne Cup if he can triumph again this year.

Michael Bell's Goodwood Cup hero Big Orange has been allotted 55.5kg while his Lonsdale Cup conqueror, the Willie Mullins-trained Max Dynamite, has been given 55kg.

Mullins also has Wicklow Brave (52kg), Clondaw Warrior (51kg) and Simenon (51kg) in the reckoning while Dermot Weld's two entries, Manalaplan and Zafayan, have both been given 50kg.

Ed Dunlop sends Red Cadeaux for his fifth attempt at the prize and he also carries 55kg, the same burden as his Ascot Gold Cup-winning stablemate Trip To Paris. The stable's third entry Manndawi has been given 50kg.

Godolphin have a handful of entries with Sky Hunter (54kg), Secret Number (52.5kg), Wadi Al Hattawi (50.5kg), Elhaame (50kg) and Hidden Gold (50kg).

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Darryl Sherer - 15 Sep 2015

Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter is anticipating a return to Flemington for the 2015 Melbourne Cup by champion Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien.

Speaking after releasing the weights for Australia’s greatest race, Carpenter said he was particularly excited at the level of classic form represented from Europe this year, especially horses trained by O'Brien.

"There are only two Group I races in England beyond 2400 metres - the Ascot Gold Cup and the St Leger and we’ve got the trifecta from Ascot and first and third from the St Leger,” Carpenter said.

"In Ireland there is only one Group I race beyond 2400 metres, that is the Irish St Leger and we have the winner Bondi Beach as well as third-placed Wicklow Brave, who probably won’t get a run as he hasn’t got enough weight.

"It underlines the quality of entry for this year’s Melbourne Cup.”

O’Brien trains both St Leger winners in Bondi Beach, which was awarded the race at Doncaster in a controversial stewards decision, and Order Of St George, which ran away at The Curragh to score by 11 lengths last Sunday.

Carpenter said he would be delighted if the Ballydoyle trainer made his first appearance at the spring carnival since 2008 where he was questioned by stewards regarding tactics for his three runners in the Melbourne Cup after being summoned back to the track from his restaurant table.

"You work for 12 months looking at Melbourne Cup weights, then in the space of 24 hours there are two performances that change the whole structure of the weights at the death knell,” Carpenter said.

"Order Of St George is obviously a horse of great promise.

"We’ve only had three northern hemisphere three-year-olds run in the Melbourne Cup. Comedy King came to Australia from England as a foal and he won in 1911.

"The only other two have been trained by Aidan O’Brien, Mahler who finished third to Efficient in 2007 and Alessandro Volta which was unplaced the following year.

"Order Of St George is right up there on the weight-for-age scale and all of the O’Brien trained three-year-olds will get runs if he elects to bring them.

"I’d love to see an Irish St Leger winner come, of course, Vintage Crop won that race before coming to win the Cup in 1993.

"I think Aidan will have multiple runners.”

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International Ratings Update - Several Ballydoyle horses get rating boost after a Stella weekend + The Top Rated 2yo

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Due Diligence: first son of War Front announced to stand in Britain

 PICTURE: Alain Barr (racingpost.com/photos)

Due Diligence Retires to stand in 2016 at Whitsbury Manor Stud

WHITSBURY Manor Stud in Hampshire has reached an agreement with Coolmore to stand high-class sprinter Due Diligence from next year.

Coolmore will retain part-ownership of the four-year-old, who has been retired after his fifth in the Haydock Sprint Cup this month.

Due Diligence becomes the first son of red-hot Kentucky stallion War Front to stand in Britain, and his retirement comes hot on the heels of War Front's son Air Force Blue strolling to victory in the National Stakes on Sunday.

Originally trained in the US, Due Diligence won a 5½f maiden at Saratoga on his debut by an emphatic eight lengths.

He was subsequently purchased privately and transferred to be trained by Aidan O'Brien at three, and was the impressive winner of the Listed Lacken Stakes at Naas before failing to reel in Slade Power when second in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Due Diligence had to race away from the main group at Ascot and was hampered near the finish, and the effort earned him the title of Ireland's champion three-year-old sprinter of 2014.

He was found to have injured his pelvis at Royal Ascot and was unable to run again at three, but he returned to the track this year and was a fast-finishing fifth to Twilight Son in the Group 1 Sprint Cup on his last run.

Due Diligence was bred by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilshneider and is the sixth winner from as many runners for his dam, the Listed-winning Pulpit mare Bema.

"We are immensely excited to stand the first son of War Front in Britain," said Whitsbury Manor Stud director Ed Harper.

"His performance in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot last year singled him out as a sprinter of the highest calibre and, were it not for his injury, who knows what he would have achieved.

"He is a gorgeous dark bay individual typical of his sire with an exaggerated athletic walk, who will offer our clients an extremely commercial option for next season."

Fees for Due Diligence and the rest of the Whitsbury Manor Stud roster - including highflying second-season sire Showcasing, who provided Sunday's Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale Stakes winner Glass House - will be announced later in the year.

"This is the first horse we have bought after Showcasing moved up a couple of notches," added Harper. "We thought we had to make sure the next stallion we secured would be the real deal so we are relieved and pleased to get a horse like Due Diligence."

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Minding after winning The Moyglare Stud Stakes

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Bondi Beach (purple) the winner of the St Leger at Doncaster
(Healy Racing Photos)

Connections of Simple Verse will have to wait until next week to find out their fate in an appeal against the decision to demote the filly from first place in the Ladbrokes St Leger after the British Horseracing Authority put back a hearing scheduled for Thursday.

Trained by Ralph Beckett for Qatar Racing, the Andrea Atzeni-ridden filly passed the post a head in front of Bondi Beach, but a stewards' inquiry was immediately called into interference as the pair appeared to bump twice in the closing stages.

Following a tense wait, during which Atzeni and Bondi Beach's rider Colm O'Donoghue argued their respective cases in front of the stewards live on Channel 4, the announcement was made that Simple Verse had been placed second.

Having initially announced the matter would be dealt with this week, the BHA later tweeted: "CORRECTION: Due to issues with availability of participants' counsel, the St Leger appeal will now NOT be held this Thursday.

" The hearing will now be held on either Tues 22, Weds 23 or Fri 25 September, TBC based on counsel's availability.

"Further updates to be provided this week once availability has been finalised."

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Order Of St George: 50th individual top-level winner for his sire Galileo

 PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos

Galileo regains lead in sires' championship

AFTER an outstanding weekend of results, Galileo has regained the lead in the European sires' championship by prize-money, with progeny earnings of £5,540,885.

Long-time leader Dubawi sits second with a total of £5,297,893 and RaceBets have shortened Galileo to long odds-on to come out on top.

His other winners included Minding, who led home a one-two-three for the sire in the Moyglare Stud Stakes, and Bondi Beach, who was awarded the St Leger in the stewards' room.Coolmore resident Galileo - who has topped the table of European sires by prize-money for the last five years - was represented by his 50th individual top-level winner at the weekend when Order Of St George landed the Irish St Leger.

Galileo might have opened an even bigger advantage over Dubawi at the weekend, but for Darley's flagship sire supplying Prix Niel winner New Bay and Prix Foy scorer Postponed.

The title could go down to the wire and be decided on the outcome of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, worth more than £2 million to the winner. Galileo currently has two entries for the race while Dubawi has four.

RaceBets' Joseph Burke said: "On a very busy weekend for racing in Europe, we missed the fact that punters had been backing Galileo in the Champion Sire market consistently from 11-4 as recently as Friday down to 9-4, then 7-4 and finally into 5-4 before we finally suspended the betting on Sunday.

"Now that the dust has settled, we note there has been a seismic shift in the standings following the weekend.

"In little over three weeks since we opened the book on the leading sire in Europe, Galileo has overturned a huge £1 million-plus deficit with Dubawi to surge into a lead of £242,992.

"Consequently Galileo's odds have been completely reversed from 11-4 against to odds-on at 4-11 to retain his title.

"With a number of exciting two-year-olds to run for him, not least some or all of his Moyglare Stud Stakes one-two-three in the Prix Marcel Boussac, Galileo appears to be in the driving seat once again and as we approach the business end of the season, it's a case of 'business as usual' for the champ.

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Order Of St George Irish St Leger Race Replay 

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Multiple Group One Winner AIR FORCE BLUE

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Galileo Back in Charge of Sires Title after a stellar weekend

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Minding- Moyglare Stud Stakes (Group 1) 2015

Air Force Blue- Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (Group 1)- 2015

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Order Of St George
(Healy Racing Photos)

Order Of St George ran out a facile winner of the Palmerstown House Estate Irish St Leger providing his trainerAidan O'Brien with a Group 1 treble and his jockey Joseph O'Brienwith a Group 1 double.

An impressive winner of the St Leger Trial over the course and distance on his last start the son of Galileo was available at 11/4 last night, opening on-course at just 6/4 before going off the clear 5/4 favourite.

Settled towards rear he made progress through the field with over four furlongs to race.

He came through to lead with two and a half furlongs to go and he stretched clear when ridden over a furlong out, going on to score by eleven lengths.

Agent Murphy took second under Jimmy Fortune for Brian Meehan at 6/1 while Wicklow Brave was a neck back in third under Paul Townend for Willie Mullins at 20/1.

Forgotten Rules, who was sent off the 9/2 second favourite, finished fifth while last year's winner Brown Panther pulled up quickly with under seven furlongs to race.

Aidan O'Brien, whose treble came in at just over 35/1, said afterwards: "He was very impressive here the last day.

"I didn't say anything to Joseph but they went hard up front and he put him asleep. He sneaked through lovely and is a very good stayer.

"He got the trip really well and travelled very strongly. When Joseph said go he quickened up very well.

"It's unusual for a horse that stays that well to have that kind of class. He's a very exciting horse.

"We may have a look at the two-mile race at Ascot (the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup next month) with him.

"He's a free sweater and if he didn't do that you'd be worried."

Joseph O'Brien, who was recording his first win in the Irish St Leger, added: "He is a very good horse. He travelled exceptionally well.

"I probably got to the front a furlong and a half too soon but I was going so well I didn't want to wait too much longer. In hindsight I probably should have but he has a huge engine.

"It just got a little bit on the bend but I was going easy and he handles a bit of juice in the ground."

Paddy Power go 5/1 (from 8's) about the winner for next year's Ascot Gold Cup.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

Order Of St George Storms home in the Irish St Leger 

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Air Force Blue comes home clear under Joseph O'Brien
(Healy Racing Photos)

Air Force Blue ran out an impressive winner of the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes, providing his trainer Aidan O'Brien with a quick Group 1 double.

A winner on his debut at the Curragh in May he was then second to Buratino in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He gained his revenge on Buratino in the Phoenix Stakes over the course on his last start and he made it two Group 1 wins in-a-row today.

Sent off the 10/11 favourite he was settled in fourth by Joseph O'Brien.

He took closer order and travelled strongly on the outer with over two furlongs to race, hitting the front inside the final furlong before being pushed out to score by three lengths.

Herald The Dawn finished second at 5/2 under Kevin Manning for Jim Bolger while UK raider Birchwood was a further length and three parts back in third.

Aidan O'Brien said afterwards: "I'm very happy with him. We took a chance running him on ground that he would have hated. He's a real smooth fast ground horse.

"He's very exciting. Joseph said he was running away the whole way and he couldn't even get him back in behind horses.

"He has real pace too. Gleneagles has that pace - natural pace.

"He'll have one more run if he's going to go again and I'd imagine that would be the Dewhurst."

Joseph O'Brien added: "He has a huge engine, he travelled very good throughout the race and with a furlong and a half to go he was still cantering.

"I didn't want to get there too soon. Dad just said before the race to ride him with a lot of confidence and just to win half a length if I could but I had to go when he was going so easy.

"I haven't rode many as good as him. He is very straightforward, he travels, relaxes and has a lot of speed.

"He showed today that he gets seven well. We were a little bit worried about the seven on the ground but he didn't disappoint." <Air Force Blue is now the 4/1 clear favourite (from 8's) with Paddy Power for the 2,000 Guineas next year.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

Air Force Blue wins the National Stakes

Air Force Blue before the National Stakes

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Minding (purple cap) comes through to beat Ballydoyle
(Healy Racing Photos)

Minding led home an Aidan O'Brien 1, 2, 3 in Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes as she reserved Debutante form with the favourite Ballydoyle.

Second to Tanaza on her debut at Leopardstown in June she won on her next start at the Foxrock venue before finishing two lengths second to Ballydoyle in Debutante.

Available at 11/1 this morning she opened on-course at 8/1 before going off a 15/2 under Seamie Heffernan.

Settled behind the front-running Ballydoyle the winner was ridden to challenge inside the final furlong and she hit the front inside the final 100 yards, keeping on well from there to score by three parts of a length.

Ballydoyle, who was returned a 6/5 chance, had to settle for second under Joseph O'Brien while Alice Springs (20/1) was half a length back in third under Michael Hussey.

Aidan O'Brien said afterwards: "We always thought Joseph's filly was very good but we weren't sure about the ground as she's a beautiful mover. She ran a very good race.

"We knew Seamie's filly would handle it as her dam handled it well. It was always a possibility it would happen as we thought she had improved and she did. She got the trip well.

"I'm delighted with all three fillies. Seamie gave his a lovely patient ride, Joseph rolled along and Michael gave his a lovely ride also.

"The winner could be there for the Fillies Mile or something like that. She's had a break so hopefully will see out the rest of the year.

"We let Ballydoyle take her chance on the ground so we would know for next year if she handles it. She didn't run badly and the winner is a good filly.

"The third filly looked very good winning here first time and then was a little keen. We knew when she started to do things right she'd come into it."

Seamie Heffernan added: "She is a lovely filly, straightforward and I was going easy all the way. The ground probably brought her into it.

"It's a funny game, if I was given the choice I wouldn't have ridden the winner.

"Joseph was travelling very strong but my filly was a bit more relaxed and I finished out a little bit better than he did plus the ground might have been a factor."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

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Aidan, Coolmore & Ballydoyle jockeys before the Moyglare Stud Stakes G1 

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Coolmore Win 26th English Classic as Owners

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Galileo & Zoffany both well clear in Sires Tittles 

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Galileo Empire Updated 

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Colm did an amazing job in Stewards room no one likes to win like this but thought he was incredible could not of fought his corner better.

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So Proud of Ballydoyle its a national treasure & now has notched up its 100th English & Irish Classic Victory There really is NOWHERE else in the world like it.

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Trainers with 20 or more English Classic Victories 1780 - 2015

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Bondi Beach: a 48th top-flight winner for Galileo

 PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Galileo supplies 48th Group 1 winner

 BY BLOODSTOCK WORLD STAFF6:29PM 12 SEP 2015 

THE controversial victory of Bondi Beach in the St Leger on Saturday means his sire Galileo is just over £300,000 behind Dubawi at the top of the European leading sire standings.

Bondi Beach was awarded the last British Classic of the year in the stewards' room after finishing second past the post behind the Duke Of Marmalade filly Simple Verse and therefore awarded prize-money of £393,737.

Dubawi's progeny have amassed £5,143,151 this season, while Galileo, after Bondi Beach's success, is on £4,814,793.

With a host of top-class races in Europe still to come this season, including the Champion Stakes and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the race to be crowned leading sire could go right down to the wire.

Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Bondi Beach becomes a 48th top-flight winner for his sire and the second by Galileo to land St Leger following Sixties Icon.

Bred and owned by Coolmore, Bondi Beach is easily the best of four winners out of the Danehill mare One Moment In Time, who was bought as a yearling by Demi O'Byrne for 520,000gns.

She failed to make the racecourse for David Wachman, but her paddock value was bolstered when her sister Simply Perfect, also owned by Coolmore and the dam of Group 3 winner Mekong River, won the Falmouth Stakes for Jeremy Noseda as a three-year-old.

A 12-year-old, One Moment In Time has another exciting runner in the form of Unicorn, who won his maiden by four and three-quarter lengths at Leopardstown last month. The Galileo colt could run on Monday in a nursery at Listowel, but is also entered in the Dewhurst and Racing Post Trophy.

Bondi Beach descends from a family brimming with talented performers who have excelled at a variety of distances, including this year's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Postponed and Jersey Stakes scorer Gale Force Ten.

Johannes Vermeer capped a good day for Galileo when winning the Group 3 Willis Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown.

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Galileo Makes Huge move in Sires title and closes the gap on Dubawi the 

champ has plenty of runners today

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Leopardstown Today Pics sent to AOBFS By Jamie Kinnin (Much Apprecitated Jamie )

Coolmore Johannes Vermeer Found Highland Reel &l Legatissimo

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RACE REPLAYS 

Johannes Vermeer - Willis Champions Juvenile Stakes (Group 3) 2015

 Johannes Vermeer followed in the footsteps of stablemate John F. Kennedy as he won the Willis Champions Juvenile Stakes on day one of Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown.

Bondi Beach - Ladbrokes St Leger (Group 1) 2015

 After a Stewards' Enquiry, first past the post, Simple Verse, was disqualified and the race was awarded to Bondi Beach. Another Classic for Aidan O'Brien.

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Johannes Vermeer, second right, comes to win his race
(Healy Racing Photos)

With Shogun taken out due to the yielding (soft in places) going at Leopardstown,Joseph O'Brien switched to Johannes Vermeer who successfully stepped up in class to win the Group Three Willis Champions Juvenile Stakes.

The 5/1 shot jumped away nicely and soon tracked Escondida and Waipu Cove. O'Brien gave him the squeeze approaching the home turn and the Galileo colt unleashed his run to grab a narrow lead from Waipu Cove with under a furlong and a half to travel.

The whips were soon drawn on both of the main protagonists but in the final 150 yards it was Johannes Vermeer who went on and galloped his way to the line.< Waipu Coveweakened in the last 100 yards as True Solitaire (7/2) came through for second, just ahead of Sanus Per Aquam (5/4f). They were beaten a length and a half and half a length into second and third respectively.

Rockaway Valley, who raced in rear throughout, finished his race well for fourth.

Aidan O'Brien said: "I'm delighted with him. He was a bit disappointing first time in Tipperary but that can happen over seven furlongs there.

"He came forward great from that and won nicely in Killarney where Emmet (McNamara) liked him.

"Joseph was very happy with him today. He picked up plenty when he asked and battled well."

This was Johannes Vermeer's third racecourse start. He was third on debut at Tipperary before emphatically winning his maiden at Killarney last month.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

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Bondi Handed Leger in Stewards Room 

Bondi Beach won the Ladbrokes St Leger after the stewards threw out first-past-the-post Simple Verse.

Bondi Beach (left) and Simple Verse pass the winning post with the filly just in front - but the stewards reversed the placings.

In some truly compelling viewing, Channel 4 broadcast both Bondi Beach's rider Colm O'Donoghue and Simple Verse's jockey Andrea Atzeni articulately and persuasively arguing their respective cases to the stewards.

Minutes later, it was announced that Simple Verse had been demoted to second, despite having finished a head in front, and a distraught Atzeni was left to walk back into the jockeys' changing room having won and then lost what would have been his first Classic for new boss Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani.

"I'm astonished, apart from anything else," said trainer Ralph Beckett. "There's no consistency in the rules.

"We saw last week Stuart Williams' horse Suzi's Connoisseur pinned against the rail on the straight track at Ascot and Joe Fanning had to stand up in the irons and was beaten half a length but didn't get the race.

"We lose the race when clearly both horses leaned on each other. Can you say it was entirely her fault? I can't say that.

"One thing is for sure that is that it's absolutely certain we will appeal."

The decision to promote Bondi Beach, the 2/1 joint-favourite, is sure to attract considerable discussion with even O'Donoghue admitting afterwards that he had "won by the rules".

Paul Smith, representing the Coolmore owners of Bondi Beach, including his father, Derrick, said: "I didn't have an opinion as to whether he would get the race.

"When Colm got off the horse he said he'd got a couple of bumps and we had an awfully good case to argue in the stewards' room."

Winning trainer Aidan O'Brien was at Leopardstown, from where he told At The Races: "I'm delighted, you're always sorry to get a race like that, but I think it was a little bit messy up the straight and Colm gave him a great ride. He's a brave horse.

"He was a little bit unlucky the last time in York this horse (narrowly beaten following interference in the Great Voltigeur) and there was no doubt he was running back at the line.

"I'm sorry for connections of the second, but we're delighted that he won.

"It's only his fifth run, he loves fast ground and he stays well. He'll be a lovely horse next year."

Bondi Beach had himself already been involved in one controversial stewards' call earlier this season when finishing second to Storm The Stars in the Great Voltigeur Stakes and not being awarded the race despite meeting with interference.

Atzeni was still clearly distressed when going out to ride Captain Morley in the same colours in the following handicap, but showed his professionalism when bringing the 2/1 favourite home clear.

"I'm just sad for the boss, really, because he deserved a big winner and that's been taken from him," said the jockey.

"I'm still a little shocked, really, that they took the race away from them - some of the inconsistencies in the stewards' room surprise me," was the verdict of Captain Morley's trainer David Simcock.

Explaining the decision, stipendiary steward Paul Baton said: "We first had to decide whether there was interference and clearly there was - one instance at the two-furlong marker and one half a furlong out.

"Having concluded that Simple Verse had caused both instances, we then had to decide whether they had improved Simple Verse's position. We decided that the combination of the two instances had influenced the result.

"In the room, the stewards have to be satisfied that they have reached the right opinion - not satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt, but satisfied - and I think they are and that the right decision has been reached."

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Juvenile Stakes Winner Johannes Vermeer

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Bondi Beach wins the St Leger in the Stewards Room Colm in the stewards room fighting his corner 

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Coolmore Narrowly Defeated in Leopardstown opener

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Coolmore in Parade Ring

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Heavy rain overnight and today has seen Gleneagles taken out of the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes field.

Gleneagles

There was 27mm of rain at Leopardstown where the going was changed on Saturday morning to yielding, good in places on the outside track (on which the Champion Stakes is to be run) and yielding, soft in places on the inside track.

But the rain has continued to fall after lunchtime, forcing Aidan O'Brien to show his hand and pull this season's dual Guineas winner out of the contest.

"I'm so sorry for everyone, but it's the right thing to do for the horse," said the trainer. "It's just on the wrong side now, the soft side rather than the good side.

"We always thought a mile was his trip, but we were going to give him a chance at a mile and a quarter - we were nearly there, but that's the way it is.

"It's been tough on him having to miss all of these races and he was fit to burst today - we might have to give him a canter or something after racing to stop him from exploding.

"I couldn't believe it when I rang the racecourse this morning and said the amount of rain they'd had. It's tough on everyone, but it just wouldn't be right to run him.

"As for plans, we'll just have to see again."

A decision is expected later on the participation of Golden Horn in the same race.

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Aidan has just walked the track news on who runs will be coming soon id say

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Aidan O'Brien: also declared Order Of St George for Ladbrokes St Leger

 PICTURE: Getty Images

O'Brien opts for Irish Leger with St George

ORDER OF ST GEORGE will stay in Ireland and contest the Palmerstown House Estate Irish St Leger at the Curragh, as connections decided to bypass the British equivalent at Doncaster.

Heavy rain is forecast for both tracks before each race, but it has been decided conditions will be more to the colt's liking at the Curragh.

Speaking before it was revealed Order Of St George would miss the Ladbrokes St Leger, O'Brien said: "We are really looking forward to the weekend and we have declared both Kingfisher and Order Of St George for the Irish St Leger on Sunday. Order Of St George also has the option of Doncaster and it will just depend on where the ground is more suitable for him."

Order Of St George's defection leaves seven runners for the Doncaster Classic, with Colm O'Donoghue now taking over from William Buick on Bondi Beach.

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Coolmore Australia Morning Sunrise By Me

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Euro Sires Title Update

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Fields Of Athenry will take his chance
(Healy Racing Photos)

There were no defections at the 48-hour declaration stage for Saturday's Ladbrokes St Leger with all eight entries standing their ground.

That leaves Aidan O'Brien with three in the race having declared Bondi Beach, Fields Of Athenry and Order Of St George, who was last seen winning a trial for the Irish St Leger at the Curragh.

William Haggas' Storm The Stars has been fancied for this ever since chasing home the John Gosden duo of Golden Horn and Jack Hobbs in the Derby at Epsom in June.

He gained an overdue success in the Great Voltigeur at York, narrowly beating Bondi Beach, and will aim to give jockey Pat Cosgrave a first Classic victory.

Ralph Beckett and Qatar Racing took the step to supplement Simple Verse earlier in the week and she will aim to become the first filly to come out on top since User Friendly in 1992.

David Brown's Medrano will have Fergal Lynch back in the saddle, Richard Hannon runs Proposed with Pat Dobbs on board, while there is a sole challenger from France, the Mikel Delzangles-trained Vengeur Masque.

Delzangles has already tasted British Classic glory before, when Makfi won the 2000 Guineas in 2010.

Frankie Dettori had been linked with the ride on Bondi Beach but will not now be in action at Doncaster.

He will head straight to Leopardstown to partner Derby winner Golden Horn in the Irish Champion Stakes after the Group One showpiece at the Dublin track was brought forward 65 minutes, from 6.50 to 5.45.

With the St Leger not due off until 3.45 it would have left Dettori little time to fly over to Ireland.

"We can only go one place. There's not sufficient time to ride in both races," said his agent Ray Cochrane.

"There is, but you'd be putting people through a lot of sweat, so we're going straight to Leopardstown.

"There's nothing any of us can do about the weather. We want to do the best for the people we're riding for. It's as simple as that.

"Frankie had rides in the first four races at Doncaster, the last one being in the Leger and then we were going to shoot over to Ireland and be there in good time.

"Now they've changed it by bringing it forward there's no point thinking of trying to do both.

"Frankie's had a good run with John Gosden and Golden Horn is the best ride he's got all year.

"He's riding Golden Horn and Euro Charline at Leopardstown and then more likely Frankie will ride in France on Sunday."

In Dettori's absence, William Buick, who rides predominantly for Godolphin, has been been booked to ride Bondi Beach in the season's final Classic.

Ballydoyle jockey Colm O'Donoghue will partner Order Of St George, while title-chasing Brazilian Silvestre de Sousa will get the leg up on Fields Of Athenry.

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JUVEFORM weekly Supplement (Kind Of Magic Bags a listed win and moves up 

the rankings)

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Ballydoyle Leopardstown Saturday Runners 
Also Irish Champion Stakes To Now be run at 5:45pm instead of 6:50pm

APOB French runners Sunday Ol'Man River Prix Niel Diamondsandrubies Prix Vermeille

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Gleneagles: "He would not want the top to start shifting"

 PICTURE: Martin Lynch (racingpost.com/photos)

O'Brien wants quick ground for Gleneagles

AIDAN O’BRIEN has spelt out the pressures he faces finding suitable conditions for Gleneagles as he prepares the dual Guineas hero for a potential clash with Golden Horn in the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes.

Gleneagles missed the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and the Juddmonte International at York because of concerns about the surface and O’Brien is worried the weather might derail his latest opportunity at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Speaking at Galway on Wednesday evening, the trainer said: “It's very hard to call. The forecast is terrible for Leopardstown I believe - what can we do? We'll declare them in the morning and wait and see.”

Earlier in the day, Gleneagles was left in Sunday’s Prix du Moulin at Longchamp with stablemates Sir Isaac Newton, War Envoy and Cougar Mountain, but O’Brien said the French declaration rules mean the alternative race is not a viable option.   

“We realise that we now cannot declare in two places at the one time so he cannot run in France, as he will be declared for Leopardstown,” he said.

“You can't be declared in two places at the one time in France. That's the rule, what can you do? Obviously we want to go to Leopardstown.”

The Leopardstown ground was described as good to firm on Wednesday but Met Eireann, the Irish National Meteorological Service, is predicting the greater Dublin area could be hit by heavy rain on Friday evening with amounts between 20-30mm.

“It wouldn't be fair to run him [Gleneagles] unless it is good or better,” O’Brien said. “He's a fast horse, there's no doubt he's a genuine miler - obviously 1m2f is not ideal but you have no idea about the trip.

“He would not want the top to start shifting. His action is too low, he's too quick.”

Were Gleneagles, general 4-1 third favourite behind Golden Horn (15-8) and Free Eagle (11-4), to miss the Irish Champion, Found could be in line to take his place.

“The filly will be left in. She could run if the ground goes against Gleneagles,” O’Brien added.

“The ground would be a mess for Air Force Blue [in the National Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday] if it turns wet.”

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Rosshaven Lady (left) just gets the better of Thumb Stone Blues

Rosshaven Lady just got the better of Thumb Stone Blues in the concluding Jamie Kyne Memorial Flat Race.

The Aidan O'Brien trained five-year-old won on her second start at Limerick in June before running out on her next outing at Killarney when leading.

Sent off an 11/4 chance this evening she was settled in rear by Sarah O'Brien. She improved a position with just under a circuit to race and went fourth with four furlongs to go.

She was pushed along in third as they entered the straight and came with her challenge between horses just under a furlong out, before soon hitting the front.

She swished her tail in the closing stages as she stayed on gamely under pressure to see off Thumb Stone Blues by a neck.

The runner-up was returned the 6/5 favourite under Richie Kiely for Shay Barry whileEyes Of A Tiger was a further seven and a half lengths back in third.

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Gleneagles
(Healy Racing Photos)

Classic heroes Gleneagles and Golden Horn remain among the possible runners on a fantastic card at Longchamp on Sunday.

Aidan O'Brien's dual 2000 Guineas victor Gleneagles and John Gosden's Derby winner Golden Horn look likely to cross swords in the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday evening, but with the weather forecast uncertain, both have alternative options in Paris the following day.

Gleneagles could potentially stick to a mile in the Prix du Moulin, a Group One event for which 18 have stood their ground.

O'Brien also has the likes of Sir Isaac Newton and Cougar Mountain engaged, while other possible raiders include Peter Chapple-Hyam's Arod, Roger Charlton's Time Test and the Charlie Hlills-trained Dutch Connection.

Golden Horn is one of 11 three-year-olds still in the mix for the Prix Niel, in which O'Brien has Highland Reel, John F Kennedy and Ol' Man River. Andre Fabre's French Derby hero New Bay is the star turn for the home team.

Dual Arc heroine Treve is the standout name among 17 fillies in the Prix Vermeille. Tapestry is one of three remaining entries for O'Brien, while David Elsworth's shock Juddmonte International winner Arabian Queen has been confirmed as expected.

Tapestry is also in against the boys in the Prix Foy. Luca Cumani has left in King George winner Postponed, as well as Roseburg.

Robert Cowell's King's Stand winner Goldream spearheads a strong British challenge in the Qatar Prix du Petit Couvert.

The Mark Johnston-trained Oriental Fox is the only remaining British entry in the Prix Gladiateur.

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Aidan O'Brien Interview Irish Champions Weekend

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Joseph O'Brien to quit at the end of the season - to follow father Aidan into training

In his new role, O’Brien will tutor a team, predominantly of jumpers, for JP McManus, and racinf legend AP McCoy, has backed the change

Joseph O'Brien will quit the saddle at the end of the 2015 Flat season – to follow his father Aidan into the training ranks.

And O’Brien jnr will operate from the same yard, in Piltown, Co Kilkenny, where his father cut his teeth at the beginning of his legendary trainer career.

In his new role, O’Brien will tutor a team, predominantly of jumpers, for JP McManus, whose former jockey, AP McCoy, backed the change of jobs.

“I think if anybody’s going to know how to train a racehorse, going from being a jockey to a trainer, it would be Joseph O’Brien,” said McCoy, who won a Grand National, aboard Don’t Push It, in 2010 and a Cheltenham Gold Cup, on Synchronised, in 2012, wearing McManus 'famous green-and-gold silks.

Getty

“Joseph is keen on the training side of things – I think he will be very good at it," added the 20-time champion jump jockey, now an ambassador for William Hill, who make O'Brien an 8-1 chance to saddle a Cheltenham Festival winner by the end of March 2017.

O’Brien jnr’s rise through the riding ranks since Johann Zoffany gave him his first success, at Leopardstown in May 2009, has been nothing short of meteoric.

Having gained his first Classic triumph on Roderic O’Connor in the Irish 2,000 Guineas in 2011, O’Brien partnered Camelot to victory in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Derby at Epsom the following year.

But the 22-year-old, who doubled his Derby tally on Australia in 2014 and has accumulated no fewer than nine British Isles Classics, stands nearly six feet tall and has faced a battle with the scales in recent months.

O’Brien jnr competed over hurdles at Limerick in March, and, although he has ridden on the Flat for his father’s Ballydoyle operation during Ryan Moore’s enforced absence with a neck injury, the fight to keep his weight down is proving increasingly one-sided.

William Hill quote O'Brien at 1-3 to train a winner for McManus in 2016 and the Leeds firm's spokesman Jon Ivan-Duke said: "Joseph looks set to follow in his father's footsteps sooner rather than later, and it would be a brave man to say he won't make a good go of it."

O'Brien snr trained Istabraq to win a hat-trick of Champion Hurdles between 1998 and 2000 for McManus, whose racing manager Frank Berry said on Tuesday night: "Joseph is busy riding at the moment, and I don't know anything about it."

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Ballydoyle Major Race entries for Irish Champion Weekend also in Doncaster and Longchamp:

Saturday at Leopardstown:

Irish Champion Stakes (Gr.1): Found (Galileo) Gleneagles (Galileo) Highland Reel (Galileo)

Boomerang Stakes (Gr.2): Cougar Mountain (Fastnet Rock) Sir Isaac Newton (Galileo) War Envoy (War 

Front)

Enterprise Stakes (Gr.3): John F Kennedy (Galileo)

Juvenile Stakes (Gr.3): Antelope Canyon (Fastnet Rock) General Macarthur (War Front) Johannes Vermeer 

(Galileo) Landofhopeandglory (High Chaparral) Lieutenant General (Fastnet Rock) Port Douglas 

(Galileo) Shogun (Fastnet Rock) Unicorn (Galileo) 

Doncaster on Saturday:

St Leger (Gr.1): Bondi Beach (Galileo) Fields Of Athenry (Galileo)  Order Of St George (Galileo)

Park Stakes (Gr.2): Cougar Mountain (Fastnet Rock)  War Envoy (War Front)

Champagne Stakes (Gr.2): Air Vice Marshall (War Front) 

Curragh on Sunday

Irish St Leger (Gr.1): Kingfisher (Galileo) Order Of St George (Galileo)

Moyglare Stud Stakes (Gr.1): Alice Spring (Galileo) Ballydoyle (Galileo) How High The Moon (Fastnet 

Rock) Kind Of Magic (Galileo) Minding (Galileo)

National Stakes (Gr.1): Air Force Blue (War Front) Air Vice Marshal (War Front) General Macarthur (War 

Front) Johannes Vermeer (Galileo) Lieutenant General (Fastnet Rock) Painted Cliffs (Canford 

Cliffs) Shogun (Fastnet Rock)

Blandford Stakes (Gr.2): Easter (Galileo) Found (Galileo) Outstanding (Galileo) Tapestry (Galileo)

Longchamp on Sunday:

Prix Vermeille (Gr.1): Diamondsandrubies (Fastnet Rock) Found (Galileo) Fluff (Galileo) Tapestry

(Galileo) Wedding Vow (Galileo)

Prix du Moulin (Gr.1): Cougar Mountain (Fastnet Rock) Gleneagles (Galileo) Sir Isaac Newton (Galileo) War 

Envoy (War Front)

Prix Niel (Gr.2): Giovanni Canaletto (Galileo) Highland Reel (Galileo) John F Kennedy (Galileo) Ol' Man 

River (Montjeu)

Prix Foy (Gr.2): Kingfisher (Galileo) Tapestry (Galileo)

Special Thanks to Jason Doyle for putting information together 

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Air Force Blue heads an Aidan O'Brien-dominated list of entries remaining in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes.

O'Brien is responsible for half of the 14 runners in the Group One event at the Curragh on Sunday.

The Phoenix Stakes winner is joined on the list by Air Vice Marshal, General Macarthur, Johannes Vermeer, Lieutenant General, Painted Cliffs and Shogun.

Futurity Stakes winner Herald The Dawn is one of two entries for Jim Bolger, alongside Sanus Per Aquam, while Jessica Harrington has left in the unbeaten Final Frontier.

The Mark Johnston-trained Coventry Stakes winner Buratino is one of two British possibles alongside Birchwood from the stable of Richard Fahey.

Completing the list is Dermot Weld's Galway maiden winner True Solitaire, and the Lee Smyth-trained My Brother.

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Classic hope Ballydoyle faces acid test in Moyglare Stud Stakes

Tuesday 8 September 2015

Ballydoyle, ante-post favourite for next year's Qipco 1000 Guineas, tops the list of 15 entries at the confirmation stage for the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

The two-year-old, winner of the Debutante Stakes at the track on her last start, is one of five potential candidates for trainer Aidan O'Brien in the Group One contest.

O'Brien, who is bidding to claim the seven-furlong feature for a seventh time, has also left in Alice Springs, How High The Moon, Kind Of Magic and Minding.

Jim Bolger is another trainer with multiple entries still standing having left in Leafy Shade, Siamsaiocht and Taisce Naisiunta in his quest to win the race for the first time since the victory of Saoirse Abu back in 2007.

Dermot Weld's chances of ending his search for a first success since 1987 will rest with the unbeaten Tanaza, while the home contingent of runners is completed by the Michael Halford-trained Vitello, Inishkea from the yard of Carolyn Costigan and the Michael O'Callaghan-trained Now Or Never.

The British opposition is headed by the Brian Meehan-trained Sweet Solera Stakes winner Blue Bayou.

Hugo Palmer's last-gasp Prestige Stakes victor Hawksmoor is also in the frame, as is the Richard Hannon-trained Great Page, winner of the Prix du Calvados on her latest start.

Irish Champions Weekend Group 1 entries posters 

Gleneagles & Golden Horn set for Irish Champion Stakes 

Classic heroes Golden Horn and Gleneagles star among nine horses confirmed for a mouthwatering renewal of the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

John Gosden's Derby winner Golden Horn threatened to dominate the middle-distance division after following up in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown in July, but suffered a shock defeat and lost his unbeaten record when touched off by Arabian Queen in last month's Juddmonte International at York.

Gleneagles completed the 2000 Guineas double at Newmarket and the Curragh in the spring for Aidan O'Brien, but has not been seen since making it three from three for the year in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, missing several engagements due to unfavourable ground conditions.

O'Brien has also left in Secretariat Stakes winner Highand Reel and top-class filly Found.

Last year's winner The Grey Gatsby is set to defend his crown for Kevin Ryan, while Dermot Weld's Prince of Wales's Stakes hero Free Eagle is another major contender.

Corine Barande-Barbe's French superstar Cirrus Des Aigles and Group One-winning fillies Legatissimo and Pleascach complete a stellar field.

The Irish Champion Stakes will be one of the races shown live on RTÉ2 from 5pm on Saturday.

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No Aidan O'Brien Runner in The G1 Matron Stakes on Saturday At Leopardstown

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Air Vice Marshal Aidan's Pick for Champagne Stakes

Air Vice Marshal is Aidan O'Brien's sole remaining entry among 12 horses in contention for Saturday's At The Races Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

The master of Ballydoyle had a number of horses entered at the previous confirmation stage, but has whittled his team down to just one, with Air Vice Marshal an obvious contender having filled the runner-up spot in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket in July.

The winner of that Group Two event, Richard Fahey's Birchwood, could also head to Town Moor this weekend.

Mark Johnston has a couple of potential representatives in Beaverbrook and Welford, while Emotionless is set to step up in class for Charlie Appleby following a most impressive debut at Newmarket a month ago.

Roger Varian's Haalick is another once-raced maiden winner and the Charlie Hills-trained Ibn Malik brings solid form to the party after chasing home Galileo Gold in the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

Mon Kasseopia, Kentuckyconnection, Lex Talionis, Mohab and Palawan complete the acceptors.

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Cole Porter (Middle) Was nailed late on in Galway Maiden But Stable Mate Successor was an eyecatcher on debut & 1 For the Notebook

Just eight horses remain in contention for Saturday's Ladbrokes St Leger, with Aidan O'Brien set to run three.

Storm The Stars and Bondi Beach fight out a dramatic finish to the Great Voltigeur

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ADELAIDE

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General Macarthur and Joseph O'Brien win the 3rd at Dundalk
(Healy Racing Photos)

On start number two Ballydoyle's General Macarthur was second market-choice behindMichael O'Callaghan's well-touted newcomer, Blue De Vega, for the www.dundalkstadium.com Maiden. However Aidan and Joseph O'Brien's War Front colt proved best out on the track in the seven furlong event.

Leopardstown fifth placer General Macarthur came through to lead two furlongs out, having chased the leaders, and he kept the Weld and Smullen hope, A Likely Story, at bay by half a length.

The aforementioned Blue De Vega suggested that his turn won't be long delayed. He missed the break and didn't get a clear run two furlongs out, before keeping on for third place, three parts of a length adrift.

"He was fierce green the first day but was much better today," explained the winning rider.

"He probably got to the front a bit soon and that's why he was idling. We think he's a nice colt, and hopefully he can improve."

(AM & EM)

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Ballydoyle 2 year olds working before racing at Seamie, Anna, Joseph, Donnacha O'Brien Dundalk Stadium (Alan Barr Photo's)

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General MacArthur could be on the Breeders Cup Trail

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Only 11 remain in Leger as Mr Singh is ruled out of Classic 6 of them from Ballydoyle 

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JUVEFORM Weekly Supplement

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Joseph Fronting the New Irish champions Weekend Merchandise

Available online: http://bit.ly/1JM7Yoe & in store at TRI Equestrian

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APOB has 35 colts entered in Irish 2000 Guineas & 21 Fillies in Irish 1000 Guineas

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Gleneagles given 8-1 quote for Breeders' Cup Classic

 PICTURE: Martin Lynch (racingpost.com/photos)

Gleneagles 8-1 for American Pharoah clash

GLENEAGLES is 8-1 with Coral for the Breeders' Cup Classic on October 31 after trainer Aidan O'Brien underlined the race could be the colt's end-of-season target.

The Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 12 remains the next target for Gleneagles with O'Brien confirming that the Qipco Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on October 17 would be an option if the ground at Leopardstown was unsuitable.

A trip Stateside and a Breeders' Cup clash with Triple Crown hero American Pharoah and star mare Beholder is also under consideration.

That pair are 7-2 joint favourites for the Keeneland showpiece and Coral's David Stevens said: "It has looked increasingly unlikely that Gleneagles would get his favoured going at Ascot on Champions day, so with connections aiming instead at the Breeders' Cup Classic, the dual Guineas winner is behind just two American superstars in the betting for the Keeneland highlight."

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Cougar Mountain, Sir Isaac Newton and War Envoy entered in group 2 Joel Stakes at Newmarket On Friday 25th September. & Painted Cliffs and Waterloo Bridge left in Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury On Saturday19th September

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Washington DC 
(Healy Racing Photos)

Royal Ascot winners Washington DC and Buratino feature among 34 entries for the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury on September 19.

The pair clashed at the Curragh last month when finishing second and third in the Group One Phoenix Stakes and Aidan O'Brien's charge could bid to confirm that form and enhance his already impressive record.

Mark Johnston's Buratino is one of eight possibles for the Middleham handler in the Group Two contest with smart filly Lumiere and Monday's Ripon Listed winner Whitman also among his squad.

William Haggas has some smart juveniles this term and advertised the fact by saddling the first and third in the Gimcrack with Aj aya and Raucous. Both of those have the option, along with Tasleet.

"We were thrilled with Raucous in the Gimcrack," said Harry Herbert, manager for the colt's owner Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.

"He ran very well to finish third, despite breaking slowly and being a bit green, and I definitely thought he was one of those to take out of the race.

"We may go for the Mill Reef Stakes next with him or the other option is to step up to seven furlongs for the Somerville Tattersall Stakes at Newmarket (September 24). We haven't decided yet if we should stick to six or go up, but he is very progressive and we rate him highly."

Richard Fahey has entered Gimcrack second Ribchester and Super Sprint winner Lathom with Richard Hannon able to chose between Gutaifan and King Of Rooks

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A.P.O'Brien Digital Art Piece By Me

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Gleneagles heading Stateside:

After rumours circulated early this morning that Gleneagles was set to head to the United States for the Breeders Cup Classic to finish his career, Aidan O'Brien has now confirmed that is the plan with the forecast in Britain, Ireland and France not great for the remainder of the European Flat season. 

Team Ballydoyle and Coolmore are always very well represented at the Breeders Cup races in the Juvenile races and the Breeders Cup Turf, Aidan came close to winning the Breeders Cup Classic  with Henrythenavigator in 2008 &  Declaration Of War in 2013, and the team are now poised to fire their biggest and most dangerous bullet at the USA's most expensive dirt race. 

Gleneagles has had a magnificent three-year-old campaign so far, winning the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket impressively fresh as a daisy, making his first start of the campaign, and then showed his incredible will to fight when pulling out all the stops to land the Irish 2000 Guineas in tacky ground. 

Ever since that Irish Guineas win, Gleneagles has been exclusively kept on a faster surface, winning his third Group 1 of the season in the St James's Palace Stakes, though ground at Goodwood, Deauville and York halted his initial late summer targets, with the lads probably regretting not running at Goodwood. 

The forecast isn't great for Irish Champions Weekend coming up shortly, so the lads have no choice really but to look at the Breeders Cup before sending him into retirement as the champion three-year-old miler and to breed the next generation of top class milers. 

(Article by Kingsy, journalist for www.aidanobrienfansite.com)

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New & Improved APOB Career Stats Poster

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O'Brien nominates four for Australian stayer showpiece:

Irish champion trainer & the master of Ballydoyle, Aidan O'Brien, has nominated four of his best staying prospects for 'the race that stops a nation' Down Under in November, the Emirates Melbourne Cup.

Ascot Gold Cup second Kingfisher, Ladbrokes St. Leger favourite Order Of St George, Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes winner Fields Of Athenry and Curragh Cup winner/Great Voltigeur second Bondi Beach are all under consideration, and would head to Melbourne with exceptional chances should they participate. 

Aidan O'Brien hasn't ran one horse since the 2008 renewal (where Bart Cummings won his 12th Melbourne Cup) after a dispute with the Flemington stewards who called him back to the racecourse from his dinner table to discuss the riding tactics given to the jockeys of Septimus (18th), Alessandro Volta (20th) and Honolulu (21st). The stewards were looking for reasons for their dismal showing, and O'Brien was near boiling point as he exclaimed the ground was like concrete, leaving Septimus and Honolulu lame after the race and Alessandro Volta in no great shape either. 

Coolmore and Ballydoyle have always had plenty of options should they want to go for the Melbourne Cup again, the most classy arguably being Leading Light, a St Leger winner as a three-year-old, which Order Of St George could be in around two weeks time. 

It'll be really interesting to see if the O'Brien family decide to return to Melbourne this November considering this farce in 2008 and whether they are boycotting the race or not, but with O'Brien so highly respected by Australian racing fans and fresh from his first Group 1 winner Down Under last year with Adelaide in the Cox Plate, he could be abliged to go mob-handed again to try and claim a race which still eludes his glittering CV.

(Article by Kingsy, journalist for www.aidanobrienfansite.com)

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August 2015 another record breaker for AOBFS