The Curragh hosted day two of the Irish Champions Festival on Sunday, highlighted by four Group 1s including a pair of Breeders’ Cup Challenge events.
Bradsell, already in the Turf Sprint (G1), collected a superfluous ticket in the Flying Five (G1), while Lake Victoria exceeded expectations in the Moyglare Stud (G1), securing a spot in the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).
Scorthy Champ upset the Vincent O’Brien National (G1) to raise his possibility for the Juvenile Turf (G1), and the venerable stayer Kyprios regained his crown in the Irish St Leger (G1).
Flying Five (G1)
The five-furlong dash furnished a neat validation of the “Win and You’re In” Nunthorpe (G1) from York, as Bradsell and Believing once again ran one-two here. The market nailed the exacta, with Bradsell paying $6.20 as the favorite.
Trained by Archie Watson for Victorious Racing, Bradsell raced in the vanguard on the stands’ side. Believing was unfortunately drawn on the far side, and she didn’t have as helpful a tow into the race. By the time Believing began her customary rally, the winner had already stormed ahead on the opposite part of the track.
Bradsell had 1 1/4 lengths to spare over Believing in a final time of :57.25 on the good course. Fellow British shippers Makarova, Kerdos, Washington Heights, and Desperate Hero completed a sweep of the top six placings. Bucanero Fuerte fared best of the Irish-based sprinters in seventh, while defending champion Moss Tucker trudged home 17th of 18.
Bradsell’s resume reads 11-6-0-3, reflecting victories in Royal Ascot’s Coventry (G2) in 2022 and King’s Stand (now the King Charles III) (G1) in 2023. The son of Tasleet was scratched from last November’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita, but he’s been unbeatable since returning to action this summer. The four-year-old resurfaced in the Aug. 4 Prix du Cercle at Deauville, his springboard to the Nunthorpe.
Watson mentioned that Bradsell could head to the Oct. 6 Prix de l’Abbaye (G1) on Arc Day, if the ground isn’t too soft and if he has a decent draw. Otherwise he’ll likely go straight to Del Mar.
Moyglare Stud (G1)
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Bedtime Story was bet down to odds-on favoritism, but it was the other unbeaten filly from Ballydoyle, Lake Victoria, who remained perfect on Sunday.
Bedtime Story uncharacteristically led early. Too eager right out of the gate, she strode along vigorously until appearing vulnerable entering the final furlong. As the stalking Simmering and Exactly loomed alongside, Lake Victoria suddenly swooped from the tail of the quintet, and Red Letter soldiered on at the rail.
Coming widest of all for Wayne Lordan, Lake Victoria rolled past her rivals to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths. Her final time of 1:23.73 was much faster than Scorthy Champ’s 1:25.08 in the National over the same seven-furlong trip.
Simmering edged Ballydoyle’s Exactly for runner-up honors. The lone British visitor, Simmering was also the only entrant not sired by Frankel. As her name implies, she’s by Too Darn Hot.
Red Letter was another head away in fourth. The Juddmonte homebred, who just missed to Lake Victoria in their mutual debut, hinted that she wants to go further.
Bedtime Story reported home last. The postrace examination found her to be lame, according to the stewards’ report.
Now 3-for-3, Lake Victoria returned $13.60. The Coolmore homebred stamped herself as one to follow with an eye-catching premiere here on Irish Derby weekend. Lake Victoria shipped to Newmarket for the Aug. 10 Sweet Solera (G3), where she led throughout.
Although Lake Victoria has raced exclusively over seven furlongs so far, O’Brien said that she’s eligible to shorten up to six for the Sept. 28 Cheveley Park (G1). She could take more after her dam, multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Quiet Reflection, than her phenomenal sire Frankel.
Vincent O’Brien National (G1)
Another Ballydoyle hotpot, Henri Matisse, was overturned at odds-on in the Vincent O’Brien National. But unlike the Moyglare, where Bedtime Story was meeting Lake Victoria for the first time, Henry Matisse had just beaten Scorthy Champ in the course-and-distance Futurity (G2).
Scorthy Champ was a different proposition this time for trainer Joseph O’Brien, who’s no stranger to upstaging father Aidan. A smart debut winner at Leopardstown May 17, Scorthy Champ did not race again until the Aug. 24 Futurity. He moved forward from his third in that tightener.
With Dylan Browne McMonagle back aboard, Scorthy Champ bided his time off the pace in the early stages. The 13-1 shot steadily crept into contention on the far side and soon pounced on pace factors Seagulls Eleven and Rock of Cashel.
By that point, Henri Matisse was rallying from last in the compact group. But the hitherto unbeaten favorite raced erratically, and in the process, barged into Seagulls Eleven. Henri Matisse regrouped to get closer to Scorthy Champ but never looked like passing him.
Scorthy Champ, three-quarters of a length on top at the wire, sparked a $29.40 payout.
Henri Matisse, who held the same margin over Seagulls Eleven, had to survive a stewards’ inquiry before his second-place effort was declared official.
Godolphin’s Aomori City failed to pick up in fourth, another 2 1/4 lengths adrift. The other Joseph O’Brien runner, Cowardofthecounty, was a non-threatening fifth, trailed by Rock of Cashel, Hill Road, and sometime leader The Parthenon.
Scorthy Champ is a full brother to Group 2 scorer Malavath, the close second in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, as well as to Group 3 winner Knight.
The Mehmas colt could entertain the Del Mar option, pending a possible tilt at the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) on Arc Day.
Other stakes action
Kyprios justified odds-on favoritism in the 1 3/4-mile Irish St Leger to add to his incalculable legacy. A Moyglare Stud homebred trained by Aidan O’Brien, the living legend stalked his pacemaker The Euphrates, put him away, and drew off by 2 1/4 lengths with regular pilot Ryan Moore.
Vauban was best of the rest. British shipper Giavellotto settled for third, and The Euphrates concluded the superfecta.
Kyprios first won this prize during his perfect 2022 campaign, when he also captured such marquee events as the Gold Cup (G1) at Royal Ascot, the Goodwood Cup (G1), and the Prix du Cadran (G1) by an astonishing 20 lengths. Sidelined for most of 2023 with a life-threatening infection, he beat the odds by making it back to the races at a high level.
The Galileo blueblood attempted to defend his crown here last year off the layoff, but understandably placed second in a comeback that he needed. Kyprios came up just a neck short in the British Champions Long Distance Cup (G2), and he hasn’t lost since.
Triumphant in his 2024 reappearance in the April 27 Vintage Crop S., the chestnut has also regained his trophies in the Levmoss (G3), Gold Cup, and Goodwood Cup. The Irish St Leger extended his winning streak to five and his overall mark to 17-13-2-0.
If his 2022 pattern holds, Kyprios would venture back to Paris for the Cadran. O’Brien left the door ajar for the Arc itself, but emphasized that they’ll take their cue from the star stayer.
Kyprios will reportedly remain in training for 2025, so there’s no urgency to experiment.
Sunday’s stakes action began with a $33.80 upset in the Blandford (G2) courtesy of the Aga Khan’s Hanalia, who went last to first under Shane Foley. The Johnny Murtagh filly just collared Ballydoyle’s front-running longshot Wingspan in the shadow of the post. Favored Purple Lily was another three-quarters of a length away in third.
Hanalia negotiated 1 1/4 miles in 2:05.38 to earn her first Group victory. The homebred daughter of Sea the Stars won the Naas Oaks Trial to warrant a crack at the Irish Oaks (G1), where she finished a creditable sixth. Hanalia went back down in trip for the Aug. 31 Snow Fairy Fillies (G3) and rattled home a strong second, setting herself up for the Blandford.
Murtagh is now looking at the Prix de l’Opera (G1) on Arc Day.
