Racing festival was just champion

THE Irish Champions Festival was held across two courses—Leopardstown and The Curragh—over the weekend of September 12 and 13, and Saturday’s big race at Leopardstown, the Group One Champion Stakes, was won by the 50/1 outsider of the eight runner field.

Hotazhell (above), trained by Jessica Harrington and ridden by Shane Foley, just held off the equally fast finishing Wimbledon Hawkeye in a thrilling photo-finish to the €725,000 contest. The official winning distance was given as a nose, the shortest available, but the photo made it look even closer than that.

For Jessie—Ireland’s first lady of racing—it was her first success in the race, somewhat of a surprise given the glittering career she has had over the last 40 years. When asked what the win meant afterwards her typically understated response was: “It’s fantastic to get this on the CV.” That CV includes first prizes in pretty much every big race there is on either side of the Irish Sea, in both National Hunt and Flat Racing.

There was another maiden win for the girls, with the 250th running of the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster being won for the first time by a female jockey.

Saffie Osborne riding the 11/1 chance Highwayman prevailed by two and half lengths over the well backed Enceladus, giving trainer Joseph O’Brien a well deserved one-two in the race. By taking first place in the oldest Classic there is, Saffie became not only the first female to win the race, but the first to win any British Classic full stop. A remarkable achievement, ‘life-changing’ according to Saffie.

For Joseph, it was his second success in the race after Galileo Chrome in the 2020 renewal and his third Classic of the season after triumphs in both British and Irish Oaks earlier in the summer.

The second day of the Champions Festival saw four Group One events contested at The Curragh and it was a real family affair as far as the winners were concerned. The family was, of course, the O’Briens. Dad Aidan recorded two victories and sons Joseph and Donnacha taking one apiece.

The much-fancied Sun Goddess kicked things off for Aidan with a facile success in the 7f Moyglare Stud Stakes. Ryan Moore in the saddle always had her in a handy position and once he asked the filly for her effort the race was put to bed easily. She is already being quoted at 3/1 for next year’s 1000 Guineas. If she gets there fit and healthy it will take a good one to stop her based on the evidence of her last four races—all victories.

Judging by his highly impressive six length victory in the National Stakes, Folsom Blues (11/2) may well be another two-year-old to stay on the right side of next year if his sights are set on the highest targets.

Trained by Joseph O’Brien and ridden by Joey Sheridan he produced a breathtaking performance to claim the €240,000 first prize. Settled near the rear, he travelled smoothly through the field to take third spot with 2f to go. Sheridan, not wanting to play his hand too soon, waited until just after the 1f pole before pressing the button, when he did the race was over in a matter of strides. The Blue Point colt showed an incredible turn of foot, racing away with the rest trailing in his wake.

Most bookmakers make him, at best, a 10/1—from 33/1 prior—chance for the 2027 2000 Guineas however he is likely to be engaged in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket next before potentially tackling a race at The Breeders’ Cup at the end of October.