A very competitive eight races on the card at the Curragh on Sunday. The features being the Renaissance Stakes (Group 3), Darley Fillies Stakes (Group 3) and Irish Cesarewitch. We have a selection in each of the eight races on the card.
Curragh Tips
- 13:25 Hmas Perth
- 14:00 Cluster
- 14:35 Big Gossey
- 15:10 Otsana
- 15.45 Curracloe
- 16:20 Granite Bay
- 16:55 Romance
- 17:30 Sherekiya
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13:25 7f. Flat Maiden 2-y-o
Aidan O’Brien has his two-year-olds in top form this weekend and HMAS PERTH will look to step up on its second last time out behind Al Jabbar at Doncaster. The form received a boost on Saturday when the third Game Character won at Haydock. Hmas Perth went clear with Al Jabbar last time and was slightly inconvenienced close home to be beaten a head. Normal improvement will see him in contention here.
Selection: Hmas Perth
14:00 1m. 1f. Flat Maiden 2-y-o
There isn’t much on form between CLUSTER and Kingdom Of Camelot from the run behind Darkness Falls last time where they finished third and fourth respectively. The preference is for the Juddmonte owned runner who was seventh a furlong down and kept on well in the closing stages to go third close home.
He should improve over time and should be much sharper this time around.
Selection: Cluster
14:35 6f Qatar Racing And Equestrian Club Renaissance Stakes (Group 3) (3yo+)
Course form could be key and BIG GOSSEY is a five-time course and distance winner who ran a solid race when tenth in the BAR 1 Betting Flying Five Stakes (Group 1) last time out. He finished down the field in this race last year but was second in the race in 2024 behind My Mate Alfie and second in the race in 2023 to Go Athletico. While he might be vulnerable to something improving past him, he should still run a solid race.
Selection: Big Gossey
15:10 6f. Flat Maiden 3-y-o plus
Paddy Twomey and Billy Lee are a potent combination and we seen that on Saturday when they landed the Goffs Million with Trean. OTSANA will be the runner for them here and this filly caught the eye when third last time out. The tongue strap will be applied for the first time and that may help her see out her race. She is getting the hang of things after her opening two runs, and it could be third time lucky for her on Sunday.
Selection: Otsana
15:45 7f Darley Fillies Stakes (Group 3)
The Qatar racing colours will be carried by CURRACLOE for Johnny Murtagh and ben Coen and while this filly was a big price on her debut, she created a very good impression when winning at Gowran Park. Connections obviously think plenty of her to pitch her into Group Three company on second start. The quotes after the race last time out suggested that they do; “She has a great temperament and has been working well at home; I’d say she’s well above average to win first time out for one of ours”.
Selection: Curracloe
16:20 2m1f (2m170y) Friends Of The Curragh Irish Cesarewitch (Premier Handicap)
Reese Holohan has had a good time of it of late winning on Krasimir for Ger Lyons at Leopardstown over Irish Champions Festival and then a nice winner on Saturday with Red Evolution for trainer Michael O’Callaghan. He will take the mount here on GRANITE BAY for Jarlath Fahey and this horse ran a lovely prep for this at Chester last time out. There should be a little rain around on Sunday morning and if that gets into the ground it should help his chance.
The cheekpieces go on for the first time and the way he travelled last time suggest they may help him concentrate a little more. With luck in running, he will be hard to keep out of the frame.
Selection: Granite Bay
16:55 7f. Flat Hcap 2-y-o
The penultimate race on the card looks a very competitive affair and a chance is taken on ROMANCE adding to the run at Listowel when she was second earlier in the week. She will get to run off the same mark for Josh Halley and Andy Slattery, and she travelled nicely throughout at Listowel. There looks to be plenty of pace on here and if she can get a toe into it, she will be staying on strongly close home.
Selection: Romance
17:30 1m. 2f. Flat Hcap 3-y-o plus
Dermot Weld and Finian Maguire team up in the last with SHEREKIYA and if she can come back to the form she showed here on the 16th of August then she should go very close. She was beaten a neck and a nose in a driving finish and then finished 8th at Cork before unseating and running loose at Gowran last time. She was withdrawn so will hopefully be on her best behaviour this time around.
Her form is quite solid and if she comes back to her best she should be involved.
Selection: Sherekiya
Curragh Tips
- 13:25 Hmas Perth
- 14:00 Cluster
- 14:35 Big Gossey
- 15:10 Otsana
- 15.45 Curracloe
- 16:20 Granite Bay
- 16:55 Romance
- 17:30 Sherekiya
