Economics and Auguste Rodin star in Saturday showdown at Irish Champions Festival
Read what the trainers and jockeys are saying after declarations for day one at Leopardstown
Thursday, 12 September 2024
Exciting colt Economics is unbeaten in thee starts this year ahead of his run in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes
We all recognise how hard it is to come to Ireland and win and thatโs why it holds so much gravity in the racing world - Tom Marquand
Economics is seeking to dethrone Auguste Rodin in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes when the pair clash in a star-studded headliner at Leopardstown.
The field has been locked in at eight runners with long-time favourite Economics, trained by William Haggas, bidding for a first Group 1 triumph on day one of the Irish Champions Festival.
After cruising to victory in the Dubai Dante Stakes at York in May, he returned in the Group 2 Guillaume d'Ornano Stakes at Deauville last month and beat Jayarebe by two lengths.
But not since 2018 has a British-trained winner emerged in the showpiece race, when John Gosden’s Roaring Lion saw off Aidan O’Brien’s Saxon Warrior.
Each of the last five editions of the race have gone to Ballydoyle and the previous two winners feature this time in the form of Luxembourg and Auguste Rodin.
Defending champion Auguste Rodin is looking to follow stablemates Magical and Dylan Thomas in becoming only the third horse to land successive triumphs in the race.
Last season's dual Derby winner struck again in Group 1 company in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes but was off the pace in his last appearance when finishing fifth in the King George.
O’Brien makes up half of the runners in total, with Irish Derby winner Los Angeles and outsider Hans Andersen completing the home hopefuls.
Yoshito Yahagi's Shin Emperor brings an international dimension to proceedings in what will be his first run on foreign soil.
The three-year-old was last seen finishing third in his native Derby and will become the second Japanese horse to line up in the 1m2f Group 1 after Deirdre finished fourth in 2019.
In addition to Economics, there is British representation with Clive Cox’s Ghostwriter, who finished third behind City of Troy in the Juddmonte International Stakes, with the Karl Burke-trained Royal Rhyme, having finished sixth at York last month.
The declarations are also in for the Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes, with Donnacha O’Brien’s Porta Fortuna heading the betting.
Racing starts on Saturday at 1.10pm with the Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle Stakes, with the pair of Group 1s supplemented by two Group 2s, a Group 3 and three handicap races.
Day two of the Irish Champions Festival moves to the historic Curragh for the richest race day of the year, featuring the Comer Group International Irish St Leger, the final Irish Classic of the season.
William Haggas, trainer, Economics, Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes: “He’s done very well (out of Deauville), we were thrilled with the way he ran and thrilled with how he’s come out of it.
“He’s clearly a useful horse and we just wanted him to confirm that. It was an important race for us.
“I like the last half furlong where he went away from Jayarebe, I thought he did well, so I’m hoping we will do well. All the signs are good at the moment, his form is strong.
“I think a little bit of ease in the ground and he’ll enjoy it more."
Tom Marquand, jockey, Economics, Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes: “You can’t help but get excited by him. To come by one but to keep them right and get them into a big day like this is even tougher again.
"It’s important as a jockey to find good horses and it looks like I’ve found one again, so I’m rubbing my hands together and really looking forward to it. It’s the sort of race that gets your blood pumping.
“There was a level of anticipation and excitement ahead of his comeback run in Deauville, people want to see good horses and when a horse does what he did at York, it catches people’s eye and they want to follow those horses down their career path.
"I’m sure there were some people doubting what he did at York but no one walked away from France doubting what he could do.
“I thought he showed the speed he has in his locker at Deauville, it’s a tight-turning track and I was never concerned that we weren’t going to get to Jayarebe, which is pretty remarkable watching it back.
"It probably watched a bit scarier than it rode because he never gave me a stride of doubt, that’s a testament to the feeling he gave me and going round Leopardstown will be an exciting day for us.
“Ireland is the proverbial home of horse racing and you’ve got some of the best horses based over there. We all recognise how hard it is to come to Ireland and win and that’s why it holds so much gravity in the racing world. You need a very good horse to do that and that’s why it’s so hard to compete.”
Karl Burke, trainer, Fallen Angel, Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes: “Hopefully her freshness is an advantage, it’s not always though. I’m a great believer in keeping them rolling. This was an enforced break but sometimes we think giving them a break is a positive, but you don’t see too many Olympic athletes having three or four weeks holiday, they keep at it all the way through and I think that’s the same with race horses.
“I wouldn’t run her on firm ground, particularly after the little injury she had, that was due to a concussion injury and I think good or good to soft ground would be perfect for her.
“We were a bit disappointed with the run in the (English) Guineas but I think that was to do with the undulations of the track, I think the Curragh suited her really well and I think Leopardstown will suit her just as well.”
Marco Botti, trainer, Giavellotto, Comer Group International Irish St Leger: “We’ve found his best form is over a mile and six, so it’s a race we considered last year but due to the owners decision we ended up running at York instead of the Irish St Leger but it’s a race we targeted early in the season.
“We like to travel the horses and Giavellotto in particular has been to Saudi, Dubai and one good thing is that travelling is not an issue with him. We love to take on Mr O’Brien.”
Oisin Murphy, jockey, Giavellotto, Comer Group International Irish St Leger: “The Irish St Leger is a prestigious race and Giavellotto has had the perfect preparation. He won a Group 2 over a mile and a half with a penalty on fast ground last time, he’s been trained all along with this in mind since he won at York and we’re delighted with him.”
Archie Watson, trainer, Bradsell, Flying Five Stakes: “The win at York was as good as any performance he’s put in along with his King Stand win last year.
“The Flying Five was a strange race last year with him, Art Power and Highfield Princess all disappointing, so I wouldn’t be quick to blame that entirely on the ground.”
The field has been locked in at eight runners with long-time favourite Economics, trained by William Haggas, bidding for a first Group 1 triumph on day one of the Irish Champions Festival.
After cruising to victory in the Dubai Dante Stakes at York in May, he returned in the Group 2 Guillaume d'Ornano Stakes at Deauville last month and beat Jayarebe by two lengths.
But not since 2018 has a British-trained winner emerged in the showpiece race, when John Gosden’s Roaring Lion saw off Aidan O’Brien’s Saxon Warrior.
Each of the last five editions of the race have gone to Ballydoyle and the previous two winners feature this time in the form of Luxembourg and Auguste Rodin.
John Gosden knows how to win an Irish Champion Stakes, or two, or ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐... ๐๐ช#ICF | @LeopardstownRC | @HRIRacing pic.twitter.com/hHKG4gMiOB
— World Horse Racing (@WHR) September 11, 2024
Defending champion Auguste Rodin is looking to follow stablemates Magical and Dylan Thomas in becoming only the third horse to land successive triumphs in the race.
Last season's dual Derby winner struck again in Group 1 company in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes but was off the pace in his last appearance when finishing fifth in the King George.
O’Brien makes up half of the runners in total, with Irish Derby winner Los Angeles and outsider Hans Andersen completing the home hopefuls.
Yoshito Yahagi's Shin Emperor brings an international dimension to proceedings in what will be his first run on foreign soil.
Shin Emperor ๐ฅฐ
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) September 8, 2024
We can't wait to see Yoshito Yahagi's Japanese raider at @LeopardstownRC for the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes next weekend!#EveryRacingMoment | #ใทใณใจใณใใฉใผ pic.twitter.com/hGqjwGXfmm
The three-year-old was last seen finishing third in his native Derby and will become the second Japanese horse to line up in the 1m2f Group 1 after Deirdre finished fourth in 2019.
In addition to Economics, there is British representation with Clive Cox’s Ghostwriter, who finished third behind City of Troy in the Juddmonte International Stakes, with the Karl Burke-trained Royal Rhyme, having finished sixth at York last month.
The declarations are also in for the Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes, with Donnacha O’Brien’s Porta Fortuna heading the betting.
Racing starts on Saturday at 1.10pm with the Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle Stakes, with the pair of Group 1s supplemented by two Group 2s, a Group 3 and three handicap races.
Day two of the Irish Champions Festival moves to the historic Curragh for the richest race day of the year, featuring the Comer Group International Irish St Leger, the final Irish Classic of the season.
What the owners and trainers are saying ahead of Irish Champions Festival:Get ready for Day 1 of #IrishChampionsFestival at @leopardstownrc ๐ฎ๐ช
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) September 10, 2024
With 5๏ธโฃ Group races, including The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes. Past legends like Dylan Thomas and Sea The Stars have made history here – will you be there for the next? ๐ซต #ItAllComesDownToThis pic.twitter.com/af9J0owewz
William Haggas, trainer, Economics, Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes: “He’s done very well (out of Deauville), we were thrilled with the way he ran and thrilled with how he’s come out of it.
“He’s clearly a useful horse and we just wanted him to confirm that. It was an important race for us.
“I like the last half furlong where he went away from Jayarebe, I thought he did well, so I’m hoping we will do well. All the signs are good at the moment, his form is strong.
“I think a little bit of ease in the ground and he’ll enjoy it more."
Tom Marquand, jockey, Economics, Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes: “You can’t help but get excited by him. To come by one but to keep them right and get them into a big day like this is even tougher again.
"It’s important as a jockey to find good horses and it looks like I’ve found one again, so I’m rubbing my hands together and really looking forward to it. It’s the sort of race that gets your blood pumping.
“There was a level of anticipation and excitement ahead of his comeback run in Deauville, people want to see good horses and when a horse does what he did at York, it catches people’s eye and they want to follow those horses down their career path.
"I’m sure there were some people doubting what he did at York but no one walked away from France doubting what he could do.
“I thought he showed the speed he has in his locker at Deauville, it’s a tight-turning track and I was never concerned that we weren’t going to get to Jayarebe, which is pretty remarkable watching it back.
"It probably watched a bit scarier than it rode because he never gave me a stride of doubt, that’s a testament to the feeling he gave me and going round Leopardstown will be an exciting day for us.
“Ireland is the proverbial home of horse racing and you’ve got some of the best horses based over there. We all recognise how hard it is to come to Ireland and win and that’s why it holds so much gravity in the racing world. You need a very good horse to do that and that’s why it’s so hard to compete.”
Karl Burke, trainer, Fallen Angel, Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes: “Hopefully her freshness is an advantage, it’s not always though. I’m a great believer in keeping them rolling. This was an enforced break but sometimes we think giving them a break is a positive, but you don’t see too many Olympic athletes having three or four weeks holiday, they keep at it all the way through and I think that’s the same with race horses.
“I wouldn’t run her on firm ground, particularly after the little injury she had, that was due to a concussion injury and I think good or good to soft ground would be perfect for her.
Day 2 of #IrishChampionsFestival moves to the iconic @curraghrace โ๏ธ
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) September 10, 2024
Featuring 4โฃ G1 races with over €2.5 million in prize money, including the legendary Comer Group International Irish St Leger – the final Irish Classic of the season.
Witness history in the making! ๐ pic.twitter.com/CUSJIybnqQ
“We were a bit disappointed with the run in the (English) Guineas but I think that was to do with the undulations of the track, I think the Curragh suited her really well and I think Leopardstown will suit her just as well.”
Marco Botti, trainer, Giavellotto, Comer Group International Irish St Leger: “We’ve found his best form is over a mile and six, so it’s a race we considered last year but due to the owners decision we ended up running at York instead of the Irish St Leger but it’s a race we targeted early in the season.
“We like to travel the horses and Giavellotto in particular has been to Saudi, Dubai and one good thing is that travelling is not an issue with him. We love to take on Mr O’Brien.”
Oisin Murphy, jockey, Giavellotto, Comer Group International Irish St Leger: “The Irish St Leger is a prestigious race and Giavellotto has had the perfect preparation. He won a Group 2 over a mile and a half with a penalty on fast ground last time, he’s been trained all along with this in mind since he won at York and we’re delighted with him.”
Archie Watson, trainer, Bradsell, Flying Five Stakes: “The win at York was as good as any performance he’s put in along with his King Stand win last year.
“The Flying Five was a strange race last year with him, Art Power and Highfield Princess all disappointing, so I wouldn’t be quick to blame that entirely on the ground.”