Boost for Galway prize money

THERE will be a record €2 million on offer at this year’s Galway Festival, up €123,000 on last year. The feature race on all seven days will offer a minimum prize fund of €100,000. The Galway Plate purse has been boosted by €30,000 to €250,000 and the Hurdle remains at €300,000.

Horse Racing Ireland’s director of racing Jason Morris said: “HRI is pleased to be supporting the Galway Festival with an increased prize money contribution to match the additional race sponsorship that the racecourse has been able to attract.”

LICW juvenile entries close

ENTRIES for the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh have risen by 12 to 102. The race is one of three Group 1 races on Sunday, September 10th, day two of the Longines Irish Champions Weekend. There are 68 entries (down from 75) for the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes on the same card.

Enable goes for Oaks double

ENABLE will attempt to become a dual classic winner in the Darley Irish Oaks next month. The John Gosden-trained daughter of Nathaniel is being readied to follow up her victory in the Oaks at Epsom last Friday at the Curragh on July 15th.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner Khalid Abdullah, said: “She has come out of the race really well, John Gosden is very pleased with her and she looks in good form. We will look towards the Irish Oaks now.”

Railway Stakes aim for Beckford

BECKFORD, the Gordon Elliott-trained two-year-old winner whose form has been franked multiple times, is being aimed at the Group 2 Gain Railway Stakes at the Curragh on Irish Derby day, Saturday, July 1st.

Confirming Gain’s sponsorship of the six-furlong race, Joanne Hurley of Gain Equine Nutrition said: “This reinforces our commitment to both the racing and bloodstock industries, while supporting our customers and the industry at large.”