The huge prize fund on offer for September’s Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown and the Curragh has attracted great overseas interest.
Connections of Al Kazeem, who registered his first win in a Group 3 contest at Windsor last week since his return to racing, are eyeing the €1 million Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown as his next possible outing. He finished second to The Fugue in the event last year.
Horse Racing Ireland yesterday revealed that the premier handicap entries for Irish Champions Weekend are almost double the 2013 level.
Al Kazeem’s trainer Roger Charlton said: “There are no group races over nine or 10 furlongs in Britain during September so we have not ruled out the idea of returning to Leopardstown to run in the Irish Champion Stakes. After the Windsor race, I had it in my mind that the Irish Champion Stakes was only 14 days away but it is in fact three weeks and it will at least help bring Al Kazeem forward another notch.
“Interestingly the BHA handicapper has dropped him 6lb to a rating of 117. He clearly needs to improve again to have any chance of adding to his three Group 1s but it is not impossible and we like a challenge.”
A total of 193 entries have been received for the four premier handicaps over Irish Champions Weekend - a figure well up on previous years. Corresponding races in 2013 attracted 100 entries while 36 entries have been received from Britain and one from France.
Some 51 horses have been entered for the Irish Stallions Farms EBF `Petingo’ Handicap at Leopardstown on the Saturday, seven of which are trained in Britain. Havana Cooler from Luca Cumani and Mark Johnston’s Swivel look strong contenders while Panama Hat, Bayan, Winter Lion, Artful Artist and Stocktons Wing head the home defence.
Some 48 horses have been entered for Leopardstown’s Irish Stallion Farms EBF `Sovereign Path’ Handicap including six from Britain, Almargo and Rene Mathis who finished first and second at Goodwood.
Meanwhile 18 of the 43 entries in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF `Bold Lad’ Sprint Handicap over six furlongs at the Curragh on Sunday are trained in Britain. Line Of Reason won the Paddy Power Scurry at the Curragh for Paul Midgley while Out Do won the historic St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon for David O’Meara.
Kool Kompany set to light up sales ring
LEADING juvenile Kool Kompany is set to take centre stage at Doncaster sales with an expected reserve of £1 million.
The son of Jeremy goes under the hammer at Doncaster’s Horses in Training sale next Thursday as Lot 305A.
The Richard Hannon-trained colt has scored five times from eight starts for owners Middleham Park Racing, winning twice at Group 2 level in the Railway Stakes at the Curragh and the Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte.
He was beaten by the Aidan O’Brien-trained Dick Whittington in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes on his return to Ireland earlier this month and finished sixth in York last week.
Middleham Park racing manager Tim Palin said that if he doesn’t reach his reserve, the colt’s next outing will be the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury on September 20th.
Kool Kompany and The Wow Signal are currently neck and neck in the juvenile colt standings for the Cartier Awards at 48 points each with Dick Whittington in third on 40 points. In the sprinter category, Eddie Lynam’s Sole Power and Slade Power lead on 72 points each in a wide margin from Stepper Point in third on 34.
Kingman remains on target for the Horse of the Year title on 208 points with Aidan O’Brien’s Australia currently lies second on 140 points and French star Cirrus Des Aigles in third on 124.