TRUE racing fans will be smiling at the thought that the new turf flat season is just days away.
Will we see another Poetic Flare in a two-year-old maiden? Is there a future classic winner lurking in an early-season three-year-old race? Which jockeys have switched stables, and which trainers have their horses ready to roll?
The 2022 narrative opens at the Curragh on Saturday, the first meeting with new CEO Brian Kavanagh at the helm. Big news at the Curragh this year is that there will be a significant increase in cumulative prize money across its 23 racedays, plus an enhanced raceday experience for owners with runners!
The feature of the Curragh’s eight-race card is the Group 3 Lodge Park Stud Park Express Stakes, which has been won in the past by the likes of Alexander Goldrun (2004) and Lolly For Dolly (2011) and was claimed last year by Epona Plays for local trainer Willie McCreery and jockey Wayne Lordan.
McCreery could be represented by Group 2 Kilboy Estate Stakes winner Insinuendo, but it is 1000 Guineas and Prix Rothschild heroine Mother Earth who heads the entries, and she is one of three potential runners for champion trainer Aidan O’Brien.
The Paddy Twomey-conditioned Limiti Di Greccio could be an interesting contender, as a progressive filly who signed off her juvenile campaign with triumph in the Listed Staffordstown Stakes at this venue last October.
The Paddy Power Irish Lincolnshire is invariably a most exciting contest, with anything up to 24 runners hurtling down the finishing stretch in the mile-contest and €100,000 in prize money on offer for the season’s first premier handicap, the largest chunk of which was garnered last year by the Noel Meade-trained Layfayette, who was ridden by Chris Hayes.
Thanks to the Curragh’s ongoing partnership with Cavalor Equine Nutrition, the connections of all winning horses will receive an equine wellness hamper.
Moyglare Stud will continue to sponsor the stable staff canteen, ensuring that the men and women who care for the horses and are working on the day can enjoy a complimentary meal.
Naas hosts a very competitive and lucrative eight-race programme that invariably entices early bloomers, with the Listed €40,000 Plusvital Devoy Stakes the anchor contest for older horses, run over 10 furlongs. There is also the historic Madrid Handicap, first run in 1813, and Compas Stallions is sponsoring four races.
The grooms’ canteen at Naas is being subsidised this year by scientifically driven equine company ARKequine. Over the course of the year, the feed and supplements business will also sponsor flat and National Hunt races at the track.
Also sponsoring at Naas this year are Compas Stallions, Plusvital, Anglesly Lodge, Naas Racecourse Business Club, Irish EBF, Irish Racing Writers, CW Clothing, Coolmore, Goffs, Tote, Power family, Owenstown Stud, Ascot, Laceys Heating & Plumbing, ARKequine, Arqana, Yeomanstown Stud, John Barrett Bloodstock, O’Neill & Co, Ballyhane Stud, Weatherbys Ireland, Paragon Bloodstock, Forenaghts Stud, Care At Home, Equisoftlive, Gain, P & T Stapleton, Tally-Ho Stud and Colm White Bookmaker.
The Curragh has seen a major increase in support from betting partners Hollywoodbets and William Hill.
Among new sponsors at Headquarters are Alkumait at Castlefield Stud, Arioneo, AK Bets, Barberstown Castle, Newtown Anner Stud, Sheehy Motors Skoda and John Ormonde Wexford Sand.
FBD Hotels and Resorts, Hanlon Concrete and Westgrove Hotel all return as sponsors this year following an absence. Exclusive partnerships will include Diageo, Taittinger Champagne and Lavazza Coffee.
A KEY element to next weekend’s flat season opener is providing visitors with insight as to what is involved on racedays.
At the Curragh, included in the entertainment will be a variety of parade ring chats and previews with leading trainers and jockeys as they look forward to the season, together with a number of very special guests.
At Naas, multiple classic-winning jockey Chris Hayes will join clerk of the course, Brendan Sheridan and general manager Eamonn McEvoy to take anyone interested on a walk of the track that is certain to be enlightening.
To register your interest for this unique opportunity, which is available free of charge and starts at 10.30am, mail goracing@naasracecourse.com
At 12.15pm on Sunday, Hayes will participate in The People Behind The Moment panel discussion in the Marquee, along with local trainer Ross O’Sullivan, breeder Micheal Orlandi of Compas Stallions, who sponsor four races on the card, Johnny Bourke of Syndicates.Racing and Heather Downey, representing the event sponsors Equuip.
Throughout the day, jockeys will mingle and perform meet-and-greets particularly with children, as well as handing out goodie bags. The younger generation will be catered for too, in the form of a magic show at 2pm, while face painting is available from 1pm-3pm. Naas also has an on-site crèche.
The Curragh is introducing a free shuttle bus service from Newbridge, picking up at the train station and outside Whitewater (opposite Judge Roy Beans), and from Kildare, picking up at the train station and in the Square at the bus stop. This initiative is sponsored by Manguard Plus.
Expressway will introduce a new direct bus return service from Dublin to the Curragh on racedays. Leaving Busaras, calling at Temple Bar (Wellington Quay), Heuston Station and Red Cow (Luas). To reserve your place see expressway.ie. The return fare is €25, under 16s €18. Naas Racecourse is providing free shuttle runs from Sallins train station and Naas town before and after racing. The admission fee at the Curragh is €20 (€15 early bird offer at curragh.ie). Under 18s are free when accompanied by a paying adult. Tickets are €15 for seniors and under 25s.
All gate and racecard takings at Naas on Sunday will be donated to the Irish Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal. It’s €15 for general admission. A family pass (two adults with children) is €25, while seniors can go racing for just €9.
Brian Kavanagh, CEO of the Curragh, said: “The decision to jointly launch this year’s flat season is a really positive initiative with both tracks working together with one common goal to promote, market and highlight what promises to be a very exciting season.”
Naas Racecourse’s Eamonn McEvoy added: “The purpose of the weekend is to celebrate the flat season and also give racegoers a further insight into the industry.”
THE Curragh will offer significant increases to prize money across many races this season, working closely with race sponsors and Horse Racing Ireland.
These include a major boost this year across some of the track’s 11 Group 1 races, including record prize money for the Tattersalls Irish 1000 and 2000 Guineas, Juddmonte Irish Oaks – which will be run for €500,000 – while prize money for the Tattersalls Gold Cup will increase to €400,000.
The Curragh will again stage a series of very high-profile and very valuable premier handicaps throughout the season. A new €150,000 premier handicap over one mile, sponsored by William Hill, will feature on day one of the new three-day Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival, while the Paddy Power Irish Lincolnshire, Paddy Power Rockingham Handicap and Paddy Power Scurry will all offer €100,000 in total prize money.
Group 1 race values for 2022
Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby €1 million
Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas €500,000
Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas €500,000
Juddmonte Irish Oaks €500,000
Comer Group International Irish St Leger €500,000
Tattersalls Gold Cup €400,000
Moyglare Stud Stakes €400,000
Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes €400,000
Flying Five €400,000
Keeneland Phoenix Stakes €300,000
Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly Stakes €300,000
THE return of the Goffs Million will be a huge event for the Curragh on Saturday, September 24th and there will be a major announcement shortly relating to the feature race on Sunday, September 25th.
There will also shortly be positive news on new enhancements to both the Ladies Derby, Apprentice Derby and Horseware Student Derby which took place for the first time in 2021 featuring riders from colleges and universities in Ireland and Britain.
Naas is staging some serious two-year-old racing this year. There is the €300,000 Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes – one of the most valuable juvenile races of the season – on the August bank holiday. This is the third running of the race which is confined to EBF-eligible two-year-olds with a sire’s median price of no more than €75,000 from last year’s yearling sales.
On September 15th, Naas hosts the first running of the €100,000 Goffs Sportsman’s Challenge. This six-furlong race, restricted to graduates of the Sportsman’s Sale, will offer prize money to 10th place.
The Royal Ascot Trials Day & Ladies Day at Naas in mid-May is well-established and features the Group 3 Goffs Lacken Stakes. Another addition to the Naas calendar this year is the Group 3 Ballyogan Stakes, which will be run on Sunday, August 21st.
Given the energy of the Naas team, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see one or two of these Group 3 races elevated in status in the years to come.
Returning to the Curragh, every winner there this season will receive a special gift from Cavalor, one of the world’s leading producers of nutritional and care products for performance horses.
Claire Merrick of Cavalor said: “We are really proud to work with the Curragh as a nutritional partner and to support the horses, trainers and grooms in achieving the best results.”