Aidan O’Brien’s stable, Ballydoyle, announced through the Coolmore website on Wednesday that they will be fielding a quartet of runners at the Curragh for the upcoming Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby. The four horses are Los Angeles, Grosvenor Square, Euphoric, and The Euphrates, who are all expected to compete in the 1½ mile spectacle.
Last year saw a victory for the team, with Auguste Rodin achieving success under Ryan Moore, who is again slated to ride Los Angeles this year, aiming for consecutive victories. Declan McDonagh will team up with Euphoric, whilst Wayne Lordan and Dylan Browne McMonagle are booked in with Grosvenor Square and The Euphrates respectively.
However, Agenda and Chief Little Rock are likely to be withdrawn ahead of the declarations on Friday morning. O’Brien’s impressive array makes up half of the eight runner field. The remainder of the line-up consists of Keeper’s Heart from the Ger Lyons stable, Sunway trained by David Menuisier, Matsuri from Roger Varian’s team, and Ambiente Friendly, the ante-post favourite from James Fanshawe’s yard, following his strong second place position at Epsom behind City of Troy.
The two-year-old, Strikin Viking, is an exciting prospect for the Gain Railway Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday. The owners, Middleham Park Racing, have high hopes for this colt, named after the prolific Erling Haaland of Manchester City.
After an investment of 65,000 guineas, the racehorse was dispatched to trainer Kevin Ryan where he adjusted well prior to his victorious initiation at a maiden stakes in York earlier this month. It was on Tuesday that he was added to this Sunday’s race, in which he stands against four challengers from O’Brien stable, for a total competition of nine horses. Middleham Park Racing’s director Tim Palin asserts that the horse is set for a promotion to Pattern company due to his accomplished performance.
He added, “The colt is set for the Prix Robert Papin in Chantilly in July; a race like the Gimcrack is undeniably the ultimate aim. If he revisits Knavesmire to participate in that, let alone win, finishing within the top placements will indeed denote a distinct achievement. This will indeed be an essential learning journey for both him and us, we might end up disheartened or basking in glory. We are keen to find out, that’s the essence of why we are in this sport.”