Latest news with #InvincibleSpirit
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Expect a Red Letter day in Killarney
Day three of Killarney's July festival is also the last of the week's Flat action at the Kerry venue, and the feature race is the listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cairn Rouge Stakes, which can go the way of the Ger Lyons-trained Red Letter. A high-class sort at two, she made her return to action in the Newmarket 1000 Guineas and ran a fine race to finish seventh, beaten less than three lengths, behind Desert Flower. On the back of that, she was sent off favourite to get back to winning ways in a listed race at Navan but, after being ridden confidently from off the pace, she was unable to get by the sticky Barnavara, who made all and got first run. Clear of the remainder that day, it was a good effort and she can bounce back with victory here before making her way back up the grading ladder. Fiery Lucy has decent claims, but a more appealing each-way alternative is Wannabe Royal. Joseph O'Brien's filly has proven form with cut in the ground and while she has something to find with the main players on their official ratings, the conditions can bring them much closer together. The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, for three-year-olds and older, is a fascinating race, but there was a lot to be taken from the opening effort of Hellorhighwater, and he can land the spoils for Gavin Cromwell and Robert Whearty. Unraced at two, he made his debut last month in Limerick and finished runner-up to the cleverly ridden Valorous Power. Tucked in just a little behind the pace, he emerged as the sole threat to the winner in the straight but showed his inexperience as he hung in towards the rails initially. When the penny dropped, he picked up really nicely and was doing his best work in the shadow of the post. He is a really nice prospect and, with anticipated progress, he should take plenty of beating in this race. Jousting is bound to be popular in the betting, but he will need to see out his race much better than he did on debut if he is to make the step forward to winning a maiden. The consistent Chester Nimitz has some place claims, but it would be noteworthy if money came for Michael O'Callaghan's newcomer, Adieu Spirit, an Invincible Spirit colt who went from being a 28,000 Guineas yearling to a 180,000 two-year-old. Still She Blooms deserves a breakthrough victory and can get it, at the twelfth time of asking, in the Rose Hotel Handicap. Last time out, in a nine-furlong race on soft ground at Leopardstown, she attempted to make all but was unlucky to be run down dep inside the final furlong by Deuteronomy. In similar conditions, well drawn and, ideally, back one furlong, to a mile, Chris Timmons' filly can finally have her day.
The Sun
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
I'm confident my big Saturday bet is easily the best horse in the race – and he can help land us a 23-1 double
HAS the class of Notable Speech and More Thunder fooled some over their optimum trip? I think so. Ability over distance is a juggling act punters face in many races. 1 What do I mean by that? Well in an extreme example let's take Frankel – arguably the world's best ever Flat horse – who clearly would have beaten a 70-rated handicap over 2m and a 70-rated sprinter over 5f. Yet Frankel, from the evidence we have, was best at 1m and 1m2f. His class was just something else. Notable Speech has only ever raced over a mile in his ten starts. His victories include the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and his defeats include a fine third in the Breeders' Cup Mile. But if the Charlie Appleby-trained runner had failed in the Guineas he might well have gone sprinting as a three-year-old. On Saturday he finally does that in the Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai July Cup over 6f. It was clearly a late decision, as he was supplemented at a cost of £36,000. But I suspect it will prove inspired. Notable Speech's pedigree suggests speed is what he is all about. His broodmare sire Invincible Spirit won the Haydock Park Sprint. He also has Pivotal in the mix, and he gets fast horses. Lots of milers have done well in the July Cup. Landseer was fourth in the 2002 renewal after landing a French 2000 Guineas, while Alcohol Free banged in the Sussex Stakes and Coronation before taking the 2022 July Cup. Further back remember Chief Singer and Green Desert? They were both placed in 2,000 Guineas and won this very same big sprint. Ajdal landed the July Cup after running in the Derby and Royal Academy took this prize before a thrilling success in the Breeders' Cup Mile. Dream Ahead went from the St James's Palace Stakes to this event having finished fifth at Ascot. Notable Speech was actually seventh in that last year and fourth in the Queen Anne in June. The trip will be no excuse for Notable Speech and his draw looks good. I'm confident he's easily the best horse. Opposition in a big field includes Wathnan improver Flora Of Bermuda – third to owner companion Lazzat in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Royal Ascot – and Whistlejacket, sixth in the Commonwealth Cup but a fine juvenile for Aidan O'Brien and a horse who has been backed down from much bigger prices. He won the July Stakes over course and distance last season but that was on good to soft. Inisherin has the ability to run a big one but was only fifth this time last year when the 11-8 favourite. Believing was poor at Royal Ascot from a bad draw, while Jasour might be the best of the outsiders. It's a marathon on ITV Racing on Saturday, with no fewer than 12 races being shown. It will be hard to keep up. More Thunder is back out for William Haggas in the bet365 Bunbury Cup over 7f after an unlucky second in the Wokingham over 6f at Royal Ascot. That performance came on the back of two Newmarket successes oved 6f. Tom Marquand described the Ascot defeat as 'disgusting', but like Notable Speech it might just be those 6f victories came from class. Sir Michael Stoute ran this boy up to and extended 1m2f last season and he won his novice over 1m2f. Seven furlongs in the Bunbury Cup should be no issue and it's easy to argue he's been crying out for a little further. Who is to say he's not a Group horse masquerading as a handicapper and doesn't end up in something like the Group 1 Foret at the end of the season? If he is then he's chucked in here off 98. There is top class racing at York and Ascot too. At York I'm hoping for a good spin from See That Storm in the John Smith's Cup Handicap over an extended 1m2f. My selection goes for Ed Bethell and Callum Rodriguez and is lightly raced after just nine starts at the age of four. He has a reasonable draw and upped to a mark of 95 - the same here - finished second to Burrito over a little bit further at this track last time. This distance looks ideal and there is no reason why he won't be in the mix again - he has thrived since going to Bethell from the Andrew Balding yard. A notable Saturday. Let's hope it's one to shout about let alone give a good speech! Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
Irish Examiner
04-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
National Stud reports €1.8m loss as star stallion Invincible Spirit retires
The Irish National Stud last year recorded pre-tax losses of €1.8m as it continued to count the cost of declining income generated by star horse, Invincible Spirit. New accounts show that revenues at Irish National Stud DAC last year remained static at €7m. The pre-tax losses of €1.8m last year followed €1.82m pre-tax losses in 2023. In his report, chair of the Irish National Stud DAC, Dan Flinter states "2024 has been a year of modest operational and net gains from last year, as we continue our transition through the inevitable decline in income arising from Invincible Spirit'. Mr Flinter states that 'in 2017 he was responsible for approximately 70% of the entire company's revenue. As recently as 2020 this was 40%. In 2024, Invincible Spirit was responsible for less than 2% of income. He was retired from stud duty at the end of 2024 thus closing the chapter on his remarkable stud career." 'Our greatest challenge remains the development of stallion income to replace Invincible Spirit. Progress has been made but the reality is that investments in stallions are for the long term and take time to bear fruit," said Mr Flinter. Mr Flinter further states that Phoenix of Spain, in his fifth season at stud was one of the most popular stallions in Ireland, covering 217 mares. He adds that income 'from the sale of bloodstock increased significantly in 2024 welcoming 31 foals owned by the stud and syndicate partners. These included foals by proven sires Invincible Spirit, Siyouni, Dark Angel, Showcasing, and Phoenix of Spain. Mr Flinter states that 'Our highest priced yearling was a Night of Thunder filly out of Sea Mona which sold for €640,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale. Our foals sold well with the highlight being a Siyouni colt out of Dubious Affair selling for €110,000'. The National Stud DAC recorded stud and farm revenues of €4.4m and tourism revenues of €2.57m, with 144,000 visitors which was down on the 152,000 in 2023. Numbers employed reduced from 79 to 74 as staff costs increased marginally from €2.95m to €3m. The pay package for ceo, Cathal Beale last year totalled €152,408 that included salary and other short term benefits of €124,908. In 2024, Mr Beale signed a three year extension to his contract.
Leader Live
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Ghostwriter booked for Saratoga assignment
The son of Invincible Spirit ran with credit in the Middle East in the spring, finishing fourth in the Dubai Turf in his first race outside of Europe and having again performed admirably when stepped up in trip for the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, Cox is now keen to head Stateside on August 9. Cox said: 'Ascot was a solid run which opens up more possibilities now going a mile and a half. At the moment we intend to take him to America at the beginning of August – that race is very much on the agenda and we're looking forward to making plans for that. 'He relished the travelling when we took him to Dubai in the spring and I'm hoping we can travel with a little bit of confidence this time and it seems a very logical and sensible plan.' Ghostwriter was subject of plenty of headlines prior to his run at Royal Ascot having been bought for £2million on the eve of the summer highlight by Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing operation. In the race itself, he found just Charlie Appleby's globetrotting Rebel's Romance and Joseph O'Brien's dual Group One scorer Al Riffa too good, finishing third, a performance that proves he remains a reliable model of consistency in elite company. CHARLIE APPLEBY'S WAIT FOR A #ROYALASCOT WINNER IS OVER! REBEL'S ROMANCE TAKES THE HARDWICKE STAKES! — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 21, 2025 Cox added: 'I think the Hardwicke was a Group Two in name only and it was full of very creditable Group One performers really, but I was thrilled he hit the line well and proved the mile and a half trip is going to be suitable. 'I think he's become very professional and is also supremely consistent, his race record is really admirable and I'm pleased to be a part of his training and very happy with how he's come out of Ascot as well.'
Rhyl Journal
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Ghostwriter booked for Saratoga assignment
The son of Invincible Spirit ran with credit in the Middle East in the spring, finishing fourth in the Dubai Turf in his first race outside of Europe and having again performed admirably when stepped up in trip for the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, Cox is now keen to head Stateside on August 9. Cox said: 'Ascot was a solid run which opens up more possibilities now going a mile and a half. At the moment we intend to take him to America at the beginning of August – that race is very much on the agenda and we're looking forward to making plans for that. 'He relished the travelling when we took him to Dubai in the spring and I'm hoping we can travel with a little bit of confidence this time and it seems a very logical and sensible plan.' Ghostwriter was subject of plenty of headlines prior to his run at Royal Ascot having been bought for £2million on the eve of the summer highlight by Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing operation. In the race itself, he found just Charlie Appleby's globetrotting Rebel's Romance and Joseph O'Brien's dual Group One scorer Al Riffa too good, finishing third, a performance that proves he remains a reliable model of consistency in elite company. CHARLIE APPLEBY'S WAIT FOR A #ROYALASCOT WINNER IS OVER! REBEL'S ROMANCE TAKES THE HARDWICKE STAKES! — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 21, 2025 Cox added: 'I think the Hardwicke was a Group Two in name only and it was full of very creditable Group One performers really, but I was thrilled he hit the line well and proved the mile and a half trip is going to be suitable. 'I think he's become very professional and is also supremely consistent, his race record is really admirable and I'm pleased to be a part of his training and very happy with how he's come out of Ascot as well.'
