Latest news with #JebelAliRacecourse&StablesDashStakes
Irish Examiner
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Moore shows his class on Skukuza
Long before his Derby success on a hectic afternoon of nine races at the Curragh, jockey Ryan Moore gave an exemplary ride to take the listed Colm McLoughlin Celebration Stakes aboard the Ed Dunlop-trained Skukuza. Winner of a handicap at the Guineas meeting here, he was well drawn for this step up in class and Moore took full advantage. Quickly out of stall one, he took up the running and once he had established his position, he dropped anchor and dictated matters in a style which gave his rivals least chance. Quickening from the front, he went clear in the straight, and was beyond recall by the time the well-backed Alakazi found full stride. In the jockeyship stakes, Dylan Browne McMonagle wasn't far behind as he was also at his brilliant best when taking the listed Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Dash Stakes aboard the difficult-to-win-with Vespertilio, trained by Willie McCreery. Bidding to bridge a gap of almost two years since her sole previous success, McMonagle settled her out the back and while that resulted in some luck being required, it also helped to keep her from hitting the front too soon. Brought between horses to lead inside the final furlong, she repelled the persistent challenge of My Mate Alfie. In the opener, the €100,000 Dubai Duty Free Premier Handicap, the lack of a recent run proved no barrier to success for 78-rated handicap debutant Sujet, trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Chris Hayes, who sported the colours of Juddmonte. Slieve Binnian, a smart sort when trained by the now retired Michael Halford, picked up the day's second premier handicap, doing so under a fine ride by Luke McAteer. Having just his fourth run for David Marnane, and building on some fine efforts, he was perfectly positioned throughout and found plenty to win with a degree of comfort. Keke was tremendously progressive in 2024 and his clearcut success in the Rockingham suggests the ceiling of his ability has not been reached. Billy Lee delivered Eddie Lynam's five-year-old to lead inside the final furlong and they won with far more authority than the one-length winning margin might indicate. Two-time Irish Derby winner Jim Bolger was amongst the winners when Fleetfoot, given a strong ride by Declan McDonogh, got up late to land the Tulfarris Hotel And Golf Resort Irish EBF Ragusa Handicap. The GAIN Summer Fillies' & Mares' Handicap was the fifth €100,000 premier handicap on the card and the John Kinsella-trained and James Ryan-ridden Bellaphina was most impressive. A potent turn of foot carried her clear inside the final furlong and she readily held the late run of Dance Night Andday. Willie Mullins saddled the first two home in the finale, a two-mile handicap, and it was the lesser fancied in the market, Lot Of Joy, who landed the spoils under the evergreen Seamie Heffernan.
RTÉ News
29-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Vespertilio regains winning thread at the Curragh
Vespertilio edged out last year's winner My Mate Alfie in a thrilling finish to the Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Dash Stakes at the Curragh. One of Willie McCreery's stable stars, Verspertilio was not beaten far in the Greenlands Stakes over this course and distance last time out but was given a more patient ride this time around by Dylan Browne McMonagle. As Ger Lyons' My Mate Alfie produced his customary honest challenge from up near the pace, Browne McMonagle found himself towards the rear of the field as the race began to develop, but he had a willing partner as the daughter of Night Of Thunder quickly weaved her way to within striking distance. It was soon left to the the 2-1 favourite to fight out the conclusion with her main market rival My Mate Alfie, with just a short head separating them at the finish, as Vespertilio tasted success for the first time since claiming the Debutante Stakes as a two-year-old. The Willie McCreery-trained Vespertilio (2-1F) capitalises on a drop in class to Listed level, claiming the Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Dash Stakes at the Curragh under Dylan Browne McMonagle — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 29, 2025 McCreery said: "She needs cover and lots of speed. Dylan was very patient and said when she hit the front she thought she had everything done and pulled herself up. "I'm delighted to get her back in the winner's enclosure. She won a Group Two here as a two-year-old and was third in a French Guineas. "It was hard to persuade the owners to bring her back to six furlongs as she had such good form over a mile, but it has paid off – Night Of Thunder puts loads of speed into them, the important thing is to switch her off early. "We might go for the Maurice De Gheest. She has a French breeder premium so she gets another bonus on top if she does well over there." Ed Dunlop's Skukuza showed his liking for the track once again when claiming the Colm McLoughlin Celebration Stakes. The four-year-old had made a successful raid on a valuable handicap at the Kildare track on Irish 2,000 Guineas day but this time was back for Listed action and was sent off at 11-4 in the hands of Ryan Moore. Quickly sent to the head of affairs by his big-race pilot, the Newmarket traveller never missed a beat on the front end as Moore dictated the pace before sending his mount on to secure a two-and-a-quarter-length victory over Johnny Murtagh's Alakazi, with Paddy Twomey's 2-1 favourite Currawood further back in third. Robin Trevor Jones, travelling head lad to Ed Dunlop, said: "We ran him in the Britannia last year where he ran a great race (second) but it really jarred him up and we couldn't risk him on that fast ground at Ascot this year. The Listed Colm McLoughlin Celebration Stakes goes for export, with Ryan Moore making all on the progressive Skukuza (11-4) for trainer Ed Dunlop — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 29, 2025 "It was a brave decision not to run when you are one of the favourites for the Royal Hunt Cup but the plan has worked. He's a Listed winner now so we are growing. "Ryan really wanted to get a lead but he didn't expect any pace on so he said I might have to make my own running which he did. The horse has never done that, but he did everything right and I think the further he went the further he was going to win."
Powys County Times
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Vespertilio pips My Mate Alfie in Dash thriller
Vespertilio edged out last year's winner My Mate Alfie in a thrilling finish to the Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Dash Stakes at the Curragh. One of Willie McCreery's stable stars, Verspertilio was not beaten far in the Greenlands Stakes over this course and distance last time out but was given a more patient ride this time around by Dylan Browne McMonagle. As Ger Lyons' My Mate Alfie produced his customary honest challenge from up near the pace, Browne McMonagle found himself towards the rear of the field as the race began to develop, but he had a willing partner as the daughter of Night Of Thunder quickly weaved her way to within striking distance. It was soon left to the the 2-1 favourite to fight out the conclusion with her main market rival My Mate Alfie, with just a short head separating them at the finish, as Vespertilio tasted success for the first time since claiming the Debutante Stakes as a two-year-old. McCreery said: 'She needs cover and lots of speed. Dylan was very patient and said when she hit the front she thought she had everything done and pulled herself up. 'I'm delighted to get her back in the winner's enclosure. She won a Group Two here as a two-year-old and was third in a French Guineas. 'It was hard to persuade the owners to bring her back to six furlongs as she had such good form over a mile, but it has paid off – Night Of Thunder puts loads of speed into them, the important thing is to switch her off early. 'We might go for the Maurice De Gheest. She has a French breeder premium so she gets another bonus on top if she does well over there.'
