Tag Archive for: Tattersalls Gold Cup

White Birch floors Auguste Rodin for Tattersalls gold at the Curragh

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White Birch continued his brilliant start to the season by claiming a first Group One victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.

Third behind the reopposing Auguste Rodin in the Derby last year, John Joseph Murphy’s grey made a successful start to his four-year-old campaign in the Group Three Alleged Stakes in April before following up over the same course and distance at Group Two level in the Mooresbridge three weeks ago.

Dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin was the marginal favourite at 11-10 as he looked to bounce back from a disappointing run in Dubai, but while he moved menacingly into it in the straight, White Birch (15-8) was going even better in his slipstream in the hands of a motionless Colin Keane.

Once asked to extend, the grey showed smart acceleration to put three lengths between himself and Auguste Rodin, with Crypto Force a further eight lengths behind in third.

“That couldn’t have gone better. We got behind the two we wanted to be behind (early),” said Keane.

“Ryan (Moore, on Auguste Rodin) brought us as far as we could, then we just quickened up well.

“He cantered into it. He has plenty of pace but would have no bother going a bit further.

“He has matured massively from three to four.”

White Birch and Colin Keane with connections after winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup
White Birch and Colin Keane with connections after winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup (Healy Racing/PA)

Paddy Power cut White Birch to 7-1 from 25-1 for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, while he is 8-1 from 20-1 for the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

George Murphy, assistant to his father, said: “We’ve been waiting a long time for one as good as him. He’s a bit more chilled out this year and has progressed from race to race.

“People thought last year when he was a bit slow away from the gates a few times and he was coming from off the pace that he was more of a stayer, but he’s getting to show what he can do now.

“He’s got form on very quick ground as well, so he seems to handle them all. Colin was very good on him, as he always is, and gave him a super ride. He’s a master of his trade.

“We’ll enjoy today and make a plan from here.”

Aidan O’Brien, meanwhile, took plenty of positives from the run of Auguste Rodin and was also quick to praise winning connections.

“I thought he ran very well. The ground went against him and he got into a little bit of a speed wobble coming down off the hill and it took a little bit of time to get back in his rhythm. Obviously John’s horse picked him up well, but we were very happy,” he said.

“He still went out on his shield today and the next time we’ll be ready. We were thinking of the Prince of Wales’s next, but we’ll see what the lads want to do.

“I’m delighted for John and his son George.”



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Comeback king Auguste Rodin on another recovery mission

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Aidan O’Brien has taken responsibility for Auguste Rodin’s disappointing run in Dubai and expects a more positive showing in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on Sunday.

Last year’s dual Derby winner, who was also successful in the Irish Champion Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup Turf, has developed a habit of throwing in the odd baffling run.

He was well beaten in the 2000 Guineas before bouncing back at Epsom and just when it looked like he would dominate his peers, he ran no sort of race in the King George at Ascot.

Yet again O’Brien worked his magic to get him back to win at Leopardstown and in America but in the Sheema Classic in March, he finished last of 12.

“Obviously, Dubai was his first run of the year and it just went wrong, I probably got a little bit wrong tactically. I told Ryan (Moore) to take his time and anyone who took their time really didn’t get into the race,” said O’Brien.

“Ryan took his time, there was no pace, William (Buick, on Rebel’s Romance) got sat in second and he controlled the race – and before you knew it, those in the second pack were cut off and the rest is history.

“We’re happy with him, we’ve made changes and adjusted a few things and we think that run in Dubai will be gone.”

O’Brien also runs outsider Hans Andersen.

White Birch has enjoyed a good start to the season, winning twice
White Birch has enjoyed a good start to the season, winning twice (Niall Carson/PA)

Back in third in the Derby at Epsom was White Birch, trained by John Murphy, who has enjoyed a terrific start to 2024, winning the Alleged and Mooresbridge Stakes.

Those victories provide a perfect platform into this highlight, being Group Three and Two races respectively, and Murphy’s son and assistant George is confident he deserves another crack at the top level.

“We’re very much looking forward to it, he’s in great shape,” he said. “He’s come out of his first couple of runs very well and we can’t wait.

“He’s won on very soft ground his first two races this season, there’s rain around Saturday night into Sunday but it should just make it nice ground, I think – and that should really suit him.

“He does have form on all types of ground, so he’s pretty versatile, hopefully it’s just nice ground on the day.

“We’ve ground to make up on Auguste Rodin and obviously he’s a top-class horse. Whether we can make up that ground, I don’t know, but we’re keen to take our chance and find out and it would be brilliant if he were good enough.

“Hopefully he’ll be competing at the top level for the rest of the season and if he can win one, that would be great.”

Adrian Murray with David Egan and Elegant Man at Newcastle
Adrian Murray with David Egan and Elegant Man at Newcastle (Richard Sellers/PA)

Adrian Murray’s Elegant Man is a fascinating contender.

In four outings, he has won three, with his sole defeat coming at the hands of multiple Group One winner Rebel’s Romance.

Elegant Man was last seen defying a wide draw and making all the running on All-Weather Finals Day at Newcastle.

“We need to find out if he can translate his good all-weather form to the turf and all the signs are he will,” said Murray.

“He did a very good piece of work at Naas on Monday and we think he should be fine.

“He’s a very good horse and if he does take to it, he deserves his chance – we could have just done without taking on Auguste Rodin! But it’s a Group One, you’re not going to get a gimme.”

Murray is also running Crypto Force, winner of the Beresford Stakes as a juvenile for Michael O’Callaghan and not beaten far in the Prix Ganay last time out.

“The plan with him was always the Alleged Stakes and then France, but the Alleged got cancelled and then rescheduled, which meant the two races were very close (eight days) together,” Murray went on.

“He’s a good horse, you don’t win a Beresford without being a good horse, and he deserves his chance, too.”

Joseph O’Brien’s Lumiere Rock was a course and distance winner in the Group Two Blandford Stakes last September, while Mashhoor and Lord Massusus complete the line-up.



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Okeechobee set to clash with Auguste Rodin at the Curragh

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Okeechobee has emerged as a rival to Auguste Rodin at the Curragh on Sunday after being supplemented for the Tattersalls Gold Cup.

A narrow winner of the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown last month, Okeechobee had the option of returning to the Esher venue for the Brigadier Gerard on Thursday evening.

However, owners Juddmonte have instead decided to stump up the required €50,000 to add the Harry Charlton-trained colt to this weekend’s Group One contest.

“He’s been supplemented for the Tattersalls Gold Cup, so the plan is for him to run in Ireland,” said Juddmonte’s racing manager Barry Mahon.

“He’s a lightly-raced horse who has won his Group Three and rather than go back to Sandown to a carry a penalty we thought we’d give him a crack at Group One and see just where his limitations lie.

“We’ll find out a bit more about him on Sunday.”

Okeechobee’s addition leaves a total of 11 contenders for the 10-furlong contest, with last season’s dual Derby winner and Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup her Auguste Rodin one of three potential runners for Aidan O’Brien along with last year’s winner Luxembourg and Hans Anderson.

Auguste Rodin (left) winning last season's Irish Champion Stakes
Auguste Rodin (left) winning last season’s Irish Champion Stakes (Damien Eagers/PA)

The Ballydoyle handler on Tuesday reaffirmed his intention to saddle Auguste Rodin, but that could change if conditions deteriorate significantly.

He said: “That (running Auguste Rodin) is the plan, hopefully they won’t get too much rain.

“That (Coronation Cup at Epsom) is the plan for Luxembourg, he was just left in for Sunday in case the ground came too soft for Auguste or something like that.”

Adrian Murray has confirmed Crypto Force and Elegant Man, while John Joseph Murphy looks set to saddle his stable star White Birch, who has made an excellent start to his four-year-old campaign by winning both the Alleged Stakes and the Mooresbridge Stakes over the course and distance this spring.

Joseph O’Brien’s pair of Goldana and Lumiere Rock and Mashhoor from Johnny Murtagh’s yard complete the potential field.



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O’Brien eyeing Tattersalls Gold Cup redemption for Auguste Rodin

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Aidan O’Brien is sticking to his original plan with Auguste Rodin, despite his disappointing effort in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan.

Winner of both the Derby and the Irish Derby last year, the Deep Impact colt had produced lacklustre efforts in both the 2000 Guineas and King George at Ascot either side of those Classic victories.

He ended his season by winning both the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita, but never looked like getting involved on his return to action in Dubai, coming home last of 12 runners.

O’Brien felt the race did not suit and will look to get his campaign back on track in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on May 26.

“He’s well and we just put a line through the race. It was a tactical affair and we just got caught in the wrong part of it,” said O’Brien.

“The good thing about Ryan (Moore) is when things go wrong like that, he accepts it very quickly and the horse doesn’t get a hard race.

“We are looking at going to the Curragh (for the Tattersalls Gold Cup) if everything goes fine.”



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Luxembourg makes all to deny Bay Bridge in Tattersalls Gold Cup

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Luxembourg held off Bay Bridge to make every yard in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore.

A Group One winner at two, he was well fancied for last year’s Derby after finishing third in the 2000 Guineas but missed out on the summer months with a setback.

He made up for lost time in the second half of his three-year-old campaign by winning the Royal Whip over course and distance before adding the Irish Champion Stakes, accounting for a high-class cast at Leopardstown.

Only fifth on his seasonal bow in the Mooresbridge Stakes, the real Luxembourg was on show on Sunday afternoon.

Sent off at 11-4, with French raider and old rival Vadeni the 11-8 market leader, the son of Camelot was immediately sent to the front by Moore, where he remained until the winning post.

Sir Michael Stoute’s Bay Bridge was content to track the pace in the early stages and was building up momentum as the runners headed up the home straight.

Although short of room passing the two-furlong pole, Richard Kingscote was soon able to edge his mount into clear daylight and they set about laying down a stern challenge to Luxembourg in the closing stages.

But the Ballydoyle representative refused to give in and remained half a length clear as the duo flashed past the winning post, a performance that saw Luxembourg shortened to 3-1 from 10s for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot with both Paddy Power and Betfair.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien (left) and Ryan Moore after winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup on Luxembourg
Trainer Aidan O’Brien (left) and Ryan Moore after winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup on Luxembourg (Niall Carson/PA)

The victory was O’Brien’s 10th in this particular Group One – and also the 400th Group One/Grade One winner (including 22 over jumps) of his career.

He said: “That’s hard work from so many people and the lads put so much in day in day out. We are just a small part of a big team and I’m delighted for everybody.

“That was a masterclass from Ryan. He’s confident, mature, dedicated, passionate and he’s very strong. He has everything and is a great fellow to work with.

“He was happy to make the running and happy to take a lead. The horse gets a mile and a quarter very strong.

Ryan Moore (centre) after winning The Tattersalls Gold Cup on Luxembourg
Ryan Moore (centre) after winning The Tattersalls Gold Cup on Luxembourg (Niall Carson/PA)

“The last day was his first day and we were happy to sit in.

“When a horse is happy to make the running they are very independent and you are not at the mercy of anybody. Ryan guided him through all the fractions.

“He went to the (Irish) Champion Stakes after a terrible preparation. He then went to the Arc on bad ground after that hard preparation and it was always possible that he would be as good.

“The lads had the patience to leave him alone and he’s a very serious horse. He’s not for kids, he’s a hardy customer. He’s tough and has loads of class.”

On plans for the rest of the season, a trip to Royal Ascot appears the next port of call.

He added: “The plan was to start off here the last day, come here for the Tattersalls Gold Cup, then go to the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

“Then if that went well, on to the King George then he would have a little break after that and come back for the Irish Champion then have a look at the Arc.

“They were all the races that were mapped out for him and things change from race to race, but I think if everyone is happy still and he seems well, then they are the targets and plans that he will stay on, so I’m delighted with him.”



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Luxembourg ready for intriguing Curragh exam

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Aidan O’Brien’s Luxembourg stars in a superb cast for the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on Sunday.

The Camelot colt, winner of the Irish Champion Stakes last season, began this year’s campaign with an underwhelming fifth in the Mooresbridge Stakes earlier in the month.

That Group Two contest was at the Curragh and over a trip just half a furlong shorter than he will face on Sunday, and was won in fine style by Joseph O’Brien’s Visualisation.

“Joseph’s horse won very nicely at the Curragh and our horse was a little bit ring rusty,” said O’Brien of the run.

“It maybe wasn’t a strong pace and wasn’t to his liking or benefit. He’s come out of the race very well and has progressed well.

Luxembourg winning the Irish Champion Stakes
Luxembourg winning the Irish Champion Stakes (Donall Farmer/PA)

“We’re very happy with him and he’s made great progress since the Curragh.”

O’Brien’s youngest son Donnacha has a chance in the Group One in Piz Badile, third in the Mooresbridge and second in last year’s Irish Derby.

“He’s in good form and everything has gone well since his last run,” the young trainer said.

“It looks to be a very hot race, but hopefully he will run well.”

Representing Sir Michael Stoute is Bay Bridge, who landed the Champion Stakes at Ascot at the tail end of last season and was third in the Prix Ganay first time out this time around.

Bay Bridge at Newbury
Bay Bridge at Newbury (John Walton/PA)

“He’s well, it’s obviously a very strong field so we have our fingers crossed,” said co-owner James Wigan.

“It was a good start to the season, the French horse, Vadeni, is coming over, who won the Eclipse.

“Luxembourg is running, it’s a good race and we’ll see.”

The aforementioned Vadeni does indeed travel to Ireland for the race having been supplemented and will cross paths with Bay Bridge again after coming home a length and a half behind him in the Ganay.

Vadeni was second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last season and prior to that was an impressive Coral-Eclipse winner for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget.

Vadeni after winning the Coral-Eclipse last season
Vadeni after winning the Coral-Eclipse last season (Nigel French/PA)

Georges Rimaud, French racing and breeding manager to owner the Aga Khan, said: “He has, in the past, liked this sort of fast-ish ground so he should be fine.

“The horse is doing well, he has improved from his last race. We are hoping for a good run from him, the ground should suit him.

“It should be a good race, it often is, but this is Vadeni and he is a Group One horse and should be campaigned at that level.”

Jessica Harrington will run Trevaunance in the contest, the sole filly in the field and another horse who started her year in the Mooresbridge when coming home in sixth place.

Kate Harrington, assistant to her mother, said: “Trevaunance made a good reappearance in the Mooresbridge when beaten only four lengths.

“She had a good blow that day and is going to come on a ton for it.

“It looks a very hot renewal of the Tattersalls Gold Cup but we’re very pleased with Trevaunance and it’s a good stepping stone towards dropping back into fillies’ company in the Pretty Polly on Derby weekend with her.”

The field is completed by Noel Meade’s Layfayette, the Mooresbridge runner-up who was last seen finishing third in the Group Two Huxley Stakes at Chester during their May meeting.



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Vadeni supplemented for mouthwatering clash with Luxembourg

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Vadeni will line up in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on Sunday after being supplemented at a cost of €45,000.

The four-year-old son of Churchill, who is owned and was bred by the Aga Khan, is trained in Pau, France, by Jean-Claude Rouget.

He won the Prix de Guiche, the Prix du Jockey Club and the Coral-Eclipse last season, having also been supplemented for the latter.

The bay was then third to Luxembourg in the Irish Champion Stakes and second by half a length to Alpinista in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, after which he began his season this time around in the Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp and finished fourth of seven runners.

The Prince of Wales’s Stakes has been mentioned as a target for the first half of the colt’s season and as the Tattersalls Gold Cup falls neatly between the Ganay and the Royal meeting he has been added to the Group One at the Kildare track.

Vadeni (second right) winning the Coral-Eclipse
Vadeni (second right) winning the Coral-Eclipse (Nigel French/PA)

Georges Rimaud, the Aga Khan’s racing and breeding manager in France, said of the timing of the Curragh race: “There’s a logic to going and running in this race, that’s why we’ve chosen this one.

“Hopefully it will make good sense and he will perform well, I hear there’s no rain planned and we’re not really worried about the type of ground he is going to run on anyway. He has, in the past, liked this sort of fast-ish ground so he should be fine.

“The horse is doing well, he has improved from his last race. We are hoping for a good run from him, the ground should suit him.”

Vadeni is likely to face a familiar rival in Aidan O’Brien’s Luxembourg, with Sir Michael Stoute’s Bay Bridge, who finished in front of him in the Ganay, also entered.

“It should be a good race, it often is, but this is Vadeni and he is a Group One horse and should be campaigned at that level,” Rimaud said.

The Prince of Wales’s Stakes remains Vadeni’s target come June, though naturally the Irish trip needs to be considered a success for that plan to be pursued.

Rimaud said: “We’ll go a step at a time, that is part of the plan but each part of the plan needs to go well so we’ll see after the race.”

Vadeni’s entry at the Curragh makes matters easier regarding the next steps of last season’s Prix Daniel Wildenstein winner Erevann, who will go to the Prix d’Ispahan now it is not on the agenda for his stablemate.

Rimaud confirmed: “That is the plan, he’s going to run in the Prix d’Ispahan.”



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Tattersalls Gold Cup the target for Piz Badile

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Piz Badile will return to the Curragh for the Tattersalls Gold Cup following his comeback third in the Mooresbridge Stakes.

The Donnacha O’Brien-trained colt was a regular in the big races last term, with his early-season victory in the Ballysax Stakes setting up a tilt at both the Derby and Irish equivalent.

Although out of luck on the undulations of Epsom, he gave imperious winner Westover most to think about when a silver medallist in the Irish Derby at the Curragh.

Piz Badile (right) finished third in the Curragh's Mooresbridge Stakes
Piz Badile (left) finished third in the Curragh’s Mooresbridge Stakes (Damien Eagers/PA)

He again showed his liking for the Kildare venue on his return and the son of Ulysses will keep to a similar distance for his next outing which will once again be in hot company on May 28.

O Brien said: “I was happy with the run in the Mooresbridge. It was a mess of a race and turned into a three-furlong sprint, so it was a little unsatisfactory in that we didn’t learn an awful lot about where we will be going with him trip wise and things like that.

“But he came out of it well and he’s in good form and all being well he will go back to the Curragh for the Tattersalls Gold Cup.

Ballyinch Stud Classic Trials Day – Leopardstown Racecourse – Saturday April 2nd
Gavin Ryan and trainer Donnacha O’Brien with Piz Badile (Niall Carson/PA)

“He was second in the Derby there and ran well there the last day, but he’s a horse that will handle any track.”

O’Brien’s sprinter Wodao is also in line to appear in familiar territory with Chantilly’s Prix Texanita on May 19 highlighted as his next port of call.

The speedy son of Showcasing was a runner-up to Tenebrism at Cork on his reappearance before filling the same spot behind Marshman in the Prix Sigy when running at the French track last month, and O’Brien believes he will need to go one better this time around to book his ticket to Royal Ascot.

“He’s in good form and the plan is to go to France again, back to Chantilly for a six furlong Group Three on May 19,” he said.

“He’s in good form and is a very solid horse.

“The Commonwealth Cup would be his main aim, but he would have to come through France well and would probably have to win there to warrant going to Ascot.”



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