Saturday, the 14th of September, is a golden date in the diary for racing fans, with high-quality action on both sides of the Irish Sea. As the final Classic of the 2024 campaign, the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster will grab most of the headlines, but for our money, the pick of the entertainment comes from Leopardstown, as Ireland’s leading flat track hosts Irish Champions Stakes Day.
One of the seasonal highlights at the Foxrock venue, the Champions Stakes Day card features seven intriguing contests – including five rated at Group 3 level or above. With the entries beginning to take shape, we look at a selection of the stars set to strut their stuff in this top-class feast.
KPMG Champion Juvenile Stakes
The youngsters kick things off in a race won by future Group 1 stars Auguste Rodin and Johannes Vermeer in the past decade. With six wins over this period, Aidan O’Brien is, unsurprisingly, the dominant force in the event and has a host of hugely promising two-year-olds amongst the potential runners, including:
- Acapulco Bay – The result of a dream breeding combo – being by Dubawi and out of a Galileo mare – this good-looking bay scored nicely at the Curragh last time and takes his next step up the ladder here
- Bernard Shaw – Not your typical Ballydoyle youngster, this son of US stallion Into Mischief looked in need of the experience on debut but duly built on that with an emphatic success on the all-weather at Dundalk
- Lambourn – Another result of the Justify/Galileo mare combo which has given us City Of Troy, Scandinavia is zero from two thus far, but showed improvement last time at Newmarket and may be ready to strike
- Officer – By Dubawi and out of the dual Group 1 winner Hydrangea, Officer is bred to be good and looked just that when landing his Maiden at the Curragh with the minimum of fuss
- Delacroix – The pick of the bunch on breeding, Delacroix boasts super sire Dubawi as his father and US sensation Tepin as his mother. Blazing a trail from the front to score at the Curragh in August, hopes will be high that he can handle this step up in class
Solonaway Stakes
With just one win in the past decade, O’Brien has struggled to dominate this Group 2 affair. Of his current entries, Henry Longfellow, Mountain Bear, and River Tiber seem likely to head elsewhere, potentially leaving the following duo to make their bid for glory.
- Diego Velazquez – Snapped up for the small matter of 2.4m Guineas, this son of Frankel burst out of the traps to win his first two starts as a juvenile. Three lacklustre starts into his three-year-old season and connections may have begun to question the wisdom of their purchase. However, he rebounded with a seven-length romp at this track in July, and this looks like a logical next step as he bids to get his career back on track
- Mundi – By Galileo, this three-year-old is a full brother to Group 1 stars Churchill and Clemmie. Having won first time out, he has disappointed in his last two starts but, given that pedigree, he shouldn’t be written off just yet
Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes
Successful three times since 2010, O’Brien needs just one more win to draw level with John Dunlop for the all-time lead. Without a win since 2017, the master handler will hope to hit the mark with Ylang Ylang. Having won the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile last season, this Frankel filly looked like a potential challenger for the 2024 Classics. She did run well to go down by just a length in the 1,000 Guineas but disappointed in the Oaks. Lightly raced since that Epsom effort, she showed promise on her return in the Desmond Stakes and a big run is anticipated.
Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes
The William Haggas-trained Economics has shot to the head of the market in the feature race following his impressive comeback win in France. However, this will be his first crack at a Group 1, and, having won the race a record-setting 12 times, O’Brien sends two heavyweights into battle in 2024.
- Auguste Rodin – At times brilliant, at times atrocious, and occasionally somewhere in between, consistency isn’t Auguste Rodin’s strong suit. Nevertheless, he has now won six times in Group 1 company, including the 2023 edition of this
- Los Angeles – This year’s Irish Derby hero appears Arc-bound following his win in the Great Voltigeur, but this event fits nicely into his schedule. Dropping back to 1m2f may count against him, but he should run on well at the business end
Kilternan Stakes
Having picked up four wins in the past six years and ten in total, O’Brien is out on his own at the top of trainers table in the final Group race on the card.
O’Brien holds eleven entries at the time of writing, but many seem likely to take up alternative engagements, including St. Leger-bound Grosvenor Square and Jan Brueghel. Of those who remain, Wingspan is the most interesting contender. A full sister to Officer, who goes earlier on the card, she stayed on well for third over 1m1f in the Snow Fairy Stakes last time, suggesting this step up to a mile and a half may suit her well.
