November 4, 2023: Auguste Rodin (5), ridden by Ryan Moore, wins the Longines Breeders Cup Turf on Breeders Cup Championship Saturday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. John Voorhees/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders’ Cup
From the Breeders’ Cup Media Team:
AUGUSTE RODIN BIDS TO RETAIN ROYAL BAHRAIN IRISH CHAMPION STAKES TITLE
Three “Win And You’re In” Automatic Starting Positions on the line in Leopardstown Races
LEOPARDSTOWN, IRELAND (Sept. 12, 2024) ― Three exciting Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In races will take place at Leopardstown on Saturday, led by last year’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) winner Auguste Rodin (IRE) in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (G1), who headlines an outstanding opening day on Irish Champions Weekend.
Isa Salman Al Khalifa’s pre-race favorite Economics (GB) steps up to Group 1 company for the first time in the 1 1/4-mile Irish Champion Stakes and joins the eight-horse field alongside last year’s winner Auguste Rodin for trainer Aidan O’Brien. The winner will gain an automatic berth into the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, an international series of 82 stakes races in 12 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California.
Two other “Win and You’re In” berths will also be awarded at Leopardstown. The winner of the Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes (G1) will earn an automatic starting position into the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), and the winner of the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes (G2) will earn a free spot into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).
The William Haggas-trained Economics swept his rivals aside to record a decisive 6-length victory in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (G2) at York in May before landing the Guillaume d’Ornano Stakes (G2) at Deauville last month.
Haggas is confident the son of Night of Thunder (IRE) is ready to step into what will be deep waters when he heads to Leopardstown. He said: “It will be his first time in a Group 1 and he’s going to have the might of Ballydoyle to take on plus a few others, but we will see. This is what it is all about, isn’t it? I could do with the race being England, but I think he is ready to step up for sure. I don’t know where his ceiling is, but I hope we’re not there yet. Hopefully, there will be plenty more to come.”
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, and Westerberg’s Auguste Rodin is already guaranteed a run in the 2024 renewal of the Breeders’ Cup thanks to his victory in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot in June. He was last seen finishing fifth in The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Ascot in July.
The partnership is also represented by 2022 Irish Champion Stakes winner Luxembourg (IRE), Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) winner Los Angeles (IRE) and 4-year-old Hans Andersen (GB). Los Angeles drops back in distance, having competed over 1 mile and 4 furlongs in his last three starts, which include a victory in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (G2) at York last month. Aidan O’Brien is seeking a sixth straight win in the race.
Three-year-old Shin Emperor (FR) travels from Japan, having finished third in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1) for trainer Yoshito Yahagi in May.
Clive Cox is represented by Ghostwriter (IRE), who was last seen finishing third behind City of Troy in both the Coral-Eclipse (G1) and the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) while the Karl Burke-trained Royal Rhyme (IRE), who finished sixth in the Juddmonte International, has also been declared and completes the line-up.
10 Declared for Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes
Medallion Racing, Steve Weston, Barry Fowler, and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Coronation Stakes (G1) winner Porta Fortuna (IRE), who finished second in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), is the star attraction among 10 fillies set to start in the 1-mile Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes (G1) for a free berth into the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
The Donnacha O’Brien-trained daughter of Caravaggio finished second in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket in May before back-to-back victories at Royal Ascot in the Coronation Stakes (G1) and at Newmarket in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes (G1).
Karl Burke has declared 2023 Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) winner Fallen Angel (GB), who bids for a third Group 1 victory on Irish soil. The daughter of Too Darn Hot (GB) returned to form in emphatic style at The Curragh when landing the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas (G1) after a below par effort in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket. She has been absent since due to an injury setback. This will be her first run in Wathnan Racing colors after the Qatari operation purchased her.
The Yorkshire-based trainer reports her in good form and said: “She’s over her little setback that she had during the summer and is training very well. She’s proved in the Irish Guineas that she’s definitely trained on. We were a bit disappointed with the run at Newmarket but I think that was to do with the undulations of the track. The Curragh suited her really well and I think Leopardstown will suit her just as well.”
The Group 1-winning Ylang Ylang (GB) was disappointing last time out when finishing seventh for trainer Aidan O’Brien in the Bahrain Turf Club Desmond Stakes (G3) over the course. Jockey Ryan Moore reported the ground to be too quick for the 3-year-old daughter of Frankel (GB) and connections will be hoping she’s back to her best.
Willie McCreery is represented by two runners; Arturo Cousino’s Jancis (IRE), an unbeaten 3-year-old filly by Tamayuz (GB) who won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Brownstown Stakes (G3), and Al Shira’aa Racing Limited’sVespertilio (FR), who finished second to Fallen Angel in last year’s Moyglare Stud Stakes. The daughter of Night of Thunder (IRE) has been slightly disappointing this season despite finishing a close third in the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (G1) at Longchamp in May.
Now trained by Joseph O’Brien, last year’s second, Rogue Millennium (IRE), has been declared. The daughter of Dubawi (IRE) was last seen finishing third in the Prix Rothschild (G1) at Deauville in July after finishing third to Porta Fortuna in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes (G1) earlier that month.
Four Declared for KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes
Derrick Smith & Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor’s Delacroix (IRE) is the favorite in the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes, and will try giving Aidan O’Brien a third straight victory in the 1-mile event, which awards the winner a free berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).
The son of Dubawi was an impressive winner in his second start over 7 furlongs at The Curragh and is one of two runners for Aidan O’Brien, with Bernard Shaw, a son of Into Mischief, joining him in the race.
The all-Irish trained field is completed by the Marc Chan-owned Green Impact (IRE), winner of the Frank Conroy Irish EBF Maiden for trainer Jessica Harrington at Leopardstown in July, and the Joseph O’Brien-trained Green Triangle (IRE) for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the Challenge Series winners to start at this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winners must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the Championships’ pre-entry deadline of Oct. 21 to receive the rewards.
ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP
Breeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races through an 82-race series hosted by 12 countries, and the U.S.-based Dirt Dozen Bonus Series. The Breeders’ Cup operates under the national uniform rules and regulations of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and its Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU).
The 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, featuring 14 Grade 1 Championship races run during a two-day festival worth more than $34 million in purses and awards, will be held Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar in Del Mar, California. The 2025 World Championships will also be held at Del Mar on Oct. 31-Nov. 1. The Championships will be televised live by NBC Sports. Press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, BreedersCup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.
