The Curragh hosts two days of racing this weekend, with the Tattersalls 2000 and 1000 Guineas being the feature races on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Breeders’ Cup winner Gstaad will headline Flat Racing HQ on Saturday afternoon as the runner-up to Bow Echo in the Betfred 2000 Guineas at Newmarket bids to win the first Irish Classic of the 2026 season.
O’Brien aims for 13th victory
The mount of Ryan Moore, the son of Starspangledbanner, will try to offer the champion’s trainer Aidan O’Brien a 13th success in the colts classic, the Ballydoyle trainer also saddles Neolithic, a son of Sioux Nation, who will be the mount of Wayne Lordan.
Speaking earlier this week about Gstaad, Aidan O’Brien said after the colt’s final training session:
“He worked well earlier too and we’re happy with him. He seems to have come out of Newmarket well so we’re looking forward to Saturday.”
Three English challengers
There is a three-pronged challenge formed by the British. Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby will be represented by Distant Storm – who finished third by eight lengths behind Gstaad at Newmarket – and Pacific Avenue. The former will be ridden by Billy Loughnane, who will attempt to claim a maiden Irish Classic success, while Jamie Spencer will partner Pacific Avenue, while trainer Charlie Appleby will attempt to add to his 2022 victory in this race with Native Trail.
Alparslan, winner of the Tattersalls Sales race at the Curragh last September, comes from the yard of Karl Burke, a trainer who has enjoyed much success in Ireland in recent years.
Fozzy Stack’s ThesecretAdversary, more than nine lengths behind from Gstaad to Newmarket, Gowran Park’s maiden winner Go Just Do It from the Joseph O’Brien stable, along with Bamako Beach (Michael O’Callaghan), Power Blue (Robson Aguiar) and Take Charge Star (Johnny Murtagh) complete the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas field.
The position Gstaad at the helm of the Tattersalls 2000 Guineas Field appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.