The Curragh has confirmed a 20-runner field for Saturday’s Goffs Million, with six British-trained two-year-olds in the line-up for the race the course describes as Europe’s most valuable for that age group.
The Goffs Million forms part of day one of the Curragh’s Autumn Racing Weekend on Saturday 26 September. The final field gives Britain a sizeable representation in a race led on the home side by runners from the yards of Paddy Twomey, Aidan O’Brien, Donnacha O’Brien, Joseph O’Brien and Robson De Aquiar.
Ralph Beckett’s Blessed Voyager is among the British contingent, alongside Karl Burke’s Waasil, Michael Bell’s Bayside View, Kevin Ryan’s Dorigo, Richard Hughes’s Love Is and Charlie Hills’s Nobelos. Their presence means British trainers account for six of the 20 declared runners.
The Curragh’s description of the Goffs Million as Europe’s most valuable race for two-year-olds underlines why the confirmed field is a notable declaration-stage update. The British representation is spread across six separate training operations, rather than being concentrated with one yard. The home-trained runners highlighted by the course also come from several stables, giving the feature a broad Irish base alongside the six British-trained contenders.
The declarations are the current position following an earlier Curragh entry update published on 22 September; the final field was announced on 24 September. That list had included Hughes’s Gobby Grace among the British-trained possibles, but did not name Dorigo among that group. Dorigo, trained by Ryan, is among the six British runners in the final line-up. The final declarations identify runners rather than setting out potential entries.
Irish trainers supply depth to Curragh feature
Paddy Twomey is represented by Trean and Hi Corbett Court in the Goffs Million. The Curragh named Trean as the leader of the home-trained team, while Donnacha O’Brien runs Cashel Queen and Aidan O’Brien is represented by Carry The Flag.
The Curragh also named Green Dreamer and Royal Ascot winner King of Cloughan, both trained by Joseph O’Brien, among the notable contenders. Ballinea Star is trained by Robson De Aquiar.
The British six will therefore meet a field with representation from several prominent Irish yards. The confirmed declarations matter because the race’s entry-stage picture contained potential runners, while the 20 declarations now establish the immediate competitive shape of Saturday’s juvenile feature.
The going published by the Curragh is good to yielding on the straight course and good on the round course. Its latest forecast said that 3mm to 4mm of rain was expected overnight, with Friday and Saturday mainly dry. The course said 5mm to 6mm was possible, according to Met Éireann.
The course also said racing would take place on the stand side with stalls in the centre, while six yards of fresh ground had been allocated for Sunday.
Beresford Stakes adds Group 2 support
Saturday’s card also includes the Group 2 Churchill Tyres Beresford Stakes, which has attracted six runners. City Of Dubai, trained by Paddy Twomey, is among them, with Goffs Million sponsor Charlie Bond hoping for a big run from City Of Dubai.
Aidan O’Brien fields Noble Exhibit, Drumbeat and Shakespeare in the Beresford Stakes, while Joseph O’Brien is represented by Venetian Power and Tommy Quick. The Group 2 race is a separate supporting contest on the opening day of the meeting.
The Curragh has published a 1.30pm first-race time for Saturday, with gates due to open at 12pm. Racing TV will show all races from the Curragh live. TG4 is scheduled to broadcast both the Goffs Million and the Churchill Tyres Beresford Stakes.