Irish Champions Festival 2026: Day Two Preview

Day 2 of the Irish Champions Festival on Sunday has implications for upcoming racing around the world. Of the four Group 1 races at The Curragh, three earn the winner an automatic entry to a Breeders’ Cup race, while the fourth often features strong contenders for the Melbourne Cup (G1). Below are some thoughts on how to play these events.

The Curragh, Race 3, 9:50 a.m. ET: Moyglare Stud (G1), 7 furlongs, two-year-old fillies

• $3 trifecta: 7 with 1, 5 with 1, 2, 4, 5 ($18)

Can any two-year-old filly get near Aidan O’Brien’s flyer #7 Sun Goddess (1-1)? The answer is yes – Libertango, who beat Sun Goddess at Royal Ascot, and Senorita Bonita, who beat Libertango at Newmarket before winning the Prix Morny (G1). But neither are contesting the Moyglare Stud – a “win and you’re in” race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) – so it’s not easy to see where the opposition might come from in this race.

Since Ascot, Sun Goddess has won a Group 2 at The Curragh, beaten the colts in the Phoenix (G1) and thrashed her opponents in a Goffs Sale incentive race at York. The only doubt over her is that she hasn’t raced beyond six furlongs, and as she’s by Sioux Nation out of a Starspangledbanner mare, seven furlongs isn’t certain. But everything she’s done to date suggests it’s well within her compass, and it’s hard to tip against her.

Unless you think Sun Goddess will get beaten, the best betting options will come from exotics. Here, the lower rung contenders look to be the first three in the Debutante (G2), #5 Green Empress (5-2), #4 Dancing Destiny (10-1), and #1 Alpha (5-1), and the improving #2 Ballinea Star (20-1).

The Curragh, Race 4, 10:25 a.m. ET: Flying Five (G1), 5 furlongs, three-year-olds and up

• $10 win/$30 show: #9 Rumstar ($40)
• 50c trifecta: 3, 9 with 3, 9, 15 with 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, 15 ($16)

Unlike the Moyglare Stud, the Flying Five – the winner of which gains entry to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) – looks a very open race. Most interestingly, it features a clash of form from three key sprints this year: the King Charles III (G1), Nunthorpe (G1), and July Cup (G1) – though unfortunately the race doesn’t include dual Group 1 winner Almeraq or Wesley Ward’s Nunthorpe winner Bacio – let alone the horse that towers above all in world sprinting, Hong Kong’s Ka Ying Rising.

Favored on the morning line is #3 Comanche Brave (5-2). Third to Reef Runner in the 1351 Turf Sprint (G2) in Saudi Arabia before trailing six lengths behind Ka Ying Rising in Hong Kong, he returned to Europe to win the Greenlands (G2) before running seventh in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee (G1). It was the July Cup in which he really stood up, dashing away for a one-length victory.

In ratings terms he’s the best horse in the race. The question mark over him is whether he can bring his six-furlong form, at which he’s raced all season, to this five-furlong trip. His chances may depend on how fast the pace is.

Though Bacio isn’t present, five of the six horses immediately behind him in the Nunthorpe – #10 Starlust (10-1), #9 Rumstar (6-1), #15 Time for Sandals (5-1), #7 Night Raider (12-1), and #6 Jm Jungle (30-1) – are here, along with #1 American Affair (7-1), #4 Cover Up (20-1), and #13 Mission Central (7-1), disappointments in the Nunthorpe but winners this year of the King George (G2, over Rumstar), Sapphire (G2) and King Charles III respectively. Also worth consideration is #5 Jakajaro (7-1), fifth in the King Charles III and third in the Sapphire before disappointing in the King George.

Anything can happen in this race. But at a track where high draws often suit and where the uphill finish gives back runners a chance, I’m going to lean towards Rumstar, who can settle off the pace and who has the benefit of barrier 17.

The Curragh, Race 5, 11:00 a.m. ET: Vincent O’Brien National (G1), 7 furlongs, two-year-old colts and fillies

• $10 win/$30 show: #1 Dr Rascal ($40)
• $1 trifecta: 1, 6 with 1, 4, 6 with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ($16)

Aidan O’Brien has won this race 12 times, but his stranglehold over this race has weakened in recent times, as he’s won it just once in the past nine years. By contrast, his son Joseph has prepared three winners in that time, and it is he who trains the morning-line favorite, #6 Monogram (2-1).

Juddmonte’s homebred son of Kingman won his only start narrowly, but he rallied from well back to score, and the confidence in him was sufficiently high for Juddmonte to pay a $46,000 late entry fee. Colin Keane heads over from Britain to ride him.

O’Brien junior also starts #3 Folsom Blues (12-1), who shouldn’t be ruled out after finishing second to top filly Sun Goddess in the Phoenix.

Aidan O’Brien’s team isn’t without prospects here by any means. His leading chance is #4 Giant Sequoia (7-2), winner of two of his three starts. By Frankel out of a Camelot mare, he’s already high in the 2027 Derby market after his success in the Irish Futurity (G2) over #2 Florida Bay (15-1). Stamina looks to be Giant Sequoia’s forte, and he could find this trip a bit sharp.

Others well in the market are #5 Haffner (4-1), winner of the Acomb (G3) at York, and the unbeaten British raider #1 Dr Rascal (9-2), who beat Haffner in the Vintage (G2) at Goodwood.

Monogram may have enough raw talent to prevail, but he looks to have a bit to find in terms of form here, so I’m going for Dr Rascal, who may have more finishing speed than most here and earn himself a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).

The Curragh, Race 6, 11:35 a.m. ET: Irish St Leger (G1), 1 3/4 miles, three-year-olds and up

• $4 trifecta: 5 with 2, 7 with 1, 2, 4, 7 ($24)

If Ascot Gold Cup (G1) winner #5 Scandinavia (2-5) is going to have any realistic opposition in this race, there’s only one likely source. #2 Jan Brueghel (5-1) was good enough to beat Calandagan in the 1 1/2-mile Coronation Cup (G1) last year, and though he hasn’t run to the same level since, he has mostly been running against the 1 1/2-mile stars. In his one attempt beyond that trip this season, Jan Brueghel won the 1 11/16-mile Chester Cup (G3).

Both Jan Brueghel and Scandinavia are English St Leger (G1) winners, but it’s likely the latter will prove himself the better operator here.

Of the others, it will be interesting to see how Curragh Cup (G2) winner #7 Trustyourinstinct (6-1) fares; he has a bit to find to win here, but a good effort could well see him headed to Australia for the rich Melbourne Cup, a race his trainer Joseph O’Brien has already won twice. #4 Queenstown (20-1) and #1 Arabian Force (30-1) look the best of the others.