Another stunning Irish Champions Weekend is in the books, with two days of top-class action at Leopardstown and the Curragh setting plenty of pulses racing. Read on for our review of what turned out to be a brilliant weekend for the Brits at Leopardstown and The Curragh.
Irish Champions Weekend: Big Winners 2024
Here’s a look back at three of the names who were making the headlines, as Britain gave the hosts a taste of their own medicine!
Irish Champions Weekend: Super Economics
William Haggas and Tom Marquand were all smiles at Leopardstown on Saturday afternoon as Economics prevailed in an Irish Champion Stakes humdinger. The towering, flashy, white-faced chestnut needed to be brave as he made it 4-4 since his debut defeat at Newmarket last year.
The Dante winner got to the front with 150 yards to go as leader Luxembourg gave way, but he had to knuckle down to fend off Auguste Rodin, Shin Emperor and Los Angeles in a cracking finish. Winner of the Dante at York in May, connections opted to skip the Epsom Derby for a less urgent route to the top and were handsomely rewarded in Ireland.
“It didn’t look very nice but he got the job done,” trainer Haggas said of Economics’ gritty display. “It was a relief. I loved his head carriage in the last furlong, he really put his head down.” Haggas suggested the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot next month is the likely next destination, while Japanese contender Shin Emperor looks primed for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe given the way he finished.
Irish Champions Weekend: ‘Unbelievable’ Kyprios
Aidan O’Brien was out of luck there, but the Ballydoyle handler saw Kyprios rubber stamp his spot as the best stayer in Britain or Ireland as he regained his Irish St Leger crown. The stop-star nature of the pace in the race might have left Ryan Moore’s partner vulnerable, but he toughed it out once he got into the lead.
Moore, who was landing his first top-level win of the weekend after some short-priced defeats in the previous five Group 1s, held off Vauban and Giavellotto for the minors. A delighted O’Brien listened to connections suggesting Kyprios will stay in training for 2025 before adding: “Kyprios is very special and every year he seems to be improving. That seems to be his best again and Ryan said he won so easily.”
Irish Champions Weekend: Brilliant Bradsell
Recent seasons have witnessed Irish raiders plundering a host of prizes on UK soil, but, after Economics’ win on Saturday, Archie Watson and Hollie Doyle teamed up to land the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes with Bradsell at the Curragh on Sunday to strike another blow back.
He remains unbeaten in 2024 and confirmed last month’s Nunthorpe form from York as Believing took second, with British-based runners occupying the first six places. It capped a tremendous haul of six Group 1 prizes for Britain’s trainers on Irish soil during the current Flat season. Watson admitted post-race he never had a moment of doubt. “It was pretty easy watching and there wasn’t really a moment where you had any worries. He was imperious. He never looked like being beaten.”
By Adrian Mills
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