show me:

UK: Dawn Heads Curragh Contenders

3 minute read

Aidan O'Brien's Await The Dawn is the headline act among the 15 remaining entries in the Keeneland Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

The four-year-old's sole defeat in six races came in the Champagne Stakes as a two-year-old behind Poet's Voice and he was last seen winning the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot by three lengths.

Other entries from the powerful Ballydoyle stable include Jan Vermeer, Viscount Nelson, Roderic O'Connor, Marksmanship and Gemstone.

British interest revolves around Roger Varian's Hot Prospect and Barry Hills' Ransom Note, while Dunboyne Express, Casual Conquest and Jim Bolger's incredibly tough filly Banimpire are others to catch the eye.

Tracey Collins is hoping the heavens open for her contender, ex-Italian Aoife Alainn, who was a Group One winner on soft ground at Capannelle in October and was fifth to Misty For Me in the Pretty Polly Stakes on her Irish debut in June.

The Curragh trainer said: "We are hoping some rain comes for her. It looks like it's going to be a very competitive race, but the more rain that falls for her, the better."

On the same card O'Brien's Maybe could attempt to stretch her unbeaten run to four in the Keeneland Debutante Stakes. Bolger has four entries in Criostal, Somasach, Teolane and Tiffilia.

Jeremy Noseda's Illaunglass and Sir Mark Prescott's Kinetica could make the trip, while Jessica Harrington's Remember Alexander is another name to mention.