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Luxembourg will be attempting to make a winning start to the 2023 campaign in the 1m2f Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh on Monday.
Luxembourg will be attempting to make a winning start to the 2023 campaign in the 1m2f Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh on Monday.
Last year's 2000 Guineas third suffered a muscle injury during his Epsom Derby preparation and only returned to the track in mid-August when winning the Group 3 Royal Whip Stakes over course and distance. He demonstrated his vast ability with a victory in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes before finishing seventh in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in early October.
The Camelot colt will face six rivals in the Mooresbridge Stakes, including Royal Whip second Insinuendo who has the benefit of race fitness after a comfortable win in the Group 3 Park Express Stakes. Willie McCreery's mare got within a neck of Luxembourg in the Royal Whip Stakes and the trainer will be hoping she can produce another big effort.
Course and distance winner Above The Curve returns for her four-year-old debut with some smart form. Winner of the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp, she defeated Insinuendo in the Group 2 Blandford Stakes by a neck (on yielding ground) before a good third in the Group 1 Prix de l'Opera.
Trainer William Haggas brings over all-weather specialist Queen Aminatu for a tilt at the 7f Group 3 Athasi Stakes. The four-year-old has won five times on the all-weather including two Listed races but her turf record (0-5) would be a concern.
Just Beautiful demonstrated useful form for former trainer Ivan Furtado during her three-year-old season (2021) including a win in the Group 3 Sceptre Stakes at Doncaster. Since switching to the Paddy Twomey yard, she has raced twice and achieved a third in the Group 3 Renaissance Stakes over 6f at this track. Her best form would firmly put her in the mix but her only previous run on soft ground was disappointing.
Henry de Bromhead's Star Girls Aalmal made a sound start to the season with a fourth behind Insinuendo in the Group 3 Park Express Stakes. She was fourth in the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas last year and could improve in an open race.
Elsewhere on the card, the Aidan O'Brien-trained Paddington will be looking to make a successful step up into Black Type company after a comfortable win in a Naas handicap on heavy ground. He faces the Group 3 placed Bold Discovery, who is very capable in his own right after finishing second in the 2000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown.
TRAINER WATCH: Joseph G Murphy operating at a 44% strike rate (4-9) in the last fourteen days. He runs Mary The Priest in the 1:20 (Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden)
