NEW APPROACH AND HENRYTHENAVIGATOR SET TO STAR AT BOYLESPORTS IRISH GUINEAS FESTIVAL
The Classic summer season kicks off at the Curragh on the 24th and 25th May with one of the highlights of 2008 racing season, the prestigious Boylesports Irish Guineas Festival, with some of Europe's leading Thoroughbreds vying for classic race glory and in excess of 1.6 million euro in total prize money.
Vibes emanating from Ballydoyle strongly suggest that Henrythenavigator will again clash with his great rival New Approach in the Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas on Saturday. Both Ibn Kaldoun and Rio De La Plata could represent the powerful Godolphin team, while the Dermot Weld trained Famous Name is also an intended runner. Aidan O’Brien could also be represented by the Jupiter Pluvius, while the Peter Chapple Hyam trained Winker Watson is also an intended starter in the 400,000 euro contest.
A strong overseas challenge is expected in the Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes with Sir Gerry and Benbaun taking on the home contenders including Myboycharlie and Snaefell. Other races include the Group 3 Ridgewood Pearl Stakes with entries including Arch Swing and Heaven Sent, while the valuable TP Waters Chrysler Jeep Marble Hill Stakes is expected to attract some of our leading 2 year olds.
Sunday features the Boylesports Irish 1000 Guineas with Europe’s top fillies competing for Classic race glory on the track including the likely renewal of Newmarket 1000 Guineas 2nd, 3rd and 5th Spacious, Saoirse Abu and Nahoodh, while the Dermot Weld trained pair of Mad About You and Caribbean Sunset, are other likely contenders. The Aidan O’Brien trained by Duke of Marmalade, a recent Group 1 winner in France, last years Boylesports Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Finsceal Beo, 2006 Breeders Cup Turf winner Red Rocks and the French trained Zambezi Sun are some of the stars expected to line up in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup.
The weekend which will kick start the classic racing and fashion season at the Co. Kildare venue and is set to attract throngs of Irish and international racing fans as well as fashionistas from the world's style set. The quest for the most stylish lady is really hotting up with a fabulous prize from fashion sponsor Dundrum Town Centre up for grabs on Sunday the 25th of May. The lucky lady who is deemed the most stylish by the celebrity fashion judges will walk away with a shopping spree to the value of €5,000 to be spent at Dundrum Town Centre. This prize will be doubled to the value of an amazing €10,000 if the winner is fully clad in garments purchased from Dundrum Town Centre, so ladies - head to Dundrum if you want to hit the jackpot! Second prize is a shopping spree worth €2,000 and third prize is a €1,000 shopping spend. All other runners up will be given a luxury goody bag packed full of extravagant gifts. Fashion guru Bairbre Power of the Irish Independent, Jayne O’Keeffe from Dundrum Town Centre and the new Horse Racing Ireland Fashion Ambassador Karen Koster will all form the judging panel on the day. A variety of free entertainment will also be available for children on the day.
Admission 20 euro, children under 15 free, Family package 35 euro. Save 10% by purchasing on line at www.curragh.ie or purchase tickets to your mobile through www.ticket-text.com
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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