To be honest, the Sunday card at The Curragh is much stronger than tomorrow's for all the Saturday card has the Irish 2000 Guineas which will be shown on free to air television. Sunday's card won't which makes little sense to this observer. Anyroadup, two Group 1 races and a Group 2 on the Sunday card with the ground still Good, Good to Firm in places (watered) though rain is forecast. The Irish 1000 Guineas has 12 runners and clear favourite is LAKE VICTORIA who is 5/4. She was sixth in the English 1000 Guineas but is likely to have come on a lot for that run. Her juvenile form was very strong with wins in the Moyglare (1400m), Cheveley Park (1200m) and the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (1609m). You couldn't stay she didn't stay at Newmarket - she just needed the run - and if she's back to her best, she'll be too good for this lot but you're putting your faith (and cash) in Aidan O'Brien to work the oracle. Ollie Sangster is carving out a name for himself as a handler and he runs FLIGHT and SIMMERING who were second and third in the English 1000 Guineas. There was a length between them at Newmarket - SIMMERING was keeping on but you'd imagine FLIGHT, for whom Newmarket was her seasonal bow, would come on for the run as well. They are hard to split - marginal preference for FLIGHT. They dominate the market along with the unbeaten SWELTER from the Dermot Weld yard who won the Priory Belle (a Group 3) at Leopardstown but that was two months ago. You have to respect anything Dermot Weld runs in a Group 1 but she'll need to have come on a lot to mix it with these proven Group 1 performers. The other English raider is DUTY FIRST for Archie Watson and ridden by Hollie Doyle. She looked very good when winning the Greenham but disappointed when ninth in the 1000 Guineas. To my eye, she hated the track and the quick ground - any rain and I'd be backing her each way if I could get 20s or bigger.  LAKE VICTORIA looks the likely winner - we know she handles the track and the ground and given how much Aidan's can come on for a run (and she was only a half length behind SIMMERING and a length and a half behind FLIGHT at Newmarket) she must have a big chance. The other Group 1 is the Tattersalls Gold Cup for the older horses over 2000m. This is a key race for later targets such as the Prince of Wales at Ascot and even the world's best race, no, not the 2100m at Reefton in January, but the 2000m Juddmonte International at York in August. WHITE BIRCH won this last year and well and his chance would be improved by rain. In the Mooresbridge three weeks ago, he was just unable to get past LOS ANGELES. The latter mixed it with the very best as a 3-y-o running fourth in the Irish Champion and third in the Arc. He seems equally versatile at 2000m and 2400m but I imagine a strong pace at the shorter distance would be  a help and that's probably why CONTINUOUS is in the field. Top rated is the 7-y-o ANMAAT who doesn't race very often. He ran only three times last year winning a Group 3 at Haydock and then ran fifth in the Group 2 Dollar on Arc day. His final run was a win, beating the very useful CALANDAGAN, in the English Champion Stakes at Ascot in October. He has some form on quicker ground and he could well be up to this first time up but he's another for whom rain would help. GHOSTWRITER danced all the best dances as a 3-y-o, fourth in the English 2000 Guineas, fourth in the Jockey Club, third in the Eclipse, third in the Juddmonte and fifth in the Irish Champion. He was a decent fourth in the Turf at Meydan so you might think he deserves his Group 1 day in the sun. Perhaps and this could be it but he seems to find his own misfortune. The filly KALPANA improved through the season from a third in the Ribblesdale to winning the Fillies and Mares on Champions Day. My issues with her are a) the trip, b) the ground and c) it's her seasonal debut against quality colts and geldings who have had a run. I'd love GHOSTWRITER to win and at 7s he might be the each way play - ANMAAT could be up to this first time up but the percentage call is WHITE BIRCH if the rain comes.  The Group 2 Lanwades over 1609m for the older fillies and mares sees the return of PORTA FORTUNA who, after running second in the English 1000 Guineas, won the Coronation, the Falmouth and the Matron. She was disappointing in the Breeders Cup Turf Mile against the colts and geldings but was only three lengths behind NOTABLE SPEECH. She's Evens and that looks a really good bet. She only just gets the mile and she wouldn't want rain but if she turns up on song she'll put this lot away without much fuss on her way (perhaps) to the Queen Anne. The Marble Hill is the supporting Group 3 and the first for the juvenile colts over 1200m. ALBERT EINSTEIN is 4/7 off a facile win at Naas two weeks ago. He's by Wootton Bassett out of Yet who had a short career as a 2-y-o in 2021 running second in a Group 2. I prefer the Saxon Warrior colt ANDAB trained by Aidan's son Joseph who won a Curragh maiden on debut by five lengths. I think he's the longer term prospect and I could see son beating father this time. Two Group 1 races at Longchamp on Sunday to consider. The Ispahan is over 1950m and the ground in Paris, after much more rain than England and Ireland, is Soft. Seven go to post headed by SOSIE who bids to follow up his win in the Ganay four weeks ago. He looked good that day and is the one to beat. The Gosdens send over SARDINIAN WARRIOR who, having won races on the synthetic surfaces, won a Listed at Ascot over a mile. Both the ground and trip are unknowns and I'm more interested in the former 1000 Guineas winner ELMALKA who, having won her classic, was fourth in the Coronation, fourth in the Nassau and fourth in the Sun Chariot which were all decent efforts. On her return, she was well beaten by the Godolphin CINDERELLA'S DREAM in the Dahlia at Newmarket but the ground would have been lively enough. It's an interesting move to step her up in trip and if she gets a typical slowly-run French race she could well have too much speed for these. I still think SOSIE is the more likely winner and it's interesting to see if this one is going to be aimed at the Arc in the autumn. The Vicomtesse Vigier over 3150m has got Group 1 status for the first time. It's a real bonus for the soft ground stayers who don't usually have anything until the autumn. TRUESHAN has been sent over by Alan King - we know he loves the ground but it's a big ask first time up. SEVENNA'S KNIGHT won this last year and has been coming to hand with runs in Group 3 races. He re-opposes with DOUBLE MAJOR who beat him in the Royal Oak at the end of last season. DOUBLE MAJOR in turn faces the two horses who have beaten him this season - the 4-y-o CANDELARI and the 9-y-o DUBAI FUTURE. The former was third to PRESAGE NOCTURNE in the Barbeville while DUBAI FUTURE won the Dubai Gold Cup but isn't proven on slow turf. PRESAGE NOCTURNE could well be the one but in the Barbeville INTERNAUTE split him and CANDELARI and INTERNAUTE is my idea of the winner of what looks a trappy heat. LAKE FOREST, last seen winning the Golden Eagle at Rosehill (£2.8 million pot) runs in the Group 3 Palais Royal over 1400m.

Some years ago one horse name did through the rigid censorship: MARY HINGE  

Umberto Rispoli won his first American classic, May 17, guiding Journalism to win in a roughly contested Preakness Stakes (G1), the second jewel in the Triple Crown, and was named Jockey of the Week by the Jockeys' Guild for May 12 through May 18.View the full article

The New York Racing Association announced post times for the five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which will be held at historic Saratoga Race Course from Wednesday, June 4 through Sunday, June 8.View the full article

The Road, sponsored by Gainesway and Darby Dan FarmView the full article

1. Randwick R1. 03-05-10 2. Doomben R1   01-04-10 3. Doomben R2. 05-08-13 4. Doomben R3. 01-02-08 5. Doomben R4  01-02-07*BB 6. Doomben R5  01-03-04 7. Doomben R6. 05-09-13 8. Doomben R7. 01-02-06 9. Doomben R8. 01-03-09*BB 10. Doomben R9. 04-11-12 Thanks John/Scooby

1. Randwick R1   2 / 4 / 7  2. Doomben R1   1 / 9/ 13 3. Doomben R2   2 / 3/ 5 4. Doomben R3   1 / 3/ 6 5. Doomben R4   2/ 5 / 8 6. Doomben R5   3 / 8 / 11 7. Doomben R6   1 / 2 / 4 BB 8. Doomben R7   1 / 4 / 6 9. Doomben R8   1 / 6 / 9   BB 10. Doomben R9   5 / 11 / 14 Picking 30 horses acorss ten races...not so easy huh?!  Good luck to all of you and thanks for the comp RC. 

The other noticeable thing at Wingatui today, 38 runners from Canterbury. You do wonder whether it might be more efficient to hold the occasional meeting at Oamaru or Timaru, both of which are more central. Or even more sensible, hold the occasional grass track meeting somewhere in Canterbury, which I suppose has to be Timaru as Ashburton is stuffed and Riccarton don't want to race on the grass for most of the winter.

Lock up your daughters!!

Bit on tomorrow morning so jumping in early and hopefully update for scratchings by the deadline.. 1. Randwick R1   2 / 5 / 10 2. Doomben R1   1 / 4 / 13 3. Doomben R2   2 / 20 / 23 4. Doomben R3   1 / 2 / 3 5. Doomben R4   3 / 5 / 10 6. Doomben R5   7 / 9 / 14 7. Doomben R6   8 / 13 / 18 8. Doomben R7   6 / 11 / 12 9. Doomben R8   1 / 3 / 7 (BB) 10. Doomben R9   7 / 11 / 13 (BB)

https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/horse-racing/nsw-racing/kovalica-backed-to-end-drought-in-group-1-doomben-cup/news-story/02558564b794be086dc4b3560d597b68 Someone else thinks Kovalica can win too, good luck Pak Star. I am with Antino.

Thought Kovalica might be the party pooper, and secured the early overs.  Really depends which Jenni shows up and how the race shapes.  Jennis early speed could set up the likes of Kovalica and Antino over the top late.  

https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/horse-racing/qld-racing/some-of-it-was-really-nasty-tony-ottobre-on-pride-of-jenni-social-media-and-race-day-regrets-ahead-of-2025-doomben-cup-mission/news-story/0acb2e72bfc703f536094cb0b2dd580f Can't wait for Jenni vs Antino tomorrow.

Found a Graham Norton clip talking about some horse names that people tried to get registered;  Ben Timover Neil Anblome Oil Beef Hooked (say it with an Irish accent for full effect) Anita Hanjaab Arfur Faulkesaycke and one we have all heard of, Hoof Hearted. I left off Wily Fisterbottom because that is just rude.

Take off those MAGA goggles Tripple A, and see your KIng for what he really is. President Ramaphosa conducted himself with with decorum in that meeting. As a diplomat should. Your King conducted himself like the school-yard bully, which he is.

Welcome home to our favourite, famous, mighty champion son Lazarus 👏 🤗 I'm so glad he's home and owned here, this is his home, welcome home son, welcome home.....   Cheers Iraklis

I know one , now if I could just remember which forum he's on .

A very nice horse, and a very good win, but not Marcoola's first winner. That honour went to the Nathan Williamson trained Diva Bee at Invercargill lasy Sunday. A very impressive winner too.

Looked a lot more than that to me...but hey what would I know...I am not an "expert"🤣

Yes, it has a layer of sand (25mm) over the soil/silt base Thats why it's called sand carpeting