Three Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In races will take place at Leopardstown Sept. 14, led by 2023 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) winner Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion Stakes (G1), who headlines an outstanding opening day on Irish Champions Weekend.
Isa Salman Al Khalifa's prerace favorite Economics steps up to group 1 company for the first time in the 1 1/4-mile Irish Champion Stakes and joins the eight-horse field alongside last year's winner Auguste Rodin for trainer Aidan O'Brien. The winner will gain an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Turf through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, an international series of 82 stakes races in 12 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar.
Two other "Win and You're In" berths will also be awarded at Leopardstown. The winner of the Matron Stakes (G1) will earn an automatic starting position into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T), and the winner of the Champions Juvenile Stakes (G2) will earn a free spot into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T).
The William Haggas-trained Economics swept his rivals aside to record a decisive six-length victory in the Dante Stakes (G2) at York in May before landing the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano (G2) at Deauville last month.
Haggas is confident the son of Night of Thunder is ready to step into what will be deep waters when he heads to Leopardstown. He said: "It will be his first time in a group 1 and he's going to have the might of Ballydoyle to take on plus a few others, but we will see. This is what it is all about, isn't it? I could do with the race being England, but I think he is ready to step up for sure. I don't know where his ceiling is, but I hope we're not there yet. Hopefully, there will be plenty more to come."
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, and Westerberg's Auguste Rodin is already guaranteed a run in the 2024 renewal of the Breeders' Cup thanks to his victory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot in June. He was last seen finishing fifth in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Ascot in July.
The partnership is also represented by 2022 Irish Champion Stakes winner Luxembourg, Irish Derby (G1) winner Los Angeles, and 4-year-old Hans Andersen. Los Angeles drops back in distance, having competed over 1 1/2 miles in his last three starts, which include a victory in the Great Voltigeur Stakes (G2) at York last month. O'Brien is seeking a sixth straight win in the race.
Other notable entrants include Shin Emperor, Ghostwriter, and Royal Rhyme.
Porta Fortuna, Nine Others in Matron Stakes
Medallion Racing, Steve Weston, Barry Fowler, and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Coronation Stakes (G1) winner Porta Fortuna, who finished second in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T), is the star attraction among 10 fillies set to start in the one-mile Matron Stakes for a free berth into the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.
The Donnacha O'Brien-trained daughter of Caravaggio finished second in the One Thousand Guineas (G1) at Newmarket in May before back-to-back victories in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and Falmouth Stakes (G1) at Newmarket.
Karl Burke has declared 2023 Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) winner Fallen Angel, who bids for a third group 1 victory on Irish soil. The daughter of Too Darn Hot returned to form emphatically at The Curragh when landing the Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1) after a below-par effort in the One Thousand Guineas at Newmarket. She has been absent since due to an injury setback. This will be her first run in Wathnan Racing colors after the Qatari operation purchased her.
The Yorkshire-based trainer reports her in good form and said: "She's over her little setback that she had during the summer and is training very well. She's proved in the Irish Guineas that she's definitely trained on. We were a bit disappointed with the run at Newmarket but I think that was to do with the undulations of the track. The Curragh suited her really well and I think Leopardstown will suit her just as well."
The group 1-winning Ylang Ylang was disappointing last time out when finishing seventh for trainer Aiden O'Brien in the Desmond Stakes (G3) over the course. Jockey Ryan Moore reported the ground to be too quick for the 3-year-old daughter of Frankel and connections will be hoping she's back to her best.
Willie McCreery is represented by two runners: Arturo Cousino's Jancis, an unbeaten 3-year-old filly by Tamayuz who won the Brownstown Stakes (G3), and Al Shira'aa Racing's Vespertilio, who finished second to Fallen Angel in last year's Moyglare Stud Stakes. The daughter of Night of Thunder has been slightly disappointing this season despite finishing a close third in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (G1) at Longchamp in May.
Now trained by Joseph O'Brien, last year's second, Rogue Millennium, has been declared. The daughter of Dubawi was last seen finishing third in the Prix Rothschild (G1) at Deauville in July after finishing third to Porta Fortuna in the Falmouth Stakes earlier that month.
Delacroix Leads Short Field in Champions Juvenile
Smith, Magnier, and Tabor's Delacroix is the favorite in the Champions Juvenile Stakes and will try giving Aidan O'Brien a third straight victory in the one-mile event, which awards the winner a free berth into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.
The son of Dubawi was an impressive winner in his second start over seven furlongs at The Curragh and is one of two runners for Aidan O'Brien, with Bernard Shaw, a son of Into Mischief , joining him in the race. Bernard Shaw was a $1.8 million purchase at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and is coming off a nine-length maiden win at Dundalk.
The all-Irish-trained field is completed by the Marc Chan-owned Green Impact, winner of the Frank Conroy Irish EBF Maiden for trainer Jessica Harrington at Leopardstown in July, and the Joseph O'Brien-trained Green Triangle for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
