Two high-class Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In races take place at the Curragh Sept. 14 on the second day of the Irish Champions Festival.
The Noor Elaine Farm Pty-owned Asfoora booked her ticket to Del Mar when she comfortably landed the Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) last month, which was a Win and You're In contest for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T). She faces 15 high-quality rivals on Sunday who will all be hoping to join her in winning this race and gaining an automatic berth into the Turf Sprint through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.
The 7-year-old mare now heads to the Curragh for what represents a first start in Ireland, and connections are hoping this can prove the perfect stepping stone to the Breeders' Cup.
Chenelle Ellis, Asfoora's groom, said: "She likes good to firm ground, so providing we get that sort of ground, I think she will be hard to beat. I think she is just peaking at the right time and hopefully that continues. I think the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint would be a good race for her.
"We'd love to get to Del Mar. She's taken us all over the world already—and to end up in America would be unreal."
Among her opposition is the hat-trick seeking AMO Racing-owned Bucanero Fuerte, who is a four-time course winner at the Curragh. The 4-year-old is a group 1 winner and is unbeaten in two starts in 2025. He will be joined by stablemate Arizona Blaze, who also carries the silks of AMO Racing.
Karl Burke won this group 1 showpiece back in 2018 with Havana Grey, and his Wathnan Racing-owned Night Raider showed a bit more in defeat when beaten just 2 1/4-lengths by Asfoora at York. The Dark Angel colt has never won on turf or over this five-furlong distance.
Fellow British challenger Art Power loves his trips to this track, having won here four times in the past. The King Power Racing-owned gelding is now an 8-year-old and has not tackled this five-furlong trip for almost two years.
Dual course and distance winner Two Stars is steadily improving and won the listed Woodlands Stakes at Naas last time, though this represents a steep rise in grade for the Mrs. Anne Gaffney, Tom Gaffney, and Liam J Butler-owned 5-year-old.
She's Quality, Mgheera, Whistlejacket, Nighteyes, Powerful Nation, Erosandpsyche, Grande Marques, Saratoga Special, Lady With The Lamp, and Vadream complete the field.
VENETIAN SUN, COMPOSING FACE OFF IN MOYGLARE STUD
The winner of the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1), the card's second Win and You're In race, will earn an automatic position into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T).
The unbeaten Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy-owned Venetian Sun will take on Composing in another highly anticipated renewal.
Venetian Sun steps up in trip to seven furlongs for the first time and will look to emulate stablemate Fallen Angel in landing this group 1 contest for trainer Karl Burke. The daughter of Starman is 4-for-4 and won the Prix Morny (G1) at Deauville last month.
Chief market rival Composing recorded a third consecutive win with the minimum of fuss when comfortably accounting for Suzie Songs by 2 1/2 lengths in the Aug. 23 Debutante Stakes (G2) at the Curragh.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien has won a record 10 renewals of this contest. He said: "Composing is a lovely filly who has done everything we have asked of her. She stays very well and was very impressive the last day. She's gone through all the different stages and we're looking forward to her."
Owners Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, and Michael B. Tabor are also represented by Precise and Beautify, whose chances are by no means underestimated. The former gained an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf when she captured the Aug. 24 Fillies' Stakes (G3) at Goodwood in her third start. Beautify is returning from a break after defeating Lady Iman in the June 28 Airlie Stud Stakes (G2) at the Curragh going six furlongs.
O'Brien added, "We always thought seven furlongs would suit Beautify well. She is working very well. Precise won at Goodwood and has been training well, too."
The field is completed by the Robert J. W. Moran-owned Pivotal Attack, who was a ready winner of a Galway maiden in July, and the Al Shira'aa Racing-owned Skydance, who has been highly tried in all four career starts but is the sole filly in the field without a win.
The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 93 stakes races in 15 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race at the Breeders' Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of the Flying Five Stakes to start in the Turf Sprint, which will be run at five furlongs, and for the winner of the Moyglare Stud to start in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, which will be contested at one mile. The Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 20 in order to receive the rewards.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
