Sun Goddess, Folsom Blues dominate BC WAYIs at the Curragh

The O’Brien dynasty divided the spoils on day two of the Irish Champions Festival at the Curragh, including an equitable sharing in the three Breeders’ Cup Challenge events. 

For Aidan O’Brien, Sun Goddess demolished the Moyglare Stud (G1), earning a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), and Scandinavia added to his growing lore as a great stayer in the Irish St Leger (G1), where he topped the all-Ballydoyle trifecta.

O’Brien’s sons carved up the other big prizes. Joseph O’Brien celebrated a triple with Folsom Blues in the Vincent O’Brien National (G1), a “Win and You’re In” for the Juvenile Turf (G1); Thundering On in the Blandford (G2) for distaffers; and Star of State in a rich race for Tattersalls Ireland graduates, while brother Donnacha sent out Comanche Brave to stamp his Turf Sprint (G1) ticket in the Flying Five (G1).

Four of their winners were ridden by Ryan Moore. Aside from the Ballydoyle duo of Sun Goddess and Scandinavia, Moore picked up the mounts on Thundering On and Star of State from the sidelined Dylan Browne McMonagle.

Moyglare Stud (G1)

Sun Goddess ($2.60) has gone from strength to strength this summer, including a victory in the six-furlong Phoenix (G1) over subsequent National hero Folsom Blues. But the Sioux Nation filly handled the step up to seven furlongs in the Moyglare with a degree of ruthlessness, bolstering her profile for next spring’s 1000 Guineas (G1).

The odds-on favorite was a relaxed fifth early in the six-filly field as stablemate Alpha led the way. Although the stalker Dancing Destiny was the first to play her hand, Sun Goddess engulfed them all in short order. She crossed the wire 6 1/2 lengths clear in a final time of 1:27.68 on the yielding course, a shade faster than Folsom Blues in the National.

Joseph O’Brien runners filled out the minor placings. Green Empress closed from the rear to take second from Dancing Destiny. 

Alpha tired to fifth, ironically replicating the same disappointing result by her dam, Alpha Centauri, as the favorite in the 2017 Moyglare. Alpha Centauri went on to become a superstar miler at three, so it’s far too soon to discount her daughter’s prospects. 

Sun Goddess racked up her fourth straight win, advancing her record to 7-5-2-0 for the Coolmore partners and Westerberg. Since her runner-up effort in the Albany (G3) at Royal Ascot, she’s rattled off victories in the Balanchine (aka Airlie Stud) (G2) and Phoenix here as well as a six-length rout of the Aug. 20 Harry’s Half Million at York. The bay was eligible for that sales race as a $161,739 purchase at the Goffs Premier Yearling Sale at Doncaster.

A cutback to six furlongs in the Sept. 26 Cheveley Park (G1) is one of the options on the table for Sun Goddess. The Newmarket feature would give her an opportunity to gain revenge on Albany winner Libertango and confront Prix Morny (G1) romper Senorita Bonita. 

Bred by Owenstown Bloodstock in Ireland, Sun Goddess is out of Etoile Bleu, a Starspangledbanner half-sister to multiple South African Group 2 winner Gibraltar Blue. She hails from the immediate family of current Prix Jean Prat (G1) hero Thesecretadversary. 

Vincent O’Brien National (G1)

Fourth choice Folsom Blues ($11.50) had been in the shadow of his favored stablemate, Monogram, but he stole the limelight with a new career high. 

Under a well-timed ride by Joey Sheridan, Folsom Blues settled near the back early, crept into contention, and waited for the cue to put the leaders to the sword. The Blue Point colt was let go entering the final furlong, and his response was immediate. Folsom Blues took command and opened up by six lengths while clocking 1:27.80.

Monogram’s inexperience showed not only in his slow start, but also when he took a while to access his gears at the crucial stage. The favorite got clued in late for second, rounding out the exacta for Joseph O’Brien.

Early leaders Florida Bay and Trean wound up third and fourth, respectively. The lone British shipper, Dr Rascal, was fifth. 

Giant Sequoia and Haffner trudged home next in subpar efforts that underscored the patchy form of Ballydoyle at the moment. Speaking earlier Sunday, Aidan O’Brien revealed that the yard has been dealing with a bug of some sort for the past couple of months, but that it’s not always detectible until the exertion of raceday. 

The first Al Shira’aa Racing homebred to bag a Group 1, Folsom Blues is out of the Group 3-placed Oasis Dream mare Liwa Palace. She is also responsible for Group 3 scorer Atlantic Coast

Folsom Blues sports a mark of 5-2-2-1. The bay placed third to Ballydoyle’s well-regarded Sergei Diaghilev on debut before crushing a Gowran Park maiden at seven furlongs. Folsom Blues was accordingly favored in the Tyros (G3), but he couldn’t catch front-running Florida Bay. 

Dropping back in trip for the Phoenix, Folsom Blues was a respectable runner-up to Sun Goddess. He paid her a compliment while appreciating a return to seven furlongs here. The Oct. 10 Dewhurst (G1) is potential target, with the Breeders’ Cup very much in play. 

Joseph O’Brien’s other juvenile winner, Star of State ($2.20), ran herself into consideration for the Cheveley Park by outclassing her rivals in the 6 1/2-furlong Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales S.  

Jaber Abdullah’s colorbearer ranked as the overwhelming favorite coming off her second to Libertango in the Lowther (G2) at York, and she left no suspense in a 2 1/4-length decision. The minor awards, however, were positively chaotic with First Line paying $102.60 for finishing second. 

Star of State’s resume now reads 4-2-2-0. Runner-up on debut to next-out Ballyhane winner Livenka, Star of State romped by nine lengths in a Leopardstown maiden en route to the Lowther. 

Star of State is from the first crop of multiple Group 1-winning globetrotter State of Rest, who was likewise trained by Joseph O’Brien. Bred by Mountarmstrong Stud, the $100,325 Tattersalls Ireland September yearling is out of the Group 3-winning Dark Angel mare Nations Alexander.

Flying Five (G1)

Muhaideb Almuhaideb’s Comanche Brave ($7.50) justified favoritism in his first attempt in a five-furlong dash. The son of Wootton Bassett successfully reinvented himself as a sprinter this season, scoring marquee wins in the July Cup (G1) and Greenlands (G2), but his six-furlong prowess was no guarantee of effectiveness over Europe’s minimum trip.

Comanche Brave resolved that scruple while confirming himself as a proper contender in the 5 1/2-furlong Turf Sprint at Keeneland. The only question was when young Billy Loughnane could find room behind a wall of horses. Cantering up on hold, Comanche Brave finally knifed between foes to win cozily by 1 1/4 lengths in :58.80.

The British sprinters chasing him home in the superfecta – American Affair, Rumstar, and 2024 Turf Sprint upsetter Starlust – give the form a solid look as well. Time for Sandals, the slight second choice at 3-1, was a non-threatening 11th of 17.

Comanche Brave’s scorecard stands at 16-5-2-4. Bred by the O’Brien family’s Whisperview Trading, the dark bay is out of the Holy Roman Emperor mare Ishvana, who placed in the 2012 Irish 1000 Guineas (G1) and beat the boys in the seven-furlong Jersey (G3) at Royal Ascot. 

Comanche Brave’s career trajectory was similar, except he needed an even sharper cutback to reach his peak. Runner-up to Henri Matisse in last year’s Leopardstown 2000 Guineas Trial (G3) and fifth in the Irish 2000 Guineas (G1), he was third in the Jersey, Solonaway (G2), Abu Dhabi Gold Cup, and 1351 Turf Sprint (G2) on Saudi Cup night. 

Needless to say, Comanche Brave was no match for world phenom Ka Ying Rising when trying about six furlongs in the April 26 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (G1) at Sha Tin. But he rebounded in the sprint ranks back home, having found his true calling. 

Blandford (G2)

Epsom Oaks (G1) star Thundering On ($3.60) regained top form with a scintillating rally from far off the pace, advertising her claims for the Oct. 4 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1).

The Frankel filly had raced only once since her June 5 classic coup, finishing fourth in the Pretty Polly (G1) over this course and 1 1/4-mile distance, but the ground was a lot faster that day. Sunday’s easier surface brought out the best in Thundering On, who thundered home by 1 1/2 lengths from Lilt and Red Letter in 2:04.29.

Shapoor Mistry’s homebred Thundering On was capturing the trophy that had eluded her dam, Thundering Nights, who was third in the Blandford in both 2020 and 2021. A Group 1-winning Night of Thunder mare, Thundering Nights raced for the same connections as her daughter. 

Thundering On improved her line to 7-3-2-0. The chestnut had been on an upward curve going into the Oaks, fresh off a maiden-breaking romp in the Salsabil S. at Navan, and chances are that she still has upside. 

Irish St Leger (G1)

Scandinavia ($2.40) extended his winning streak to eight, and his overall mark to 13-9-1-1, with his trademark remorseless drive. The son of U.S. Triple Crown champion Justify wore down front-running Queenstown by two lengths, finishing 1 3/4 miles on the good round course in 2:58.18.

Their Ballydoyle stablemate, Jan Brueghel, did his best work late in an eye-catching third. Aidan O’Brien explained that the hero of the 2024 St Leger (G1) at Doncaster and 2025 Coronation Cup (G1) had been very ill over the summer, and he needed a quiet prep to put him right for the British Champions Long Distance Cup (G1).

Scandinavia, who won last fall’s St Leger at Doncaster, has now turned the double in the Irish quasi-equivalent that is open to older horses. Also a back-to-back winner of the past two editions of the Goodwood Cup (G1), he passed his most searing test in the June 18 Gold Cup (G1) at Royal Ascot. Scandinavia could go into winter quarters ahead of another preparation for the Gold Cup in 2027.

The Coolmore homebred is a half-brother to Group 1 winner Above the Curve, who captured the Blandford during this festival in 2022. They were produced by the Galileo mare Fabulous, a half-sister to “Iron Horse” Giant’s Causeway and a close relative of a raft of other major winners, including Gleneagles.