Roundup of the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" events and other stakes action on Day 1 of the Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown

Recap of the opening day of the 2025 Irish Champions Festival.

On Saturday’s Irish Champions Festival kickoff, classic-winning sophomores Auguste Rodin and Tahiyra raced into the Breeders’ Cup picture by defeating older horses in a pair of “Win and You’re In” contests.

The trainer/jockey tandem of Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore won two of the three Breeders’ Cup Challenge events on Saturday’s opening day of Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown.

The eponymous centerpiece of Irish Champions Weekend, the Irish Champion offers a free ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Turf. The Champions Juvenile and Matron serve as “Win and You’re In” races for the Juvenile Turf and Filly & Mare Turf, respectively.

Odds-on favorite St Mark’s Basilica survived an inquiry in the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Irish Champion (G1), but otherwise upsets were the order of the day at Leopardstown.

Three Breeders’ Cup Challenge events are on tap at Saturday’s kickoff of Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown.