The highlight of the day on Sunday is the Irish St Leger, the fifth and final Irish Classic of the year. It headlines a stellar race card featuring four Group 1 contests, and a Group 2 for Fillies & Mares.
Here, I take a look through some of the key races taking place at the Curragh – you can check out the thoughts of ambassador Jane Mangan ahead of both Day 1 and Day 2 of the 2025 Irish Champions Weekend.
2.40pm – 7f Moyglare Stud Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies)
The Karl Burke-trained VENETIAN SUN (NAP) comes into the Moyglare on the back of a four-timer, and she looks very much like the filly they all have to beat on Sunday.
Currently the antepost favourite for next season’s 1000 Guineas, Venetian Sun was last seen making light work of Gstaad in the Prix Morny at Deauville three weeks ago.
The Starman-filly is stepping up to seven furlongs for this contest, which will be her last run of this season.
3.15pm – 5f Flying Five Stakes (Group 1)
Course and distance scorer ART POWER knows what it takes to capture an Irish sprint after landing four of them already at the Curragh, including over the minimum distance in September 2023.
The grey gelding clearly comes to life every time he steps onto this racecourse, and at odds of around 14/1, he’s clearly great each-way value.
3.50pm – 7f National Stakes (Group 1) (No Geldings)
Eve Johnson Houghton’s ZAVATERI has been a revelation this season, and the winning streak might not be over just yet.
His trainer believes that he is the best juvenile she has ever trained after he cemented his Classic credentials with victory in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
That victory, under a 3lb penalty after his Newmarket success, has had all connected to the colt dreaming of next year’s Classics, but before that he will have a good go at taking this Irish Group 1.
4.25pm – 1m6f Irish St. Leger (Group 1)
The chances are that Aidan O’Brien will have already captured the English version of this race some 24 hours earlier, so the omens for ILLINOIS are extremely strong on home turf. Twice a Group 2 winner, the colt has yet to score at the highest level, but this appears to be his time to step forward.
Second in the Grand Prix de Paris last season, the booking of Christophe Soumillon looks like the perfect combination for success at the Curragh on Sunday.
5.00pm – 1m2f Blandford Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares)
Jessica Harrington’s BARNAVARA has been as consistent as they come this season, and there is no reason why she shouldn’t figure in the closing stages once more here.
The Calyx-filly had a purple spell of form in the month of June, and probably found the ground a little too yielding in the Group 3 Snow Fairy Fillies Stakes a fortnight ago.
Trading at around the 10/1, she is very much a podium pick in this Group 2 affair.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
