12.17 Curragh, Mdn, 2yo, 8fT
The Curragh's final fixture of the campaign opens with this one-mile maiden won in 2025 by G3 Leopardstown Derby Trial victor and G1 Derby third James J Braddock (GB) (Zarak {Fr}).

Aidan O'Brien saddles four of the 23 entries including BOOK OF KELLS (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is a half to six-time Group/Grade 1 winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) out of three-time Group 1 winner Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Ballydoyle also sends forth the once-raced 320,000gns Book 1 yearling Choctaw Nation (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who finished second to subsequent G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud third Jesus Green (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) at Navan earlier this month; Piero Manzoni (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who is kin to GII Belmont Gold Cup victor The Grey Wizard (Ire) (Caravaggio); and Wassily Kandinsky (Ire) (Frankel), who is kin to two stakes performers produced by the dual Group 1-placed G3 Albany victrix Different League (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}).

James J Braddock's trainer Joseph O'Brien will bid for a fourth straight renewal with a team of three including Jaber Abdullah's €120,000 Arqana August yearling State Of Play (Fr) (Camelot {GB}), who is a grandson of G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Silasol (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}).

This story was posted in Europe, Shared News Europe and tagged Auguste Rodin, Dubawi, observations, The Curragh.