Bluebloods galore at the Curragh as O'Brien sends out regally bred newcomers

The opening two juvenile maidens (1.25 and 2.00) at the Curragh on Saturday are crammed full of youngsters with blue-blooded pages, with Ballydoyle and Qatar Racing just two of the leading operations represented.

Among the runners for Aidan O'Brien in the mile Coolmore Arizona Irish EBF Maiden is Covent Garden, a son of the much-missed Galileo and the winning Holy Roman Emperor mare Inca Princess.

The Westerberg and Coolmore-owned colt is therefore a full-brother to just the five black-type horses, including Criterium International scorer Johannes Vermeer - who was also second to Rekindling in the 2017 Melbourne Cup and Marcel in the 2015 Racing Post Trophy - the Dewhurst and National Stakes-placed Wembley, and Kilboy Estate Stakes winner Elizabeth Browning.

O'Brien also saddles the twice-raced full-brother to Vertem Futurity Trophy winner Luxembourg in Hiawath, as well as Hippodrome, another son of Galileo and a 650,000gns purchase by MV Magnier from New England Stud at Tattersalls Book 1.

The colt is out of English and Irish 1,000 Guineas second Lightning Thunder, a daughter of Dutch Art and a half-sister to Group 3 winner Sweet Selection.

Among the rivals to the Ballydoyle team are Valiant King, a well-entered-up son of Roaring Lion and third on his debut for Joseph O'Brien and Qatar Racing. The colt is out of American turf scorer Assembly and from the family of Danehill.

The following seven-furlong Irish EBF Maiden will see the second foal out of triple Group 1-winning miler Alice Springs debut for Ballydoyle and the Coolmore partners.

The Quality Road colt Canute is a half-brother to Prettiest and looks to make it two winners from as many runners for the Falmouth, Matron and Sun Chariot Stakes winner, a daughter of Galileo and a full-sister to four black-type performers.

Another intriguing newcomer is another stabled at Ballydoyle in the form of Heart's Cry colt Continuous, a son of the winning Fluff. She is a Galileo full-sister to Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Maybe, the dam of Racing Post Trophy and 2,000 Guineas hero Saxon Warrior, now a promising first-season sire for Coolmore.

Fluff is also a full-sister to Queen's Vase runner-up Barbados, and Silver Flash Stakes and Prix Marcel Boussac second Promise To Be True.

Qatar Racing combines with Johnny Murtagh, who saddles newcomer High Court Judge, a son of the late Kitten's Joy and the first foal out of American Grade 2 winner and Grade 1-placed Proctor's Ledge, a daughter of Ghostzapper.

Moyglare Stud and Dermot Weld have enjoyed Classic success with Homeless Songs this term and the pair have the unraced Livio Milo to look ahead to as a son of Lope De Vega out of a Dark Angel full-sister to Group 2 winner Sovereign Debt.

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