Breeders' Cup: 2 Europeans gain berths with wins at Curragh

Ireland-bred Moss Tucker made it to back-to-back wins at The Curragh with a determined success on Sunday in the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes. The 5-year-old son of Excelebration narrowly got the better of the Clive Cox-trained Get Ahead to win by a half-length at odds of 16-1.

The victory earned the Ken Condon-trained 5-year-old an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

The Flying Five Stakes was one of two Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races to take place at The Curragh on the Sunday card, along with the Moyglare Stud Stakes.

After a dramatic start to the Flying Five Stakes, in which short-priced favorite Highfield Princess exited the stalls in awkward fashion, the field soon split into two groups. Moss Tucker was prominent throughout and, as the race entered the closing stages, the field soon came back together with the Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds-owned Equality leading to the one-furlong marker. Moss Tucker showed tremendous grit to first outbattle Equality before getting the better of Get Ahead at the finish. Equality finished 1 1/4 lengths back in third. Highfield Princess never threatened the leaders and finished fifth.

Moss Tucker, ridden by Billy Lee, was making his second start at the top level finishing fifth in the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (G1) last October in France.

He came into Sunday’s race off a 2 1/4-length win in the six-furlong Rathasker Stud Phoenix Stakes (G3) over the course on Aug. 12.

"It's been a great story with this horse, how he's progressed and kept improving," Condon said. "The heavens opened about an hour and a half before and you're thinking that's going to help us a little bit. He’s the kind of horse you would want to be going into battle with. We were having a quiet time so to have a horse like him that can be competitive in these races, that’s what we all get up for in the morning.”

Moss Tucker completed the five-furlong contest in a time of 1:00:89 on a course listed as good to soft.

Fallen Angel is 'very impressive' in Moyglare Stud

Great Britain-bred Fallen Angel followed up her win in the Sweet Solera Stakes (G3) to become a Group 1 winner Sunday with a fine performance in the Moyglare Stud Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. The victory earned Fallen Angel an automatic berth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

After leading until the two-furlong pole, 6-5 favorite Ylang Ylang gave way to Fallen Angel and Vespertilio, with the duo quickly pulling clear of the field to produce a thrilling finish. But it was the Karl Burke-trained filly who dug deepest on the run to the line and ultimately outstayed her rival to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Ornellaia finished 4 1/2 lengths back in third.

Winning jockey Danny Tudhope has ridden the daughter of Too Darn Hot on each of her last three starts and this was his second winner on a successful Irish champions weekend.

“She was very impressive. She keeps getting better and better all the time,” Tudhope said. “She’s a beautiful big filly and is only going to improve. I’m absolutely delighted for her owner Steve (Parkin). Karl and the team work so hard and they deserve this. She’s got a nice way about her in the way she goes about her game and she’s very tough.”

Fallen Angel, the 9-4 favorite, completed the seven-furlong race in 1:27:50.