15:05 Curragh

Saturday 19 July 2025

All13:3014:0014:3515:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 15:06 | Winning time: 58.36s

(8)

Erosandpsyche^b²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Gary Carroll| T: Daniel Murphy| OR: 101| D

50/1

Useful gelding. 3½ lengths eighth of 11 to Vespertilio in listed race at this course (6f, good, 40/1) 20 days ago. Uphill task.

Form: 22/02-38

(5)

Rumstar¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Rob Hornby| T: J G Portman| OR: 113| D

9/4

Smart gelding. Career best when winning 11-runner Sprint Stakes (11/2) at Sandown (5f, good to firm) 14 days ago by ¾ length from She's Quality, running on. Has good chance on form.

Form: 51-1601

(7)

The Highway Rat^b⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Chris Hayes| T: A Oliver| OR: 98| D

33/1

Useful gelding. Latest win at Navan in May. Respectable third of 11 in handicap at Dundalk (5f, 7/2) 7 days ago, unable to sustain effort.

Form: 0-60133

(2)

Mgheera⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: R L Moore| T: E Walker| OR: 108| D

5/2

Smart mare. 1 win from 1 run this year. 10/1, won 11-runner Temple Stakes at Haydock (5f, good to firm) on UK debut 56 days ago by ½ length from She's Quality. Enters calculations.

Form: 3506-11

(3)

Arizona Blaze²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: D Egan| T: A Murray| OR: 113| CD

9/4

Smart colt. C&D winner. Very good neck second of 21 to Time For Sandals in Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot (6f, firm, 28/1) 29 days ago, running on. Needs considering.

Form: 2-13162

(6)

Powerful Nation³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Andrew Slattery| T: A Slattery| OR: 107| D

11/2

Useful colt. 1 win from 2 runs this year. Career best when winning 8-runner listed race at Cork (5f, good to soft, 6/5) 36 days ago by 1¼ lengths from Songhai. Should improve.

Form: 2132-21

(1)

Grande Marques^b²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: J M Sheridan| T: J A Stack| OR: 95

50/1

Useful filly. 8/1 and blinkered for 1st time, respectable 1¼ lengths third of 8 to Saratoga Special in listed race at Ayr (5f, good to firm) 28 days ago.

Form: 132-583

(4)

Songhai^t1²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 98

25/1

Lightly-raced winner. Creditable 2¾ lengths sixth of 11 to Vespertilio in listed race (9/1) at this course (6f, good) 20 days ago, not ideally placed. Tongue strap on 1st time. Difficult ask.

Form: 12326

Forecasts

Arizona Blaze (9/4), Rumstar (9/4), Mgheera (5/2), Powerful Nation (11/2), Songhai (25/1), The Highway Rat (33/1), Grande Marques (50/1), Erosandpsyche (50/1)

RUMSTAR was back to his very best when winning a Group 3 at Sandown 2 weeks ago and shades the vote over Temple Stakes winner Mgheera and Commonwealth Cup runner-up Arizona Blaze.