HURLING FOR CANCER RESEARCH

21st August 2023 at 6pm Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow

JIM BOLGER’S STARS

DAVY RUSSELL’S BEST

INDIVIDUAL €10 • FAMILY €15 TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM WWW.HURLINGFORCANCER.IE AND AT THE GATE

The Curragh would like to acknowledge the generous support of Scott Heider and his family today and celebrate their growing association with horse racing in Ireland.

Scott Heider and his family has been involved with racing in Ireland for seven years now. The history of the Irish horse is what initially drew them in and caused them to expand their racing operation from the States to Ireland.

“It’s just been a fantastic experience for us. We love our partnership with Joseph O’Brien and we’ve been very fortunate to race some talented individuals on Irish racecourses the last few years.

Horse Racing Ireland has been a pleasure to work with as they always seem to go out of there way to make sure our experience is quite special.”

“I began racing and breeding thoroughbreds with my father 26 years ago in The States. We’ve enjoyed some terrific times and been blessed with a number of high calibre horses including 2019 Grade I winner “Mia Mischief”. But there’s something extra special about racing in Ireland with its incredible history.”

The Heider’s success has been marked with victories on some of racing’s biggest days. Crossfirehurricane won on debut at Limerick and followed that up with three successive victories, notably in the Listed Patton Stakes at Dundalk and then the Gallinule Stakes, which they sponsored earlier in the season.

The talented Pista has also showcased her talent, progressing rapidly under the care of Joseph O’Brien to take the Vinnie Roe Stakes at Leopardstown before following up in the Group 2 Park Hill at Doncaster in 2021. She is a highlyexciting mare but has yet to be seen this season.

Agartha is another smart filly that Scott has on his hands in the Joseph O’Brien stable. She landed the Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown in fantastic style, before kicking on again to land the Debutante Stakes here at the Curragh last season. She has showed she remains a top force too with two seconds in Group 3 company, before stepping up to the top ranks here at the Curragh when a solid fifth in the 1,000 Guineas, won by Homeless Song. Despite a below-par effort on seasonal debut, she bounced back in style to finish runner-up in the Athasi Stakes and more success should flow shortly.

Twilight Spinner enjoyed success in that race last year, landing the Athasi Stakes in great style but has been kept under the radar since finishing a remote fifth in the Lanwades Stud Stakes.

More recently, the four-year-old Brostaigh has proved to be a force since dropping back down to the minimum trip. The bright filly landed a Listed race at Naas before taking a trip overseas, in which she conquered a Group 2 Chantilly.

The Heider’s affiliation with the Curragh can be found through their welcome sponsorship of the Round Tower Stakes and the Gallinule Stakes, two significant races in the Irish racing calendar.