Leopardstown: Sparan Nua and Ethical Diamond head Thursday features
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Wed 5 Aug 2026
Irish Oaks third Sparan Nua drops back to a mile for the Bahrain Turf Club Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday evening.
Jim Bolger’s daughter of Dawn Approach saw her unbeaten run come to and in last month’s fillies’ Classic, but there was certainly no disgrace in her third place finish behind Johanna Walsh over a mile and a half at the Curragh.
She won her first two starts, one over a mile and then over nine furlongs at Naas and Gowran Park respectively before successfully stepping up in trip to win the Munster Oaks, and connections are now keen to see how she performs reverting to a shorter trip at Group Three level.
PJ Colville, racing manager for owners Newtown Anner Stud, said: “We are delighted and so far so good with her. She’s back to a mile and the reason for that is to try and open up more options for her.
Sparan Nua finished third in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks last month.
“She won a maiden over a mile and it’s a different path from a maiden to a Group Three at a mile, but Jim is very happy, she’s working well so we are going to give it a shot and see how we go.
“If she manages to win, it opens up a lot of avenues. She’s in the Yorkshire Oaks and that’s still a definite possibility, so we will see how we go on Thursday and make a plan from there.
“We’ve gone from a mile to a mile and a half pretty quickly so there are other distances that we can try out there. It just gives us more options if we can win on Thursday.”
Needle Match is one of two raiders from across the Irish Sea, with William Haggas’ Night Of Thunder colt last seen struggling on firmer ground in the 2000 Guineas.
“After the 2000 Guineas he was really sore and jarred up, it was far too firm for him,” said Philip Robinson, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail.
“He took a long time to come back again and he’s only just started working a bit better. William just wants him out and on some nice ground. That’s why he’s going to Ireland.
“I think they are forecast some rain over there and at least there will be a bit of cut in the ground, whereas here it’s hard to find.
“He doesn’t excel at home – you don’t seem to see too much and he just does enough in his gallops – so we probably need a race to put him where we want him.
“It’s all about going over there for nice ground and if he was to go and win, we’d be delighted.”
Ethical Diamond will also be running at Leopardstown on Thursday, in the Group Three Ballyroan Stakes. (Pic: Francesca Altoft - focusonracing.com)
David O’Meara’s Audience is the other British challenger, while Aidan O’Brien also drops back Isaac Newton to a mile.
Joseph O’Brien fires a three-pronged attack with Al Haarith, Cowardofthecounty and Celtic Motif all declared, while David Marnane runs Tokenomics and Johnny Murtagh’s Chicago Critic completes the nine-runner field.
Willie Mullins’ Ethical Diamond is the likely favourite for the Group Three Ballyroan Stakes, with Ryan Moore booked for the ride.
The six-year-old, who won the Breeders’ Cup Turf last season, finished down the field on his last appearance in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, but has a little less on his plate back on home soil.
Gaucher is another runner for the Closutton powerhouse, while Joseph O’Brien is double-handed with Endorsement and Omni Man.
Jessica Harrington’s Green Impact and Murtagh’s Asakir also feature.
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