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The 2024 flat racing season has been nothing short of spectacular, with several Irish-trained horses delivering performances that have captivated racing enthusiasts and analysts alike. Amidst a highly competitive field, four standout horses have risen above the rest, showcasing remarkable talent and consistency. These equine stars have not only thrilled spectators but have also become popular picks on horse racing bet online platforms.
In this article, we delve into the achievements of these impressive Irish-trained horses, highlighting their standout moments and what makes them the ones to watch as the season progresses.
City Of Troy
After imploding in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May, not many racing fans and pundits would have expected City Of Troy to feature on a standout performers list this season.
However, the Coolmore star rediscovered his champion two-year-old form at Epsom last month, streaking clear to win Aidan O’Brien his record 10th Derby.
It was yet another stunning training performance from the master of Ballydoyle and O’Brien went as far as saying that City Of Troy is his greatest Derby winner following the race.
The sky is once again the limit of City Of Troy and he is one of the top-rated horses in the world, coming in at second behind Laurel River at the time of writing.
Ezeliya
Another British Classic winner, Ezeliya is unbeaten in her two starts for veteran trainer Dermot Weld this season.
The Aga Khan-owned horse made her seasonal reappearance in the Group 3 Salsabil Stakes at Navan in April and beat the even-money favourite Purple Lily by half-a-length from 9/1.
That set the three-year-old up nicely for a crack at the Epsom Oaks, and Ezeliya easily landing the spoils— going clear in the final furlongs to deny Godolphin’s Dance Sequence by three lengths.
Her victory marked a second Oaks success for Weld, with Ezeliya’s win coming over 40 years after Blue Wind’s success in 1981.
White Birch
While White Birch suffered a devastating setback that saw him miss the Sandown Eclipse and a mouth-watering showdown with City Of Troy, his achievements this season are still noteworthy.
The John Murphy-trained horse has improved drastically as a four-year-old, kicking off the season with a victory in the Group 3 Alleged Stakes in April.
He stepped up in class for the Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes next time out and once again delivered, before stunning 2023 dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin in the Tattersalls Gold Cup with a three-length win.
The Juddmonte International Stakes at York in August and the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in September are some of the races that could still be on the cards for White Birch.
Kyprios
Another O’Brien-trained horse, Kyprios might be six years old, but he is still going strong for the Ballydoyle team.
The Moyglare and Coolmore-owned horse missed the majority of last season through injury but returned late in the campaign with second-place finishes at the Curragh and Ascot.
However, he’s yet to put a foot wrong this campaign with a Listed win at Navan on reappearance before a Group 3 success in the Levmoss Stakes at Leopardstown.
Of course, they were merely warm-up contests for the Ascot Gold Cup, and those prep races paid off as Kyprios regained the prestigious trophy with a win over Trawlerman.
