Shin Emperor team hopeful of going two places better in Foxrock Japanese star Shin Emperor is bidding for redemption at Leopardstown as the Irish Champions Festival gets underway. Sakai and Shin Emperor target Champion Stakes glory Jockey Ryusei Sakai is relishing a second chance at the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes with Shin Emperor. The pair finished third behind Economics in last year’s renewal and return more experienced this time. The Yoshito Yahagi-trained colt has not been seen since the Dubai Sheema Classic in April, but Sakai reported him in excellent shape after a strong workout on the Curragh. “He is a more mature and stronger horse now than last year, more experienced too. He looks great, very healthy and seems to have settled well,” the rider said. Shin Emperor faces stiff competition, including Aidan O’Brien’s Eclipse winner Delacroix, as well as stablemates Expanded, Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and Whirl. Johnny Murtagh’s Zahrann, last year’s hero Anmaat, and John Murphy’s White Birch add further depth to the 10-furlong Group One. Stellar fields assembled across Leopardstown weekend The Matron Stakes has attracted 13 entries, with last year’s Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Fallen Angel leading the way after her Prix Rothschild triumph. January, Cercene, One Look and Cathedral add further intrigue to the Group One contest. Sunday’s Curragh card features the Comer Group International Irish St Leger, with O’Brien’s Illinois potentially clashing with Joseph O’Brien’s Al Riffa. The latter advertised stamina credentials with a Curragh Cup victory. Australian mare Asfoora makes history in the Bar One Racing Flying Five Stakes, becoming the first Australian-trained Flat runner in Ireland. She will be joined by 19 rivals, including Bucanero Fuerte, Arizona Blaze and She’s Quality. The Moyglare Stud Stakes pits Karl Burke’s unbeaten Venetian Sun against Composing and Diamond Necklace, while O’Brien fields five of the 10 contenders in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, among them the highly regarded Gstaad.
