Euro/Mideast Road: O’Brien goes for Royal Lodge, Beresford double

Sep 25, 2025 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

The 2024 Royal Lodge went to Wimbledon Hawkeye (Photo courtesy of Newmarket Racecourse/Kentucky Derby)

While most Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders are bred and trained in the United States, the prestige of the “Run for the Roses” also attracts international interest. Horses based abroad accordingly have other ways to qualify for the Kentucky Derby by scoring points in designated races in Europe, Dubai, and Japan.

The one Dubai race, the UAE Derby (G2), is tacked onto the end of the European series of qualifiers, creating a seven-race “Euro/Mideast Road.” It has its own leaderboard, separate from the main Road to the Kentucky Derby that began at Churchill Downs in September, and also separate from the “Japan Road” that commences in late November.

The Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby begins on Saturday with two scoring races at historic venues – the Royal Lodge (G2) at Newmarket, the “headquarters” of British racing, and the Beresford (G2) at the Curragh, steeped in antiquity in Ireland’s County Kildare.

The Royal Lodge and Beresford are one-mile turf races, and each offers points on a 10-5-3-2-1 sliding scale to the top five finishers.

Legendary Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has contenders in both, giving him a chance at an early double on the Euro/Mideast Road. O’Brien has dominated the Beresford with an incredible 21 wins, and he’s a seven-time winner of the Royal Lodge. But it’s been a few years since he padded his stats. O’Brien hasn’t won the Royal Lodge since 2019, and his most recent Beresford winner came in 2021.

You can watch and wager on all the action from Newmarket and the Curragh on Saturday morning on TwinSpires.com.

Royal Lodge (G2) – Race 2 at Newmarket, 8:50 a.m. ET

British trainer George Boughey sends out the early favorite, Bow Echo, who is unbeaten in two starts so far. After romping in his debut at Newbury, Bow Echo repelled highly-regarded Publish in the Ascendant S. at Haydock. Up-and-coming rider Billy Loughnane is back aboard.

2⃣ from 2⃣

Group-race entered Bow Echo needs to dig deep to see off Publish but he's now a Listed winner on only his second start.

Another Night Of Thunder colt with stacks of potential

🟡⚫️ @gbougheyracing | @loughnane_billy pic.twitter.com/jQO14LglbC

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 6, 2025

O’Brien is double-handed with Action and Daytona. Action, a half-brother to this year’s Epsom and Irish Derby (G1) hero Lambourn, comes off a maiden score at the Galway Festival. Daytona won his first two starts, including the Pat Smullen S. at Naas, but lost his perfect record when third in the Prix Francois Boutin (G3) at Deauville last out.

Action is one of two colts in here sired by undefeated world champion Frankel. The other is Amo Racing’s Ancient Egypt, a $1.4 million yearling purchase at Tattersalls. Trained by Charlie Johnston, Ancient Egypt is 2-for-2 with wins at Beverley and Goodwood.

Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby has a logical player in Pacific Avenue. A debut winner at Newmarket in June, the homebred was most recently fourth in a blanket finish to the Solario (G3) at Sandown.

Pacific Avenue renews rivalry with Solario near-misser Humidity, the most experienced entrant with four starts under his belt. Humidity made a successful premiere in May and added the June 21 Chesham S. during Royal Ascot. Only seventh next time in the Vintage (G2) at Glorious Goodwood, the Andrew Balding runner went very close to rebounding in the Solario. Humidity crossed the wire a troubled third but was promoted to second via disqualification.

Tailgunner Joe, a Kentucky-bred from the first crop of Horse of the Year Knicks Go, is a half-brother to U.S. Grade 1 winner Sacred Wish. He’s yet to run up to their level, though, with unplaced efforts behind Humidity and Bow Echo in his stakes attempts. Rounding out the field is an even bigger longshot, Lord Britain, who has been competing on synthetic tracks.

Beresford (G2) – Race 3 at the Curragh, 9:35 a.m. ET

The O’Brien clan – Aidan, along with sons Joseph and Donnacha – is responsible for four of the five entrants. But the lone exception, Geryon from the Ger Lyons yard, is arguably the one they all have to beat.

Geryon, a grandson of 2001 Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine Flute, is the only one already tested at the Group 2 level. After springing an 18-1 upset in his debut at the Curragh, Geryon finished a clear second in the Futurity (G2) back here.

🏆LOPE DE VEGA sires 2yo Debut winner!

🏇Geryon wins the 7f 2yo Maiden at @curraghrace under @ctkjockey for Ger Lyons.

👏Congratulations to owner-breeder Newtown Anner Stud. https://t.co/I04U2HEXKp

— BallylinchStud (@BallylinchStud) August 9, 2025

Aidan O’Brien’s hopes, Hawk Mountain and Port of Spain, debuted in the same maiden as Geryon and checked in fifth and sixth, respectively. Hawk Mountain improved next time out to break his maiden over this one-mile trip, with stablemate Port of Spain a distant third. Port of Spain finally won in his next try at Punchestown.

Joseph O’Brien’s Al Haarith has yet to win, but he’s run well in a couple of hot maiden races at this track. Fourth in Geryon’s maiden when last seen, Al Haarith is eligible to move forward on the step up to a mile.

Joseph’s brother, Donnacha, likewise pitches a maiden into this spot. Shaihaan, who comes off a runner-up effort at Dundalk, enters on an upward curve.