O’Brien scores Euro/Mideast Road double with Haffner in Royal Lodge, Noble Exhibit in Beresford

Sep 26, 2026 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore pictured earlier this month at the Curragh (Photo by Coady Media)

Haffner, a son of Triple Crown champion Justify, captured Saturday’s Royal Lodge (G2) at Newmarket to open the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby. A little more than an hour later at the Curragh, stablemate Noble Exhibit rolled in the Beresford (G2) to turn the double for renowned trainer Aidan O’Brien.

O’Brien was adding to his historic levels of success in both one-mile turf races. He was racking up an amazing 23rd win in the Beresford and his eighth tally in the Royal Lodge.

Both colts race for partnerships involving Coolmore. Haffner sports the colors of Peter Brant, who campaigns him along with Coolmore, Westerberg, and Brook Smith. Noble Exhibit is co-owned by the Coolmore partners – Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, and Michael Tabor – and Westerberg.

Each victory was worth 10 points applicable to the Euro/Mideast Road leaderboard. Haffner ranks as the early leader because he has more non-restricted stakes earnings than Noble Exhibit, who was making his stakes debut in the Beresford.

Royal Lodge (G2) at Newmarket

Kentucky-bred Haffner was rebounding from his only poor effort, a seventh in the Sept. 13 Vincent O’Brien National (G1) during the Irish Champions Festival. But that came on yielding going at the Curragh, and he had been a different horse on turf rated good or firmer.

On good-to-firm ground at Newmarket on Saturday, Haffner was back to his best as the post-time favorite. Ace rider Ryan Moore settled him just behind the pace, tracking Godolphin’s Quest for Stars. The better-fancied Godolphin runner, First Law, also raced prominently toward the middle of the course.

Haffner began to challenge about two furlongs from home, and he forged clear inside the final furlong to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths. Staying on well in his first try at the distance, Haffner clocked a fast time of 1:35.44 on the straight Rowley Mile.

Haffner wins the G2 @Tattersalls1766 Online Royal Lodge Stakes pic.twitter.com/8jyKp8dgue

— Newmarket Racecourses (@NewmarketRace) September 26, 2026

Burning Up rallied for second (five points) in his stakes debut. Fellow class-climber Quicken Away likewise did his best work late to get up for third (three points), edging First Law in fourth (two points) and Quest for Stars in fifth (one point). Next came Rocket Boy and Iwasjustsaying.

Haffner, who paid $5 stateside, previously booked his spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) by taking the “Win and You’re In” Acomb (G3) Aug. 19 at York. O’Brien indicated that Keeneland is very much on the agenda for the promising bay. A $375,000 yearling purchase at that venue last September, Haffner has compiled a record of 6-3-2-0, including a runner-up effort in the July 28 Vintage (G2) at Glorious Goodwood.

Bred by D. J. Stable and the Justify Syndicate, Haffner is out of the stakes-placed Zoffany mare Earth Strike. His dam (mother) is a half-sister to multiple Group 1-winning stayer Order of St George, hero of Royal Ascot’s storied Gold Cup (G1) in 2016, and Grade 3 victress Another Terrace.

Haffner’s great-grandmother (third dam) in the female line is champion Storm Song, whose signature wins came in the 1996 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and Frizette (G1). She also placed third in the 1997 Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Beresford (G2) at the Curragh

Noble Exhibit justified odds-on favoritism in the Beresford, returning $3 stateside. The son of all-time great Frankel was following up on his seven-length maiden conquest at Punchestown.

With Wayne Lordan back aboard, Noble Exhibit again showed high cruising speed early. The blaze-faced chestnut led the way from City of Dubai, who gamely chased throughout. Although City of Dubai tried his best to bridge the gap, Noble Exhibit kept up his relentless gallop and maintained a 1 1/4-length margin at the wire.

23 wins & counting for Aidan O'Brien in the G2. Churchill Tyres Beresford Stakes

Noble Exhibit lands the 2026 renewal pic.twitter.com/ovvP5uL9Hd

— The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) September 26, 2026

City of Dubai took home five points for his runner-up effort, and in so doing, the Paddy Twomey trainee prevented a clean sweep of the placings by O’Brien. Noble Exhibit’s stablemates Drumbeat (three points) and Shakespeare (two points) checked in third and fourth, respectively. Rounding out the order of finish were the Joseph O’Brien pair of Tommy Quick (one point for fifth) and Venetian Power.

Noble Exhibit negotiated the mile over a yielding course in 1:41.53 to advance his mark to 3-2-0-1. In his Aug. 22 unveiling at the Curragh, he was third to highly-regarded Monogram.

Bred in Ireland by Barronstown Stud, Noble Exhibit is a half-brother to Group 3 winner History and a full brother to Group 3-placed Minerva. They were all produced by multiple Grade 2 vixen Prize Exhibit, a Showcasing mare who is a full sister to Group 1-winning miler Mohaather.

This is the family of Accidental Agent and Cercene, both famous for upsetting major mile races at Royal Ascot. Accidental Agent stunned the 2018 Queen Anne (G1) at 33-1, and Cercene surprised the 2025 Coronation (G1) at the same odds.

Noble Exhibit is expected to tackle Group 1 company next, either in the Oct. 24 Futurity Trophy (G1) on the Euro/Mideast Road at Doncaster or in France.