Twilight Payment & Moonlight Magic head Curragh team

Twilight Payment and Moonlight Magic line up against strong opposition this weekend as they bid for G3 honours at the Curragh, Ireland, on Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August 21.

Both three-year-old colts are trained by Jim Bolger and ridden by Kevin Manning, with Twilight Payment taking on G1 Gold Cup scorer Order Of St George in Saturday’s Irish St Leger Trial over a mile and six furlongs.

Twilight Payment, a son of Teofilo, comfortably won a 12-furlong maiden at the Curragh on July 16 and stayed on gamely to finish third over two miles in the Listed Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot.

Jim Bolger commented: “Twilight Payment is in very good form and I am hoping that he can step up on anything he has done to date.”

Moonlight Magic also has a stiff task as he faces two-time G1 winner Fascinating Rock and Investec Derby runner-up US Army Ranger in the 10-furlong Royal Whip Stakes on Sunday.
 
The Cape Cross colt came home sixth in the G1 Irish Derby and trailed home last behind US Army Ranger at Epsom Downs but had previously scored impressively over a mile and a quarter in the G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown in May.

Jim Bolger added: “Moonlight Magic is very well and I hope to get him back on track.”

Bean Feasa (Jim Bolger/Kevin Manning), a half-sister to Teofilo, lines up in a mile fillies’ maiden on Saturday while Michael Halford and Shane Foley team up with the progressive Indrahar in a seven-furlong handicap and Ice Canyon in a six-furlong maiden on the same card.

Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial fifth Saafarr (Jim Bolger/Kevin Manning) goes for a first win in a 10-furlong maiden on Sunday, with recent Tramore scorer Gabardine (Michael Halford/Shane Foley) also running in a fillies’ handicap over a mile and a half.