Connections have confirmed that New Bay will race in Saturday’s Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
The four-year-old is one of 17 horses left in the mile-and-a-quarter Group One contest at the latest confirmation stage and looks set to oppose dual Derby hero Harzand and English 1000 Guineas and Oaks winner Minding in the race.
The son of Dubawi has only raced twice this year and was never in touch in the Prix d’Ispahan on his seasonal reappearance at Chantilly in May.
However, Andre Fabre’s charge bounced back to score in August and the French handler is relishing the chance to take on the big boys once again.
“New Bay is running in Ireland,” he said. “I think it is a nice race to try and win. The distance should suit him and we want to try and win another big race with him.
“He won a Group Three in Deauville in good style last time out and since then he has done really well.”
