Irish Derby contender Hurricane Run sold

Hurricane Run, second in the French Derby as the 7-10 favorite, has been purchased by Michael Tabor and Coolmore Stud for an undisclosed price less than a week before his next run in Sunday's Irish Derby.

A son of Montjeu, the hot young stallion who stands at Coolmore Stud in Ireland, Hurricane Run was bought from Dietrich von Boeticher of Gestut Ammerland on Sunday but has been leased back to von Boeticher and will run in his colors at the Curragh in the Irish Derby. He will also remain in training with Andre Fabre at Chantilly, but his rider to date, Christophe Soumillon, will be replaced by Kieren Fallon.

The winner of the Group 2 Prix Hocquart on May 9, Hurricane Run finished with a rush in the 1 5/16-mile French Derby on June 5, falling a neck short of victory as Shamardal led throughout. The 1 1/2-mile Irish Derby ideally provides a match between the winners of the French and English Derbys. However, with Shamardal having won the St. James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot at York last Tuesday and English Derby winner Motivator, another son of Montjeu, skipping the Curragh classic in favor of the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park on July 2, this Irish Derby will feature a battle between the runners-up of those two Derbys. Like Hurricane Run, the English Derby second Walk in the Park is also owned by Michael Tabor, is also a son of Montjeu, and is also trained in France, being quartered in Chantilly with John Hammond.