Al Shira'aa

Al Shira'aa's Kieran Lalor has nominated Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) as the operation's best chance of a winner at the Irish Champions Festival where the rapidly-progressive filly lines out in Sunday's G1 Moyglare S. at the Curragh.  Vespertilio forms part of a three-pronged attack on Ireland's flagship Flat festival that features homebred Atlantic Coast (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in Saturday's G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile S. at Leopardstown and Ocean Jewel (Ire) (Sioux Nation) in the Matron S. on the same card.  "We've six horses in training in Ireland and...

On the wall of Kieran Lalor's office is the photo of the 1965 Irish Derby winner Meadow Court, his celebrity co-owner Bing Crosby in shot, presumably just before, as legend has it, the great crooner serenaded the crowds at the Curragh with a rendition of When Irish Eyes Are Smiling. The success of the colt, who was also runner-up to the great Sea-Bird in the Derby and went on to give Lester Piggott his first success in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., prompted his legendary trainer Paddy...

Al Shira'aa Farms continued the spending spree on well-bred fillies it had begun last week at Goffs Orby when going to 1.25-million at Tattersalls on Thursday for the very first lot through the ring, the Dubawi (Ire) half-sister to Arc winner Waldgeist (Ire). Lot 336 was bred by Newsells Park Stud in partnership with Gestut Ammerland and sold by Newsells.   👑 the first lot into the ring today at #TattsOctober Book 1 sells for 1,250,000gns. Lot 336 is a filly by Dubawi (@DarleyEurope) half-sister to Arc winner Waldgeist. She...