Ballylinch Stud
Paul and Clare Rooney's Isabella Giles (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) registered a pair of six-furlong wins--at Leicester in June and at Newbury in July--but lost her unbeaten tag when fourth in Ascot's July 26 G3 Princess Margaret S. before bouncing back to claim a first black-type score for her freshman sire (by Lope de Vega {Ire}) in Goodwood's Aug. 29 G3 Prestige S. when upped to seven furlongs last time. Aided by a strong tailwind over the same distance in Friday's G2 Shadwell Rockfel S. at Newmarket, the 11-5 chance continued...
September ushered in the early rounds of the yearling sales in Europe, with the Goffs UK Premier, BBAG, Tattersalls Ascot and Arqana Select sales all having taken place within the last fortnight. Three of that quartet have at least been able to take place in their intended venues, albeit Arqana's flagship sale was three weeks later than usual. The one-day Tattersalls Ascot Yearling Sale was moved to Newmarket, and Park Paddocks will also host the Tattersalls Irelend September Sale next week, which has been reduced to two days from three,...
There was a first black-type winner for the Ballylinch Stud-based New Bay (GB) (by Dubawi {Ire}) on Friday as Marc Chan's New Mandate (Ire) got up close home in Doncaster's Listed bet365 Flying Scotsman S. Keen early for Frankie Dettori restrained towards the rear of the group racing up the centre, the Aug. 23 Sandown nursery winner who was sent off at 17-2 found a gap up the far rail to wear down Laneqash (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) in the final strides for a head success, with the 5-4 favourite...
It has been both a good week and a bad week for women in British racing. Hollie Doyle has already featured in this column on several occasions this season but when her achievements make the evening news bulletin on BBC Radio 4, then it's worth revisiting the subject of this fast-rising jockey. When lockdown started, and racecourses in Europe were shuttered for at least two months, it was Doyle's partner Tom Marquand who grabbed the headlines with his Group 1-winning rides in Australia. Marquand is still 10 wins ahead of...
Frankie Dettori was looking for instant compensation for missing next week's Ebor meeting at York and he gained it at Deauville on Saturday as the G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) proved a class apart in the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano Haras du Logis Saint-Germain. Content to track the pace in second, Prince Faisal's homebred moved to the front at the top of the straight and drew away to confirm July 5 Chantilly Classic placings with The Summit (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Victor Ludorum...
Denied in the G2 Railway S. at The Curragh July 18, Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) returned to the same course and six-furlong strip on Sunday to dominate a competitive renewal of the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. Despite the presence of four group-winning colts Steel Bull (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}), The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}), Ventura Tormenta (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and Laws of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}), the market spoke mainly for Lucky Vega who was supported into 4-1 second favouritism and also Ballydoyle's maiden St...
Looking in need of further than a mile when finishing strongly to be third in the June 21 G2 German 1000 Guineas, the Kingsley Park syndicate's Rose of Kildare (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) bounced out of a subsequent third in Epsom's G3 Princess Elizabeth S. five days previously to stamp her class on Thursday's G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. at York. Not suited by a tactical affair on Derby day, last year's G3 Firth of Clyde S. and G3 Oh So Sharp S. winner was sent straight to the front this...
While John Gosden was overseeing the comeback of Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) at Sandown, Clarehaven were making their considerable presence felt at Chantilly as Prince Faisal's Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) captured the G1 Prix du Jockey Club. Impressive when dominating the June 6 Listed Newmarket S., the Nawara Stud homebred was ridden forward to a prominent position from his favourable draw by Ioritz Mendizabal and that made a world of difference due to the lack of a strong tempo. Eventually getting a gap inside the final furlong, the 15-2...
High Peak (Ire) (Fascinating Rock {Ire}), a debut runner-up at Newcastle earlier this month, justified odds-on favouritism to become the first winner for his Ballylinch Stud-based freshman sire (by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in Tuesday's Join Racing TV Now Novice Median Auction S. at Thirsk. 1st-Thirsk, £5,400, Nov, 6-16, 2yo, 7fT, 1:27.70, g/s. HIGH PEAK (IRE) (c, 2, Fascinating Rock {Ire}--Expectation {Ire}, by Night Shift), who shaped with a deal of promise when second in his June 4 debut over six furlongs at Newcastle, duly delivered as the odds-on favourite going...
Ballylinch Stud resident New Bay (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) became the latest freshman sire to strike when the appropriately named Charlie Fellowes trainee First Prophet (Ire) overcame greenness in Friday evening's It's Not Rocket Science With MansionBet EBF Novice S. at Newbury. 6th-Newbury, £6,400, Nov, 6-12, 2yo, 7fT, 1:27.03, gd. FIRST PROPHET (IRE) (c, 2, New Bay {GB}--Lus Na Greine {Ire}, by Pour Moi {Ire}) was swiftly into stride and raced up front in a prominent third through halfway in this debut. An ominous presence to his rivals throughout, the well-backed...
Springing a surprise in Saturday's Listed Newmarket S., Prince Faisal's homebred Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) was out on his own at the finish as he registered a four-length success under David Egan. Second in the Feb. 29 Saudi Derby at Riyadh, the 10-1 shot raced near the early pace before stretching on with two furlongs remaining. Staying on strongly up the hill, the G3 Hampton Court S.-bound bay had Volkan Star (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) adrift in second, with the 8-11 favourite Waldkonig (GB) (Kingman {GB}) a neck...
G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) has had his first two mares covered both scanned in foal. Those mares are Group 3 producer Bayja (Ire) (Giant's Causeway) and the maiden mare Barkaa (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), winner of the G3 Prix Vanteaux. Waldgeist stands for €17,500 at Ballylinch Stud. "Waldgeist was an exceptional racehorse and he has the pedigree, looks and athleticism to go with it," said Ballylinch Manager John O'Connor. "We have had a lot of success standing Lope de Vega in partnership with Gestut...