Ballylinch Stud

Victorious Forever's Bay City Roller (New Bay) went unbeaten in a three-race juvenile campaign, but was winless in six starts this term, and last year's G2 Champagne Stakes victor powered clear off the front end in Saturday's G1 Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern at Munich to cap a banner season for Newmarket-based conditioner George Scott. "It couldn't have gone any better," proclaimed Adrie de Vries, whose previous win in the contest came aboard Campanologist (Kingmambo) in 2010. "The trainer was extremely confident in the horse beforehand and that is why...

Next April will bring with it the 30-year anniversary of a notable birth at Iverk House Stud, that of the bay colt by Fairy King who would later deliver the holy grail for a breeder by winning the Derby at Epsom under the name of Oath. To pull it off from a small farm in Piltown, County Kilkenny, which has rarely been home to more than eight active mares at any one time, was quite the feat by Max Morris and his late wife Isabel. Certainly, Max has never been...

Owen Burrows trainee and G1 Fillies' Mile entry Touleen (Lope De Vega) caught the eye when making a winning debut tackling seven furlongs at Newbury last month and, racing under a seven-pound penalty, delivered a stunning performance to collect a TDN Rising Star rosette in Tuesday's Gascare Services EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes over the same trip at Leicester. "She's got a great mind on her, which is a big plus, she did everything right at Newbury and she's done everything right again today," commented Burrows. "William [Buick] was very impressed...

George Connolly is set to join Four Star Sales as a Bloodstock Sales Associate, the company announced Wednesday. From County Carlow, Ireland, Connolly grew up on his family's Burgage Stud, a successful National Hunt stallion farm that has produced multiple Grade 1 winners. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University College Dublin and was selected for the Godolphin Flying Start program - graduating with distinction in June 2025 as the leading student of his class. Connolly's early career has spanned top trainers, sales companies and stud farms around...

The three-day A Good Life Well Lived - Equine Summit ran from Monday, August 11-Wednesday, August 13 in Co Kilkenny. It was presented by the Irish Equine Veterinary Association (IEVA), in partnership with Connolly's Red Mills and featured attendees from numerous Irish industry bodies. During the first day, attendees visited Ballylinch Stud for lunch and a tour of the farm, as well as a stallion parade. Later in the day, guests attended a tour of the manufacturing facilities of Connolly's Red Mills in Goresbridge, and the day concluded with a...

Tom Lacy, the renowned breeder of Persian Force who is famed for providing Pat Smullen with his start in racing during his time as a trainer, has died. He was 89.  Lacy rode 50 winners as a jockey and found only Arkle and Flyingbolt too good aboard Height Of Fashion in two Irish Grand Nationals.  As a trainer, he sent out hundreds of winners from his yard in Rhode, County Offaly, spearheaded by Ingabelle, who went on to become a hugely important foundation mare at Ballylinch Stud. But it was...

Making her mark on a banner day for connections, Godolphin homebred Crimson Rose (Lope De Vega) powered to a four-length victory in Thursday's British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket. The 7-2 chance, a June 19 debut third at Chelmsford last time, was swiftly into stride and stalked the pace in a handy third through the initial stages. Bounding forward from the foot of the hill, she seized control approaching the final furlong and was ridden clear on the rise to outpoint Country Artiste (Supremacy)...

ASCOT, UK -- From a maiden on May 9 to a Group 2 winner at Royal Ascot less than 40 days later is some going but, as ever with bloodstock, the story reaches back much further than these few glorious weeks.  In the case of the Queen's Vase winner Carmers (Wootton Bassett), his owner-breeder Fiona Carmichael bought his dam Signe (Sea The Stars) as a yearling more than a decade ago and, as a half-sister to Group 1 winner Lord Shanakill, she carried the pretty hefty price tag of €1.1...

Godolphin's homebred 3-year-old Cualificar (Lope De Vega) made a stakes breakthrough in last month's G3 Prix La Force and doubled his pattern-race tally with a dominant 1 1/4-length success in Tuesday's G3 Prix de Guiche at Chantilly. The even-money favourite broke well and shadowed the pace in second through halfway in this nine-furlong G1 Prix du Jockey Club trial. Cruising to the front approaching the quarter-mile marker, he was stoked up with 350 metres remaining and kept on powerfully in the closing stages to comfortably hold the late threat of...

Richard Hannon trainee Persica (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), who retains an entry in next month's G1 Lockinge Stakes, continued on the upgrade with a first pattern-race triumph in Tuesday's G3 bet365 Earl Of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket. Last term's Listed Doonside Cup victor, who hit the board in February's G3 Winter Derby when last seen, was positioned in second for most of this nine-furlong contest. Relishing the rain-softened ground, the 3-1 chance loomed large going ominously well approaching the quarter-mile marker and powered clear up the hill to account for...

John O'Connor on securing Lope De Vega's Classic-winning son  The equine transfer market is no less difficult to navigate than its footballing equivalent and John O'Connor pulled off a coup that even powerhouse clubs like Real Madrid or Barcelona would have been proud of in luring last year's breathtaking Prix du Jockey Club winner Look De Vega (Fr) to Ballylinch Stud.  Look De Vega will stand alongside his sire Lope De Vega (Ire) at the County Kilkenny stud. This is on a par with Lionel Messi's son starring for Barcelona...

Oaks heroine Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was the first mare to breach the €500,000 mark on Friday, when selling for €650,000 to Ballylinch Stud during the first day of the Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale. Consigned by Godolphin, lot 1158 is the dam of two winners, including G3 Jebel Ali Mile scorer Swing Vote (GB) (Shamardal). The extended family features G1 St Leger hero and sire Brian Boru (GB). The Whisperview Trading-bred mare is in foal to champion sire elect Dark Angel (Ire).   2015 Oaks winner Qualify is...