Barnavara (Ire)

Those American prospectors sufficiently resourceful--in every sense of that word--to mine some genetic gold at the European breeding stock sales generally fall into two camps. For some, an expanding and ever more lucrative grass (and synthetic) schedule in North America will offset the commercial distrust of turf bloodlines in their homeland. But others may also recognize that Thoroughbreds are more versatile than we typically allow them to be, hoping to emulate the impact on dirt of bloodlines imported from Europe by outstanding breeders of the last century. Both agendas have...

Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Opera Longines had an open feel beforehand and there was a predictable bunch finish with Alpha Racing's Barnavara (Calyx) hanging on to clinch victory from See The Fire (Sea The Stars). Sent forward by Shane Foley to dictate, the Jessica Harrington-trained three-year-old who had been impressive in last month's Blandford kept digging in as threats emerged on either side to prevail by a short neck at 9-1. Less than a length covered the first five home, with One Look (Gleneagles) getting third, a short head behind...

With her winning momentum abruptly halted last time, many would have made the presumption that Barnavara (Calyx) was at a plateau but Alpha Racing's flagbearer was not having any of that on Sunday. Ruthlessly dominant in The Curragh's G2 Moyglare Jewels Blandford Stakes, the 6-1 shot had the notable yardsticks One Look (Gleneagles) and Red Letter (Frankel) trailing in her wake as she registered a third Stakes win under Shane Foley. "She's a fantastic filly and is improving all the time," trainer Jessica Harrington said. "She's a big filly and...

Having mastered Juddmonte's Red Letter last time, Barnavara (Calyx) was at it again on Wednesday with another Ger Lyons-trained daughter of Frankel held at bay in the G3 Al Shira'aa Racing Irish EBF Jannah Rose Stakes at Naas. This time, it was the unbeaten Faiyum who failed to get by Alpha Racing's improving filly having her first try at an extended 10 furlong trip. Undeterred by that, Shane Foley set out to make all on the Jessica Harrington-trained Barnavara who was third in the G2 Debutante Stakes in August and...

Coming into Monday's G3 Coolmore Stud Auguste Rodin Irish EBF Athasi Stakes on the back of a debut win at modest Bellewstown, Barry Fowler's Atsila sprang a minor surprise to stake her Irish 1,000 Guineas claim over the same mile trip and Curragh track later this month. Belying inexperience by having the nous to thread between rivals under Gavin Ryan towards the business end, the daughter of Phoenix Of Spain who was a 11-1 shot overhauled the experienced Cercene inside the final 100 yards for a half-length verdict. There was...

She was highly unlikely to be as impressive as at Royal Ascot and while Ballydoyle's Listed Chesham Stakes-winning TDN Rising Star Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Mecca's Angel {Ire}, by Dark Angel {Ire}) wasn't as ruthless in Thursday evening's G3 Jockey Club Of Turkey Silver Flash Stakes, her class duly told in Leopardstown's joint-feature. Settled behind her course-and-distance-winning stablemate Exactly (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) by Ryan Moore, the 1-16 favourite was pulled out of her slipstream approaching the furlong pole and sent onwards to a 3 1/2-length success. There was another 1...

Naas stage some potentially key Royal Ascot pointers on Sunday, with the feature G3 Goffs Lacken S. seeing the reintroduction of AMO Racing and Giselle De Aguiar's G1 Phoenix S. and G2 Railway S. winner Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Failing to see out the seventh furlong of the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. when last seen at The Curragh in September, he faces last year's G3 Marble Hill S. winner Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) who has a race under his belt having won Navan's Listed Committed S....