John O'Connor

LEIGHLINBRIDGE, Ireland—It's all systems go at Ballyhane Stud with the breeding season underway and its new stallion Soldier's Call (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) already in demand, and on Tuesday the Co Carlow stud hosted the official launch of a valuable new race sponsorship. The Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes, to be run over six furlongs at Naas on Monday, Aug. 3, is open to juveniles by a sire registered with the European Breeders' Fund whose median sales price is no more than €75,000, with weights allocated on a sliding scale according to...

It is almost half a century since Ballylinch Stud took delivery of its previous winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. In 1970, Sassafras (Fr) (Sheshoon {GB}) became the first horse to get the better of Nijinsky (Northern Dancer), beating the Triple Crown winner by a head at Longchamp before taking up residence in the beautiful tiled box which was once home to The Tetrarch (Ire) (Roi Herode {Fr}). That stable still stands away from the main stallion yard at Ballylinch and within its historic walls now is the...