The Niarchos Family, who bred Circus Maximus and raced the treble Group 1 winner in partnership with the Coolmore syndicate, are also supporting the freshman sire by sending him their European Champion 3-year-old filly Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who was named Horseracing Ireland's Horse of the Year in 2018.

Among the other well-credentialed mares already tested in foal to Circus Maximus are Group 2 winner Banimpire (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Bunditten (Ire) (Soviet Star), the dam of G2 Coventry S. winner Rajasinghe (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}), and the dams of Group 1 winners Rip Van Winkle (Ire), Trip To Paris (Ire) and Canford Cliffs (Ire).

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It is an understatement to say that it has been a very strange year. In Ireland we managed a few meetings behind closed doors before racing shut down completely, and we then had some uncertainty over when it was going to start again. We eventually accepted the fact that there was going to be no Aintree, no Fairyhouse, no Punchestown, no Guineas at the right time.

For a while it looked like we might get back before the end of May, but then that was scuppered, and that was really like having all your toys taken away from you in one go. It felt like you’d been hit in the stomach and it knocked all the wind out of you.

The Flat has been relatively unaffected and it was a particularly good effort by the authorities to ensure that all of Ireland’s Group 1 races will have been run this year, even if not necessarily all in their usual slots. The jumping calendar has obviously been more disrupted, and this week we received the news, disappointing but understandable, that the Boylesports Irish Grand National won’t be run at all this year. Initially it had been postponed from its usual Easter Monday slot to some unspecified point in the autumn, but now it has been cancelled. I can understand that. It’s such a special occasion that it’s much more than a raceday. It’s always been a real social occasion in the Dublin area and, while no race-meeting is the same without crowds, that is one in particular which revolves around the general public. Everyone always has so much fun there. We’ve been lucky enough to win it (courtesy of Our Duke in 2017) but it’s fun however your horse runs and whatever role you attend in. We’ll just have to look forward to going there again, hopefully next year.

When racing did eventually start up again in June it was great to be back, except of course I was told I couldn’t go racing because I was too old. That was a bit annoying at the time but I kind of got used to it. Richie [Galway], my son-in-law, went to England three times, so he effectively had six weeks of isolating here, and then Kate went to York and to Deauville for me, so I’m lucky to have lots of people and family around, and that does make a difference.

At the beginning of July I was finally allowed to go racing again, and that was a great novelty but I have to say that going racing behind closed doors is not a great experience, especially when the weather is bad. Over here, there’s only a smattering of other trainers present but at least now you can get a cup of coffee and a sandwich. For the first few meetings there were absolutely no facilities like that at all. So it’s been different and it’s been challenging, but it has worked. My feeling is that we’ll put up with all these things as long as we can in order to keep racing going. That’s the most important thing for the whole industry–

for the breeding, for the stallions–and not just in Ireland.

When we were in lockdown we were videoing the horses on the gallops, walking round, trotting round, and we kept trying to think of new ways to film the horses for the owners to make sure they weren’t getting the same thing every week. Now we’ve started racing, we do a video of the horse going round the parade ring, then a clip of the jockey before the race saying what he’s going to do, and then we record some more comments when he comes back in, and the owners get a video of the race. So even though they can’t be there to see their race, we are trying to keep the horses’ owners involved as much as possible.

The last few years have been great fun, having fillies, and now hopefully a few colts, who have competed at the top level on the Flat. This year would of course have been much more fun if I could have gone to Ascot or to Deauville or Chantilly, but we will just have to look forward to it next year. The fillies especially have been very good this year.

Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) is a really tough filly. She won the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot so well and has tried so hard in her two races in France since then. She is very different physically to her half-sister, [four-time Group 1 winner] Alpha Centauri, who was a big strapping filly. This one is rather small, but she just wants to please you. Then we’ve had Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who runs in the G2 Moyglare Blandford S. on Irish Champions Weekend, One Voice (Ire) (Poet’s Voice {GB}), Millisle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and Silence Please (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}). They’ve all competed at the top level, and hopefully our G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Albigna (Ire) (Zoffany Ire}) is on her way back to doing that as well.

Last year Albigna became our first runner at the Breeders’ Cup and I’m very much hoping to get to Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup this year. We’ll have to see how difficult, or not, that is. Hopefully we can at least get the horses there and the American owners can see them run. It doesn’t matter if I can’t go. The Niarchos family have always been tremendous supporters of the Breeders’ Cup, and I know Craig Bernick would love One Voice to be there, and we also have Silence Please for Team Valor. We would very much like to be there.

The same could be said about the Breeders’ Cup as the Irish Grand National, in that it’s much more than just a race meeting. Obviously as a race meeting it’s top class, with some of the best horses in the world. But it’s also a great occasion, particularly as in America the sport in general has a lower profile and it doesn’t break through to the wider consciousness that often. The Breeders’ Cup provides a great opportunity for racing in America to do that, and so it too just won’t be the same without crowds. However, it does look like it’s definitely going ahead, which will be a great feat of organisation as, with the overall COVID-19 situation in the States and with the consequent restrictions on travel etc., it’s not going to be easy. We’re lucky enough to have some horses good enough to attend, so God willing we’ll be there.

There are of course plenty of options for those horses here in Europe but we want to keep our options open and hope we can get to America. It’s going to be challenging to get the staff out there and we need to find out what isolating they will have to do once they get out there or when they come home. The staff have been fantastic and anyone who looks after a horse who is good enough to race internationally is very keen to go with them. We’ll do our best to go because it’s good for racing and good for owners, and it’s good for the sport internationally.

It’s the time of year when the National Hunt horses are starting to increase their work again. We don’t have as many jumpers in as usual but Sizing John (GB) (Midnight Legend {GB}) is working away and we are hoping to run him at Listowel–that’s our plan. We are keeping everything crossed and we hardly dare speak about it, but we’d love to get him back.

The Flat and the National Hunt horses all do the same thing really. I train them all muddled up together. The jumpers are great when the yearlings come in and start to be ridden. There’s always a few who go out with the jumpers, and the older horses behave so the yearlings realise there’s no point in jumping around because the other horses don’t jump around, and they learn like that.

We have a couple of very nice horses to look forward to, like Sizing Pottsie (Fr) (Kapgarde {Fr}), who was a good novice chaser from last year and he seems to have come back very strong. And of course we have the evergreen Magic Of Light (Ire) (Flemensfirth), who was runner-up to Tiger Roll (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) in the Grand National in 2019 and will go for the National again this season. She’ll probably go down her usual route of mares’ hurdles and mares’ chases first. It’s nice for her to do that and to get her confidence up before Aintree.

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“If all goes according to plan she could go to Deauville, but we just need to keep an eye on the ground,” said Alan Cooper, racing manager to owner/breeder The Niarchos Family. “There’s very hot weather forecast, but then there could be thunderstorms, so we’ll watch out for that. Her form appears very strong, with Fancy Blue winning again at Goodwood. The 3-year-old fillies appear to be very strong this year which is exciting, it’s good for racing.”

The Niarchos Family could yet have another major player in the division in Albigna (Ire), also from the yard of Jessica Harrington. The daughter of Zoffany went into winter quarters with hopes high off a win in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, but has only been seen once this year when sixth in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas.

“Albigna is making steady progress and it’s possible she could have a busy end-of-year programme,” said Cooper. “She could reappear in the Snow Fairy at The Curragh at the end of the month, we’ll just wait and see. But all is well with her.”

Cooper reported that 3-year-old colt Highest Ground (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who lost his unbeaten record when beaten a neck at third asking in the G2 Dante S. on July 9, will stay in training at four.

“Sir Michael is very happy with him currently, but he’s just waiting a little bit longer before committing to a plan,” said Cooper. “There was a mad rush when racing resumed with all the races crammed together, but it’s not like that now. The long-term plan for him is for next year, he’ll be staying in training as a 4-year-old, so Sir Michael will feel his way and when he’s ready, he’ll take it from there. I would think Highest Ground fits the profile of a typical Sir Michael late-maturing type–I hope so.”

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Drawn outside of Albigna in 14 is Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), one of the Coolmore partnership’s four representatives but one who has perhaps the greatest attention on her as Donnacha O’Brien’s first Classic runner. Unbeaten and successful in the Listed Staffordstown Stud S. over this course and distance in October, the relative of High Chaparral (Ire) approaches her big test in top order according to O’Brien Jr. “She’s gone very strong and she’s grown a little bit, so she’s done very well from two to three. We’re very happy with how things have gone,” he said. “She’s adaptable ground-wise, I wouldn’t mind a bit of juice as she bends her knee and won on slow ground at The Curragh last year. I’m not too concerned either way, but I’d be happy if it was good ground or around that.”

Donnacha’s brother Joseph O’Brien has a duo in Mark Dobbin’s outsider Brook On Fifth (Ire) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and Healthy Wood Co Limited’s New York Girl (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}). The latter was breaking her maiden on only her second start in the G3 Weld Park S. over seven furlongs here in September and their trainer said on Friday, “They are both in good form and New York Girl has done nothing wrong. The step up to a mile will suit well, as she will be seen to best effect over further as the season goes on. We’re hoping for a good run, but it’s a very hot race.”

There is obviously the usual Ballydoyle presence too, with a duo from that establishment adding to a total of five trained by the O’Brien family. Seamie Heffernan is on the Listed Montrose Fillies’ S. runner-up Peaceful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who earned ‘TDN Rising Star’ status on her prior start when scoring by seven lengths over this trip at Thurles in October having been ninth on debut behind another ‘TDN Rising Star’ in the Aga Khan’s Ridenza (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) over seven furlongs at Leopardstown in August. Ridenza sustained an injury during that race and trainer Mick Halford will be performing a masterclass if he can produce her to win this on her first subsequent start. “She’s a beautifully-bred filly, by Sea the Stars out of a good mare we had called Raydara, who won the [G2] Debutante for us,” he said. “She’s always shown us plenty from the very beginning and we always liked her, so it was no surprise she won at Leopardstown. Ronan [Whelan] gave her a beautiful ride on the day from a bad draw and she was very professional. Unfortunately for us and for her she returned to the unsaddling enclosure and was lame, it turned out she had fractured her pastern. She had an operation the next morning and stood in for a couple of months. She’s progressed really well since then, she took the operation really well and her recovery was good. We’ve brought her along slowly and she’s in very good form now.”

Also on The Curragh’s card is the G2 Lanwades Stud S., with the much-travelled Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) having a rare domestic outing following a winter chasing major international prizes. Successful in Flemington’s G1 Mackinnon S. in November, the 5-year-old ran a short-head second in the G1 Hong Kong Cup the following month before filling the same spot for the second year in Gulfstream Park’s G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Jan. 25. Given a break since her subsequent ninth in the Feb. 29 Saudi Cup on dirt, she has to give three pounds to all including Tan Kai Chah’s unexposed impressive Listed Garnet S. winner Silk Forest (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}).

Newbury also hosts a fascinating card, with the G3 Diomed S. seeing the return of last year’s G1 St James’s Palace S. runner-up and ‘TDN Rising Star’ King of Comedy (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). Staged over 113 yards shorter than when traditionally staged on Epsom’s Derby day card, another of the races to be moved courses in this unusual period also features last year’s winner Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}). John Gosden said of Lady Bamford’s homebred, “King of Comedy is finding his way back and will come on a great deal for any race he has, though he did make a winning start at Yarmouth last year. The track and the distance will suit him.”

Earlier on the Berkshire venue’s fixture is the Listed Abingdon Fillies’ S., which could prove the main English pointer to the G1 Epsom Oaks with its ideal positioning three weeks ahead of that Classic. Cheveley Park Stud’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Cabaletta (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) beat the impressive subsequent winner Frankly Darling (GB) (Frankel {GB}) on her sole start at Yarmouth in October and trainer Roger Varian is expecting a bold show. “Cabaletta is training nicely and is coming into herself at the right time. She stays well and will handle softer conditions, as it was testing conditions when she won at Yarmouth,” he explained. “The form doesn’t need talking about, as we all saw how the second Frankly Darling won up at Newcastle. She is a filly with a bright future and this is a lovely starting point for her. A track like Newbury on easy ground will suit her well.”

Lining up against Cabaletta is Kirsten Rausing’s Oriental Mystique (GB) (Kingman {GB}), the David Simcock-trained daughter of their G1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares S. heroine Madame Chiang (GB) (Archipenko). She beat the impressive subsequent handicap winner Declared Interest (GB) (Declaration of War) and the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas scorer Dubai Love (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) when last seen at Kempton in November and is as exciting a prospect as there is among the 3-year-old filly ranks.

John Gosden relies on Juddmonte’s Franconia (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who was second on her debut at Chelmsford in November. “She is a nice filly and she ran well first time out on her only start. She was ready to run in a mile-and-a-quarter fillies’ maiden earlier on, but as that was lost she is running over the same trip in a listed race. It is just typical of what has happened this year–you have to do some slightly unconventional things. I’ve been very happy with her. She is still learning as she is not that experienced, but it’s a nice, big galloping track which is nice for a filly like that.”

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Albigna (Ire)
Zoffany (Ire) – Freedonia (GB) (Selkirk)

Classy Niarchos family homebred who won the G1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac and G2 Airlie Stud S. last term before running fourth to Sharing in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf. Her dam won the G2 Prix de Pomone and is herself out of a half-sister to GI Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Domedriver (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}).

Apricot Moon (GB)
Bated Breath (GB) – Striking Choice (Smart Strike)

Bred by Australian-based Rosemont Stud, she was an 11,000gns pinhook by Troy Steve for Piermill Bloodstock but was then bought back for 8,500gns at Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. She won over a mile on the Dundalk all-weather in December in the colours of her trainer Andy Oliver and hails from the Juddmonte family of Zafonic and Zamindar, her great grandam being the Group 3 winner Zaizafon.

Brook On Fifth (Ire)
Champs Elysees (GB) – Slieve (GB) (Selkirk)

A 50,000gns foal purchase by Cathy Grassick from breeder Brian Williamson, this sister in blood to G3 Geoffrey Freer S. winner Census (Ire) (Cacique {GB}) won on debut last August at the Curragh over seven furlongs and two weeks later was fourth, beaten almost nine lengths, in the G3 Flame Of Tara S. Not seen again until Tuesday when finishing 12^th of 15 in the G3 Leopardstown Fillies Trial S. for Joseph O’Brien and owner Mark Dobbin. Very quick turnaround.

Even So (Ire)
Camelot (GB) – Breeze Hill (Ire) (Danehill)

In the navy blue of the Coolmore Partners, Even So is trained by Ger Lyons for Susan Magnier and Linda Shanahan. She appeared to relish the soft ground when winning easily over a mile at Gowran Park last September. She took advantage of the opening day of the Irish turf season at Naas on March 23 before the lockdown by running third in the G3 Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express S., a length behind the winner, her stable-mate Lemista (Ire) (Raven’s Pass). Her 20-year-old dam raced for Robert Sangster and is a half-sister to Derby winner Dr Devious (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}).

Fancy Blue (Ire)
Deep Impact (Jpn) – Chenchikova (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells)

A first Classic runner as a trainer for Donnacha O’Brien, who is going up against his father Aidan, who trained Fancy Blue last year, and brother Joseph with a smartly bred filly by one of the world’s best stallions of the modern era out of a full-sister to the brilliant High Chaparral (Ire). Unbeaten in two starts last autumn, including in the listed Staffordstown Stud S. over course and distance on soft ground, she is likely to thrive as she steps up in distance.

Katiba (Ire)
Footstepsinthesand (GB) – Katiola (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire})

A narrow winner over a mile in heavy ground last September, she was then third in the G3 Killavullan S. when dropping back a furlong the following month. Her dam won over a mile and a half and is a half-sister to the G2 Blandford S. winner Katiyra (Ire) (Peintre Celebre). Katiba has been declared in her breeder the Aga Khan’s old family silks of green and chocolate hoops, nowadays used as the second colours and last carried to Classic glory by Alamshar (Ire) in the 2003 Irish Derby when beating Dalakhani (Ire).

Miss Myers (Ire)
Zoffany – Jabroot (Ire) (Alhaarth {Ire})

The best of her three juvenile performances was winning a heavy ground maiden over 6½ furlongs in October, and she was less than a length behind Even So when fourth in the G3 Park Express S. in March. Bred by Glenvale Stud and Lynch Bages, Miss Myers was a €25,000 Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale purchase by Tom Mullins and is a grand-daughter of the German 1000 Guineas winner Walesiana (Ger) (Star Appeal {GB}).

My Lucky Penny (Ire)
Fulbright (GB) – Beauty And Style (Aus) (King of Kings {Ire})

Rated 54, she has been well beaten in four starts to date and was bought for €1,000 by her jockey Adrian O’Shea at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale. Bred by Kellsgrange Stud, her unraced dam is a half-sister to G2 Sandown Guineas winner King Ivor (Aus) (Fairy King) and treble Grade III winner Snake Eyes (Dixieland Band).

New York Girl (Ire)
New Approach (Ire) – Annee Lumiere (Ire) (Giant’s Causeway)

Bred by the Kelly family of Ballybin Stud, New York Girl was sold by them as a foal for 32,000gns and won the G3 Weld Park S. for Joseph O’Brien on her second start. Her listed-placed dam is a half-sister to the dam of GII Goldikova S. winner Rhythm Of Light (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}) and 15-time winner Lunar Deity (GB) (Medicean {GB}) who made his 100^th racecourse appearance earlier this week.

Peaceful (Ire)
Galileo {Ire}) – Missvinski (Stravinsky)

A winner over a mile in soft ground last year, Peaceful was then runner-up in the listed Montrose Fillies’ S. at Newmarket. Another Coolmore homebred, she is a sister to the listed winner and Group 3-placed Easter (Ire) out is of a dual listed-winning sprinter.

Ridenza (Ire)
Sea The Stars (Ire) – Raydara (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire})

Has raced just once, winning at Leopardstown over seven furlongs last August. Her dam, also trained by Michael Halford, won the G2 Debutante S. for the Aga Khan but was down the field when running in the Guineas herself.

Roca Roma (Ire)
Australia (GB) – Lucy Diamonds (Ire) (Orpen)

Runner-up to the well-related Amma Grace (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) on her sole start over a mile in October, Roca Roma was bred by Tommy Murphy and was unsold at 75,000gns when offered at the December Foal Sale. Her half-sister Roca Rojo won the GII Churchill Distaff Mile on the turf for Chad Brown.

So Wonderful
War Front – Wonder Of Wonders (Kingmambo)

Still a maiden from eight starts last year but one with pretty smart form, notably her third-place finish to subsequent 1000 Guineas winner Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. Bred by the Orpendale, Chelston and Wynatt syndicate, she boasts Urban Sea as her great grandam, while her dam won the Cheshire Oaks and was runner-up in the Oaks to Dancing Rain (Ire) before finishing third in both the Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks.

Soul Search (Ire)
Zoffany (Ire) – Ecoutila (Rahy)

Bred by Marston, Norelands and Richmond Bloodstock, Soul Search was a 230,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling, bought by Eamonn O’Reilly for her owner Maurice Regan of Newtown Anner Stud. She too is still a maiden after five starts but she was only two lengths behind Love when fourth in the G1 Moyglare Stud S., one of her three group placings last season.

Valeria Messalina (Ire)
Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) – Arty Crafty (Arch)

A winner on debut over seven furlongs and then runner-up to Rose Of Kildare (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in the G3 Oh So Sharp S. at Newmarket. She races in the colours of her breeder Anthony Rogers of Airlie Stud. Her dam is a sister to the GI Gulfstream Park Breeders’ Cup H. winner Prince Arch and half-sister to G1 Vincent O’Brien National S. winner Kingsfort (War Chant).

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