“This Is Massive For Us” – Asadna Has Aughamore Team Excited For Ascot

Aughamore Stud's Michael Gleeson has said that producing Asadna (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), arguably the most impressive two-year-old winner there has been so far this season and a genuine Royal Ascot contender, eclipses anything the family-run farm has achieved in the sales ring. 

Gleeson runs one of the shrewdest breeding and pinhooking operations in Ireland along with his brother Laurence. The Westmeath men have made a habit of producing a number of big results at the sales in recent years and are now savouring what looks a real Coventry S. contender in TDN Rising Star Asadna. 

He said, “This is massive for us. The sales ring is brilliant but it's the winner's enclosure where you really want to be. We were fortunate enough to have sold a Group 1 winner [Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus})] who won the Matron S. during lockdown so we couldn't be there for that. That's always going to stick in the back of your mind so we're going to make sure we're at Royal Ascot to see Asadna run.”

That might be a good idea. The ratings suggest that what Asadna did on debut at Ripon was something out of the ordinary. In actual fact, no two-year-old has posted a bigger Timeform rating than Asadna did when pulling a massive 12 lengths clear of his rivals to win over six furlongs on debut at Ripon for George Boughey. 

For Asadna to win on debut didn't come as a surprise to anyone close to him. But for him to go and post one of the most impressive speed figures in recent times for a debutant, just over a month after selling from Church Farm and Horse Park Stud to owner Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah for 160,000gns, could not have been predicted by anybody. 

Gleeson said, “We spoke to John Cullinan and Roger Marley, who breezed him, and they were very keen on the horse. But then again, he didn't blow the lights out at the Craven but still managed to sell well. 

“Obviously, they got him sold on their reputation because it was probably the soft ground that killed him in the breeze. We heard he was going well with George and everyone liked him but you never want to get too far ahead of yourself. 

“You hear so many stories about horses who are going to be the next big thing and it normally doesn't work out so you have to try and keep your feet on the ground.”

He added, “When you first saw him win by that distance, you were in shock. And then the more information that came out in the following hours and days made you wonder if it actually happened. At the same time, it was still only a maiden, but he looks very exciting.” 

Asadna is a best-priced 4-1 for the Coventry but most firms are quoting just 5-2 about him winning one of the most prestigious two-year-old races in the calender. His success is a triumph for the Gleeson brothers' patience and once again highlights their ability to sniff out a bargain given the dam Looks Great (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) was picked up for just 10,000gns through Hamish Macauley at the Tattersalls July Sale seven years ago.  

Gleeson said, “We've seven broodmares on the farm now but a lot of those have only been purchased in the past couple of years. Asadna is out of one of the original mares that we bought when we moved back home to the farm to try and give it a go so it has taken time. It's a long time since she was bought from the sales as a three-year-old. 

“As her name suggests, she was an outstanding individual and we knew that her dam [Danehill Dreamer (Danehill)] produced lovely-looking stock. There was a Nathaniel (Ire) colt  [Ecole d'Art (Ire)] out of the mare that made 675,000gns as a yearling. 

“You need to find an angle and have to forgive something somewhere when you are shopping at that level. So we forgave her page because she had a strong backpage and felt that New Approach (Ire) would be a very good broodmare sire, which he now looks to be. He looks to be the next big thing as a broodmare sire.”

He added, “We were actually debating whether or not to put her in training after we bought her off Godolphin but we just didn't have the finances to test the waters.”

The Gleesons kept it local by travelling just 20 minutes from their base in Streamstown, County Westmeath, to their near neighbours in Tally-Ho Stud to visit Mehmas just before his first runners hit the track. It turned out to be an inspired decision given the heights Mehmas has scaled in the interim and Gleeson is hoping that Asadna can be the latest star for the popular sire. 

He said, “We went to him during his first season and it just made sense to go back. He is local to us there in Tally-Ho Stud and they have always been very good to us. It was an easy decision. When we used him the second time with the mare, with the resulting progeny now being Asadna, there was actually a lot of word about his first runners so we decided to send two mares to him before anything hit the track. It proved to be the last chance saloon when you consider what his stud fee is now. 

“But with the way the market is gone now, there has to be an element of risk because sire power is everything, especially with the mares who don't have the big pages. You need to land on the right sire to potentially upgrade your mare.”

Gleeson added, “Looks Great now has a Belardo (Ire) yearling filly who I imagine we will bring to the Tattersalls Ireland September Sale. She's also in foal to Nando Parado (GB, who we have a share in, so we were keen to support him this year with something decent.”

“Even though The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB}) is in the pedigree, you also have Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}), while Fille De Reve (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Sulaalaat (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) were other highly-rated performers in the pedigree as well. Sulaalaat actually won over six furlongs so we just said that we'd embrace the speed element of the pedigree. From a commercial point of view, it made sense to go that way with that level of a stallion.”

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Somerville Soars As Zoustar Filly Leads The Charge

NEWMARKET, UK–There are plenty of troubling stories out in the big wide world at the moment, but buyers at the yearling sales so far this season appear not to be concerned or affected by a cost-of-living-crisis, with the Tattersalls Somerville Sale the latest to benefit from a boom in demand for young stock.

The Somerville is only in its second year but it has already been pegged as an important fixture in the run of yearling sales and the 2022 renewal posted huge gains in all sectors. Four six-figure lots compared to just one last year, and an increase from 17 yearlings making 50,000gns or more this time last year to 39, meant that the median rose by 60% to 26,000gns, and the average by 42% to 30,377gns. The clearance rate also improved on a string start last year and settled at 88%, while at 7,746,200gns, the turnover was up by 56%.

The only trouble this newcomer to the auction calendar could face is balancing the desire by a number of participants for it to remain in its one-day format with what is likely to be a rise in demand for places. This time around 290 horses were offered from an original catalogue of 313, and from a 10 a.m. start, trading continued for 11 hours until the final yearling left the ring just after 9 p.m. It was a long day for most people involved in the sale, but the 'one and done' aspect of the Somerville remains of appeal in an increasingly condensed calendar. This week alone there are sales taking place in Newmarket, Doncaster, Deauville and at Yorton Farm in Wales within the space of four days.

 

Select Plantation Draft Makes a Splash

For Plantation Stud it was in a sense a case of 'if at first you don't succeed'. Last December at the foal sale, the stud took home a Zoustar (Aus) filly and Shalaa (Ire) colt, knocked down to vendor for 18,000gns and 20,000gns, respectively. Returned to the ring as yearlings on Tuesday, it was a markedly different story, however, as the Newmarket farm accounted for two of the four six-figure yearlings on the day.

Leading all-comers was the daughter of Zoustar (lot 213), the recipient of a boost from her half-brother Unanimous Consent (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}), who has won and been fourth in a Grade II in America this season, and was set to run on Tuesday night in the GIII Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs. But she had also grown into an imposing individual in the intervening nine months, persuading Richard Hughes to stretch to 160,000gns to secure her for his burgeoning team of yearling purchases this year.

Hughes, a former multiple champion jockey himself, calls on another champion of the jumps division, the legendary AP McCoy, to break in his yearlings. “They don't mess with him,” he said with a laugh.

“She'll take a bit of time but we'll see how her brother gets on tonight. If he wins tonight then she's half-price. I'd say he's a 115 [rated] horse.”

The filly has Australian sires on both sides of her pedigree as her twice-raced dam Fast Lily (Ire) is by Fastnet Rock (Aus) and is a half-sister to two classy fillies in the G2 Lowther S. winner Silk Blossom (Ire) and G3 Prix de la Porte de Maillot victrix Mashoora (Ire), both by Barathea (Ire).

James Berney, who manages Plantation Stud for Michael O'Leary, said of the sale's top lot, “We are over the moon, she deserves to make that type of money and she has improved greatly through the year. Her brother's form has helped as well.

“We are delighted she is going to Richard Hughes and it's great for the mare. She has a Showcasing (GB) foal at and she is in foal to Pinatubo (Ire).”

He added, “There has been a bit of motion with this sale and we thought we'd bring along horses who might stand out a bit.”

Just an hour earlier, Plantation Stud's Shalaa colt (lot 188) had gone through the ring, fetching a final bid of 120,000gns from Oliver St Lawrence.

“He is for Fawzi [Nass] and team and will probably end up in the red and white colours of Victorious Racing,” said the agent while sitting next to Archie Watson, who trains the G2 Coventry S. winner and last year's Somerville Sale graduate Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) for the same connections.

St Lawrence added, “The mare is two from two [winners] and they are both rated up in the 90s. I think he will be going to Archie.”

Watson also issued an update on Bradsell, who is recuperating from an injury sustained in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. and will be aimed next spring at a Commonwealth Cup trial.

The Shalaa colt's winning dam Dream Dana (Ire) (Dream Ahead) has produced the multiple winners Operatic (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) and Dynamic Force (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and is a daughter of the dual Group 3 winner Lidanna (GB) (Nicholas). The immediate family includes the Group 1-winning sprinter Wizz Kid (Ire) (Whipper), a son of Dream Dana's half-sister Lidanski (Ire) (Soviet Star).

 

 

Aughamore Strike With Mehmas Colt

Nobody in the bloodstock world really needed a reminder that Mehmas (Ire) is one of the most promising young sires to have burst onto the scene in recent years, but it never hurts for a stallion to have a Group 1 winner just prior to a sale. Minzaal (Ire) gave his Tally-Ho Stud-based sire, or more accurately those consignors with one of his yearlings to sell, a timely boost with his G1 Sprint Cup victory at Haydock, and it was a win that underlined that there is more to just speed and precocity when it comes to Mehmas. The speed is there for sure, and we saw just how precocious his stock can be when members of his first crop helped Mehmas set a new European record when becoming champion freshman sire. But far more importantly, his stock appear to thrive on their racing, as exemplified by the 4-year-old Minzaal, who also happens to be a former Gimcrack winner.

Laurence Gleeson of Aughamore Stud was one of those beneficiaries, selling a homebred colt (lot 163) to Ross Doyle and Robson Aguiar for 135,000gns. Out of the winning Exceed And Excel (Aus) mare Classic Image (GB), who was bought by Gleeson as a 3-year-old for 6,500gns, the colt will be trained by Richard Hannon, who also trained Mehmas.

“Mehmas needs no introduction, and the farm has done a great job prepping him, he looks fantastic,” said Doyle. “He is a good mover, and Mehmas has already been a very good friend to a lot of people.”

Gleeson added, “We sent the mare to Mehmas just as he was just about to have his first 2-year-olds, and we heard there were some good breezers. We took a punt and it has worked out.

“This colt has been a star here everyone was saying that he was a stand-out. You don't want to get your hopes up but it has all worked out in the end.”

 

Hannon will also take charge of another Ross Doyle purchase (lot 126), a filly by Kodiac (GB), bought for 70,000gns and whose ownership group will include one of the owners of Australian superstar Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}). Adrian Whittingham and his son Darcy of the New South Wales-based Honeycomb Stud already have horses in training in the UK, including the twice-placed juvenile Tellus (GB) with John Quinn, who previously trained Deny Knowledge (Ire) for the same partnership before the daughter of Pride Of Dubai (Aus) was transferred to Michael Kent in Australia. The Whittinghams' trip to Europe to watch Verry Elleegant run at Longchamp on Sunday also provided time for a Tattersalls shopping trip.

Doyle said, “She has been bought to go to Richard Hannon for partnership of Honeycomb Stud in Australia and one of our clients will take half. They are happy to race here, but if they think the horses might be more effective Down Under they will ship. A broodmare pedigree is a big bonus down the line.”

The Kodiac filly, who was consigned by her breeder Tally-Ho Stud, is a granddaughter of the G1 Irish Oaks winner Winona (Ire) (Alzao) and from the further family of the multiple Grade I winner Stella Madrid (Alydar).

 

Teme Valley Hoping For Another Star

A striking chestnut son of Starspangledbanner (Aus) turned plenty of heads, but it was Richard Ryan who has the most staying power in the bidding battle to secure the Ballyhimikin Stud-consigned colt (lot 147) who had been bought as a foal for €62,000. That sum was more than doubled by the time the hammer fell at 130,000gns, and Ryan had plenty of extra encouragement in ensuring that he was bought for Teme Valley Racing, who, until the end of last season had campaigned Starspangledbanner's outstanding son State Of Rest (Ire).

“He was a slightly unexpected type of horse to find this horse in this sale, a different ball game than the rest of the field, I thought,” said the agent. “He's a good strong Starspangledbanner colt with a good backside on him. He is from a real speed family and will make a lovely 2-year-old. He is a proper horse, and would be in any sale.”

A son of the Bahamian Bounty (GB) mare Black Rodded (GB) and a half-brother to three multiple winners, the colt is a great grandson of the fast dual listed winner Palace Street, who later found fame as the dam of G1 July Cup winner Sakhee's Secret (GB). The family has been boosted recently by the G3 Coral Charge win of Raasel (GB), who is out of a half-sister to Black Rodded.

Vendor James Hanly of Ballyhimikin Stud said, “It is a great venue and everyone is here. It is a very good format as a one-day sale–people can get in and have plenty of time to see them over the weekend.”

He added, “It's a strong market and I'm very pleased with that price. The sire has had such a good year, there has been a big uplift in the stallion. Let's hope this colt goes on and wins lots of good races; it is a good way to start the yearling sale season.”

Hanly's positive start to the season continued its good run later in the session when he sold a Zoffany (Ire) filly for breeder Sven Hanson for 75,000gns to Grant Pritchard-Gordon of Badgers Bloodstock.

Lot 268 hails from the family of Group 1 winner and late dual-purpose sire Poliglote (GB) and is out of the Reliable Man (GB) mare Kiss Me Daily (Fr), who is a half-sister to Australian Group 1 winner I'm Your Man (Fr) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and to the dam of five-time group-winning stayer Called To The Bar (Ire) (Henrythenavigator).

 

 

Following in the Footsteps of Malakahna

Footstepsinthesand (GB) may now be a veteran of the stallion ranks but he can still come up with a sales horse and lot 189, Knockatrina House's half-brother to listed winner and Group 3-placed Alakhana (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}), was a case in point. One of four yearlings by the Coolmore sire in the sale, he sold for 90,000gns to Ben Brookhouse, who said, “He's a good walker with good scope. He's not too big and not too small and has a lovely attitude.

Brookhouse, who works with successful dual-purpose trainer Ian Williams, is already familiar with the family through Alakhana's daughter Malakhana (Fr), who won a Grade 3 fillies' hurdle for the Williams stable at Cheltenham in April.

“She's a hardy mare. If he's half as good as her he'll be alright,” Brookhouse added.

Bred by Canice Farrell, the dark bay colt is a son of the listed-placed Dubai (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was also a winner at two in Germany.

 

Middleham Park Return to Winning Formula

Middleham Park Racing teamed up with agent Ed Sackville to return to a successful formula. For the syndicate, the combination of the Somerville Sale plus Havana Grey has provided them with one of their stars of the season in Eddie's Boy (GB), the Weatherbys Super Sprint winner who has also twice been listed-placed and was a 45,000gns purchase from the inaugural sale.

One of their key selections of the day and the sale's early leader was Hillwood Stud's distinctive grey-spotted Havana Grey filly (lot 67), who brought the gavel down at 85,000gns.

“Obviously Havana Grey from this sale has been a recipe for us before so we have tried to repeat it,” said Middleham Park's Tom Palin of Middleham Park. “Obviously Havana Grey is a more established sire now than this time last year so we have had to pay more but this filly is from a family we have followed and we have bid on a couple [of her relatives] before.

“She is a good solid, nice-moving filly and the nicest Havana Grey we have seen here. She is a strong horse, too and we saw her on our own and then Ed put her to us. The stars were aligning, as such.”

Palin added that the filly would be trained by Hugo Palmer, who moved from Newmarket to Michael Owen's Manor Farm Stables in Cheshire at the beginning of the season.

“You could see her whipping around Chester in the Lily Agnes,” Palin said. “The Havana Greys are sound horses who keep running for you. We are really taken by them, we got a bit lucky that we stumbled on him at the right time and we threw plenty of Havana Grey darts at the board and come up with 180. They are good, honest horses and delighted to get another one.”

A half-sister to the 82-rated multiple winner and Group 3-placed Show Me Show Me (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), the filly was bred by Whitsbury Manor Stud, where her sire stands. She is a daughter of the six-time winner Springing Baroness (GB) (Bertolini) who is herself a half-sister to Showcasing's G2 Mill Reef S. winner Toocoolforschool (GB).

 

 

Major Result For Minor

The first foal of the winning George Vancouver mare Cirrus Minor (Fr) brought a smile to the face of breeder Zorka Wentworth when the filly by Bated Breath (GB) sold as lot 162 from the Norris Bloodstock draft to Oliver St Lawrence for 75,000gns.

A half-sister to the G1 Doomben Cup winner Pornichet (Fr) (Vespone {Ire}), Cirrus Minor is a permanent boarder at Jenny Norris's Redenham Park Stud and is now back in foal to Bated Breath.

“I'm chuffed to bits,” said Wentworth. “Jenny has done a great job and she seemed to be very popular. I put a good reserve on her because I was quite happy to keep her myself. Now I just need her to win because the mare has a gorgeous Time Test (GB) colt foal.”

 

Dunlop's Change of Direction

This time last year Harry Dunlop and Anthony Bromley of Highflyer Bloodstock went to a 12,000gns for a colt from the first crop of Tasleet (GB). Later resold at the Goffs UK Breeze-up for £47,000, that colt went on to win the G2 Coventry S. under the name of Bradsell (GB).

Dunlop was back at the Somerville Sale on Tuesday and bought a filly by Outstrip (GB) (lot 140) in partnership with his brother Ed for 20,000gns, and it is in this role we are more likely to see him in the future after he announced that he would be handing in his training licence at the end of the season.

“Thankfully I am stopping training on my own terms and my financial situation is in a good place and is all sorted out,” he said. “But I am very much keen still to be involved in the industry because I think it would be foolish to step away from it. I love the sales and I love racing and what I would love to do is manage some horses for a big client as well as doing some work at the sales.”

He continued, “I bought a filly with my brother today, which is something I have never done before. I really liked her and hopefully she will do well for Ed. Her sister Ardad's Great is entered in the G1 Cheveley Park S. and is trained by Jessie Harrington, so we are hoping that she could have a nice update.”

Dunlop, who trained French Group 1 winner Robin Of Navan (Fr), as well as Group 2 and Listed Derby Trial winner Knight To Behold (Ire) for American owner Neil Jones, is keen to expand on the international experience of his own training career as well as that gleaned through growing up in Arundel, where his father John trained successfully for decades.

“Dad was a big pioneer on the international circuit and I think was the first English trainer to have a runner in New Zealand and in the Japan Cup, and while I have been training I've had a lot of success in France,” he said.

“The international aspect of the business really interests me and over the last few years we have seen increased investment from overseas, especially from owners in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.”

He added, “I've also been helping Tom Ward at the sales, doing some spotting for him. It's fun working with another trainer and offering an opinion, and Tom is a guy going places. He had his first listed winner this season and lives close to my home in Lambourn.”

 

From the Somerville to October…

Reflecting on the Somerville Sale, which provided an extremely lively warm-up for Tattersalls' major yearling sale which gets underway in four weeks' time, chairman Edmond Mahony said, “Last year's inaugural Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale proved to be an immediate success and today's second renewal has made further significant progress with wide margin gains in all the key indicators of average, median and turnover, as well as a new record top price for a Somerville yearling of 160,000 guineas.

“It was very apparent as we were inspecting yearlings in the spring that there was genuine enthusiasm for our newest yearling sale from both British and Irish consignors and they have supported the fixture with exactly the profile of sharp, precocious, commercial yearlings which we were looking for. To see the average and median prices both rise by more than 40% and the sale turnover increase from under five million guineas to well in excess of seven million guineas demonstrates a sale of real vibrance from start to finish. Equally impressive has been a clearance rate nudging 90% and the number of yearlings selling for 50,000gns or more which has risen from 17 to 39 while six-figure transactions have increased from one to four.”

He added, “The sheer number of buyers here at Park Paddocks over the past few days is also a reflection of the racecourse success enjoyed by so many graduates of last year's sale, most notably the G2 Coventry S. winner Bradsell, and we look forward to similarly impressive results next year as well as to sustaining the momentum of today's sale into Books 1 to 4 of the forthcoming Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.”

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Tony and Anne O’Callaghan Inducted To ITBA Hall Of Fame

The cream of Irish Thoroughbred breeding was recognised on Sunday night, with the headline act being Tally-Ho Stud's Tony and Anne O'Callaghan, who were inducted into the ITBA Hall of Fame.

Last year's ITBA National Breeding & Racing Awards provided one of the bloodstock social media events of lockdown, but after two years of virtual presentations, the prestigious awards ceremony returned to its rightful home of The Heritage hotel in Co Laois.

The O'Callaghans also took home one of the main Flat awards when being named the joint-winners of 2-year-old colt category with Ben Sangster. This was in recognition for breeding Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}), winner of the 2021 G1 Middle Park S. and G1 Prix Morny and the co-top-rated Irish-bred juvenile colt along with the unbeaten Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who landed the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy after winning the G2 Beresford S.

Tally-Ho Stud, based in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, is currently home to seven stallions, among them the much respected Kodiac (GB), as well as Mehmas (Ire) and Cotai Glory (GB), who have been the leading first-season stallions of the last two years. A video produced by the ITBA to commemorate the induction included tributes from the O'Callaghans' two sons, Roger and Henry.

“They've worked hard to get here and everything they've got they've earned,” said Roger. “Mum did the night-watching for 25 years. She did all the foaling–mum did the nights and dad did the days.”

Henry also acknowledged his mother's role is the successful business. He said, “When it's a small operation everyone does everything. My mum was up during the night and when my dad got up she would give him a hand with the feeding. Even now, when we are watching the mares, she has an innate ability to predict when they are going to foal.”

In addition to Perfect Power, who was recognised with an award on the night and is himself by Ardad, a stallion bred by the O'Callaghans, the Tally-Ho team was also responsible last year for breeding the Group 1 winner Ebro River (Ire) by another of their stallions, Galileo Gold (GB). Further success came through the G2 Gimcrack S. and G2 July S. winner Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), as well as Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who won the G1 Commonwealth Cup in addition to her 2020 victories in the G1 Prix Morny and G2 Queen Mary S.

Patrick Burns of Newlands House Stud was recognised with the ITBA Small Breeder Award, with his crowning glory of 2021 being the G1 Nuntorpe S. victory of Winter Power (Ire), a daughter of Bungle Inthejungle (Ire) who stands at Rathasker Stud, owned by Burns's brother Maurice.

“Patrick is the epitome of a successful high-class small breeder,” said ITBA chairman Joe Foley. “From the small number of yearlings that he produces every year he seems to produce a really good horse from every crop. That success rate is really remarkable.”

Burns has never had more than six mares on his farm in Kildare, and recent graduates have included the G2 Lowther S. victrix Living In The Past (Ire), who is also a daughter of Bungle Inthejungle, as well as G2 Lanwades Stud S. winner Devonshire (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) and Listed winner Hurryupharriet (Ire) (Camacho {GB}).

Another hugely popular category is the Wild Geese Award, which honours Irishmen and women who have carved out successful careers in the bloodstock industry worldwide. Added to an impressive roll of honour this year are the names of Gabriel and Aisling Duignan. Based in Kentucky for more than 30 years, Gabriel 'Spider' Duignan is a founding partner of Paramount Sales, along with his fellow Irishman Pat Costello. Aisling Duignan, née Cross, is Coolmore's director of bloodstock at Ashford Stud.

Addressing the couple via the ITBA's video tribute, John Magnier said, “Spider, I knew you were clever from the time you were working and did so well for Tony Ryan, but when you got married to Aisling that confirmed how clever you were.”

He continued, “I remember Aisling from the time she was a kid really, leading out the mares in all kinds of weather and dressed up in this rain gear so you could hardly find her, but she always stood out and it's not a surprise to me that she has reached the heights that she has.

“She has been the utmost help to all of us. She keeps everybody on the straight and narrow and keeps everybody's morale up.”

The Special Recognition Award was presented to Julian Lloyd, a former trainer with rock star Eric Clapton among his owners, bloodstock agent, and, until his retirement last year, the manager of Kirsten Rausing's Staffordstown stud in Ireland. 

“I think he is defined by his enthusiasm for all matters racing and breeding, and also his professionalism, attention to detail, and great horsemanship in general,” said Rausing, who met Lloyd when they both worked for Captain Tim Rogers at Airlie Stud. 

“Julian, Paddy Moloney and I were the three that started up Staffordstown in early 1991, so Julian and I have been working and establishing Staffordstown with Paddy for exactly 30 years.”

The Grassick family's Newtown Stud and Tim Pabst received the award for breeding the top-rated Irish 2-year-old filly of 2021 in Flotus (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), who is now owed by Katsumi Yoshida after selling for a million gns at the Tattersalls December Mares' Sale. 

In the 3-year-old filly division, the award was also shared, this time between the Gaffney family's Churchtown Horse Stud, breeders of Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never), and Tom Cooke's Thomastown Farm, which bred French-trained sprinter Suesa (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). Godolphin received the 3-year-old colt award for their Derby and King George winner Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

Brothers Michael and Laurence Gleeson, young pinhookers based at Aughamore Stud in Co Westmeath, were recognised with the Next Generation Award. Among their early successes has been Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}), who was bought by the brothers as a foal for €12,500 and sold on for €28,000 to Johnny Murtagh, who trained her to win the G1 Matron S. 

ITBA Award winners for 2021

Small Breeder
Patrick Burns, Newlands House Stud

Special Recognition
Julian Lloyd

Next Generation
Michael and Laurence Gleeson

Novice Hurdler
Appreciate It
Breeder: Barmakin Ltd & South Lodge Stud

Novice Chaser
Shishkin
Breeder: C J & E B Bennett

Leading National Hunt Mare:
Colreevy
Breeder:  Niall Flynn

Hurdler
Flooring Porter
Breeder: Sean Murphy

Chaser
Minella Indo
Breeder: Mrs R H Lalor

2-Year-Old Filly
Flotus
Breeder Newtown Stud & T J Pabst

2 -Year-Old ColtJoint award
Luxembourg
Breeder: B V Sangster

Perfect Power
Breeder: Tally Ho Stud

3-Year-Old FillyJoint award
Alcohol Free
Breeder: Churchtown House Stud

Suesa
Breeder: Thomastown Farm Ltd

3-Year-Old Colt
Adayar
Breeder: Godolphin

Wild Geese
Gabriel and Aisling Duignan

Contribution to the industry
David Minton

Hall of Fame
Tony and Anne O'Callaghan

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Breeding Right To Time Test Sells For 115,000gns

A breeding right to Time Test (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who sired four stakes winners last year in his first season with runners, was purchased by Peter and Ross Doyle Bloodstock on the Tattersalls Online platform on Wednesday for 115,000gns. The breeding right entitles the buyer, an unnamed client of the Doyles', to breed one mare to Time Test each season that he stands at The National Stud.

Time Test, who was himself a dual Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1-placed, sired black-type winners at a rate of 9.3% last year. He stands at The National Stud for £15,000. He stood for £8,500 his first four seasons.

Ross Doyle said, “He's a young sire going places, by a top sire in Dubawi out of a well-bred Dansili mare, which we love. It sounds like he's got a serious book of mares lined up for this season on the back of his stats and the physicals of his foals and yearlings on show at the recent sales. The team at the National Stud continue to do a great job with him. We have bought it for a client who will support him with a very nice mare.”

A breeding right to Time Test's National Stud barnmate Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), who enters stud in 2022, was sold to Dwayne Woods of Brook Stud for 24,000gns. The Lope Y Fernandez breeding right entitles the owner to one mare per year, plus an additional mare in 2023, 2024 or 2025.

“I had the pleasure of seeing Lope Y Fernandez recently and thought he had let down into a lovely stallion,” said Woods. “He is a great walker and lovely type and an exciting young stallion, and Brook Stud are looking forward to supporting him.”

A breeding right to A'Ali (Ire), who enters stud next year at Newsells Park Stud, was sold to Laurence Gleeson of Aughamore Stud for 22,000gns. It entitles the owner to breed one mare per year plus an additional mare each year from 2022 through 2025.

The post Breeding Right To Time Test Sells For 115,000gns appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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