Freshman Sire Soldier’s Call Off The Mark At Ripon

Minutes after freshman sire Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) notched his first winner at Leicester, Ballyhane Stud incumbent Soldier's Call (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) repeated the feat when Archie Watson trainee Dreadpirateroberts (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}–Gangster Squad {Fr}, by Astronomer Royal) graduated in Saturday's Black-A-Moor Inn Half A Mile Away EBF Restricted Novice S. at Ripon.

The 85-40 favourite ran second in his Brighton debut last week and broke sharply to seize an immediate lead in this return. In command throughout, he was last to come off the bridle after halfway and kept on strongly under a final-furlong drive to hold the late bid of Innvincible Friend (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}) by a length.

Dreadpirateroberts is the fifth of six foals and third scorer out of a winning half to Listed Landaluce S. third Ridemetothemoon (Malibu Moon). The April-foaled bay's dual stakes-placed third dam Catcher (Storm Cat) is a full-sister to G1 Breeders' Cup Classic and GI Swaps S.-winning sire Cat Thief.

 

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‘Blackbeard The One They Want To See’ – Young Sires Drive Stallion Trail Crowd

Whether it was Bayside Boy (Ire) at Ballylinch, Minzaal (Ire) at Derrinstown or King Of Change (GB) and Dubawi Legend (Ire) at Starfield, one of the main takeaways from this year's Irish Thoroughbred Stallion Trail was that the pedigree buffs and bloodstock fans love nothing more than getting a glimpse at the new stallions this country has to offer. 

“Don't dream of putting a picture of that lad up on Twitter otherwise I'll have Eddie O'Leary tweeting that it's not the only pig down in Ballyhane,” – Joe Foley.

Few young sires generated as much chat as Blackbeard (Ire), who will embark on his stallion career with Coolmore Stud at €25,000 and a lofty reputation to match that fee, being a dual Group 1-winning juvenile by No Nay Never.

If you hadn't been aware of Blackbeard's antics before his races last season, you could be forgiven for thinking he was a model pupil as he stood quietly in his stable while Coolmore's Mark Byrne explained how the majority of the 1,000 visitors to the stud on Friday and Saturday came to see the G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. winner.

Byrne said, “Blackbeard is the horse that everyone wants to see. We've been open to the public today and yesterday and, of the 1,000 or so people who have visited us, most of them were particularly keen to see Blackbeard. He almost had a cult following on the track and it's easy to see why-he's a beautiful-looking horse, was an expensive foal, has a great walk and an excellent race record and pedigree. 

“It's a really important thing for every stud in the world to keep new stallions on the roster and thankfully we've got an exciting young sire by No Nay Never who I think is going to prove to be really good value.”

He added, “It's not only been Irish visitors over the past two days, we've also welcomed a lot of French and English people. It's kudos to everyone involved in the Irish Thoroughbred Stallion Trail as it provided everyone a chance to get out and see these horses over the course of two days. A lot of business will be generated from the Trail, even if it is not carried out over the two days, as we had a lot of breeders here on the Trail. You also have people who are lifelong fans of different horses so they get the chance to meet their heroes as such. It's lovely to be a part of that.”

With one of the leading sires in Europe, a new Group 1-winning stallion prospect to add to the roster for 2023 and one of the best lunches going on the entire trail, it shouldn't have come as a surprise to see parking spaces at a premium at Ballylinch Stud. 

Similarly to what Byrne reported at Coolmore, Ballylinch was abuzz with the majority of the visitors keen to cast their eye over Bayside Boy, who Bloodstock and Nominations manager Eoin Fives revealed to be going down a bomb with breeders. 

He said, “We've been seeing the footfall here ever since we announced Bayside Boy. We've been mad busy showing the stallions here but in particular with Bayside Boy. Everyone is keen to see him. He has been very popular. We set aside a certain amount of shares to be sold and they have all gone. We've already got over 100 mares booked into him so we are delighted with where he is. We envisage him covering a nice big book. He will cover 15 of our best mares this year which will ensure he will get off to the best possible start.”

Fives added, “We've had a good mixture of people here over the past two days. There have been shareholders in stallions who are very tied into the Ballylinch model and we've sold nominations here today and yesterday as well. A lot of people have just come to see the stallions and it's great to have everyone and even better to have people engaging with this part of the industry because I suppose the breeding side of things can be a little bit esoteric for a lot of people.”

If bloodstock poses as a riddle wrapped into a mystery for some people, a trip down to Ballyhane Stud might do more harm than good, as the first beast to hog the limelight is not Dandy Man (Ire) or the up-and-coming Soldier's Call (GB), but a pig the size of a small car. 

“Don't dream of putting a picture of that lad up on Twitter otherwise I'll have Eddie O'Leary tweeting that it's not the only pig down in Ballyhane,” Joe Foley says, only half-joking. Of course, his request falls on deaf ears. 

The pig, who happens to be Dandy Man's best friend, set a high bar in terms of entertainment but the five stallions on the rock-solid Ballyhane roster for 2023 stole the show, in particular Soldier's Call. 

It was on Friday when the TDN Europe team visited Yeomanstown Stud, where Rob O'Callagahan was bullish about Invincible Army (Ire)'s claims for first-season sire honours, but Foley described himself as extremely happy with his own dog in that particular fight. 

He said, “We have the old stalwart Dandy Man, who has been such a friend to us down through the years, and he was the champion sire of sprinters in Europe yet again last year, as he was the year before. He's the pillar of our team here. We've got four younger horses here including Elzaam (Aus), who is doing great, and then the three younger horses–Soldier's Call, Sands Of Mali (Fr) and Space Traveller (GB).”

Foley added, “Soldier's Call has his first crop of 2-year-olds this year and we are very hopeful about them. He was a very fast horse himself and his stock looks to be very fast as well. We've got a bunch of them in pre-training and they are going really well. The first foals by Sands Of Mali were very well-received last autumn and the new recruit, Space Traveller, is the highest-rated Bated Breath (GB) and is out of a Galileo (Ire) mare who is out of a Kingmambo mare and is from a great family. He's a beautiful horse and has been wowing the crowds who have been here today and yesterday.”

Just a few fields away from Foley's Ballyhane base stands Jukebox Jury (Ire), Fascinating Rock (Ire) and Sea Moon (Ire) at Burgage Stud. All three have been making waves with their National Hunt runners, none more so than the Irish St Leger winner Jukebox Jury, who could have a big year ahead of him with his first Irish 4-year-olds set to run between the flags and under rules. 

Ger O'Neill's Castlefield Stud is a further 10 minutes away and offers a trio of accessible stallions for National Hunt and Flat breeders. Australian Group 1 winner Mirage Dancer (GB), who boasts a good Juddmonte pedigree, catches the eye and is joined by fellow National Hunt stallion Hunting Horn (Ire), best known for his Hampton Court success at Royal Ascot for Aidan O'Brien. 

But Alkumait (GB) could be the ace in the Castlefield Stud pack. A son of Showcasing, he confirmed himself a high-class 2-year-old when winning the Mill Reef S. and, being a half-brother to leading 2000 Guineas hope Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}), his pedigree could be in lights later this spring.

Part owner of Alkumait, Jerry Horan, said, “The Stallion Trail was the bee's knees and it was noticeable how many people travelled over from England and even further afield. The Stallion Trail has become a date in people's diary. The team at Castlefield did a great job and the stallions looked fantastic. Alkumait was late coming to Castlefield last year because he wasn't long out of training when we got him but he has let down into a fine stallion now. It's lucky for the Alkumait syndicate that the Chaldean came along and, more recently, the half-sister made 1,000,000gns at the foal sales so the future is bright. It's a proper pedigree and we're very excited by him.”

Three stallions who caught the eye on the Irish Thoroughbred Stallion Trail in 2023

First things first, like every good Irish wedding, let's acknowledge those who couldn't be with us, or in this case, those we didn't get to see. Of the 35 studs who opened their doors to the public, the TDN Europe team got to visit 11, and here are a few observations from those studs. 

Ghaiyyath (Ire). A beast. One look at Ghaiyyath and it's easy to see why his foals sold so well last autumn. A top-class racehorse, he has all the right attributes to make it as a stallion and one would venture that the team at Kildangan Stud are quietly optimistic about the future with this fellow. Although we didn't get the ruler out, Ghaiyyath could conceivably be 17hh, which is funny given he is a son of Dubawi (Ire) and his dam was the diminutive Nightime (Ire). Fellow Kildangan-based sire Earthlight (Ire) also catches the eye. A flashy chestnut, he boasts pure unadulterated power and adds to what is a strong roster at Kildangan Stud. 

Space Traveller. A horse who wasn't on the radar prior to visiting Ballyhane Stud, Space Traveller deserves consideration for his walk alone. The G3 Jersey S. and G2 Boomerang S. winner walks for fun and should be a big hit with breeders if passing that on to his stock. Fellow Ballyhane resident Soldier's Call does exactly what he says on the tin and should get fast horses which would stand him in good stead with a view towards the first-season sire championship. 

Jukebox Jury. If he's good enough for Colin Tizzard and John Nallen, who are understood to be big fans of the stallion, then Burgage Stud's Jukebox Jury is likely to make waves this year with his first crop of Irish 4-year-olds. To his credit, he has already made a splash with his runners thus far but the best should be yet to come from the Irish St Leger-winning stallion. Mirage Dancer is another interesting National Hunt sire and ticks a lot of boxes standing for just €3,500 at Castlefield Stud.

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Twelve Questions: Joe Foley

The TDN Europe team reached out to several industry members for a light-hearted Q&A as the holidays approach. First up is stallion master Joe Foley of Ballyhane Stud.

 

What was you first job in the Thoroughbred industry?

Coolmore as a young 19-year-old having left UCD to the academics. They gave me a lot of responsibility for a young lad and I met some great people there.

 

The biggest influence on your career?

My parents.

 

Favourite racehorse of all time, and why?

So many to choose from but going for Red Rum.

 

Who will be champion first-season sire in 2023?

As I nearly answered the last question with Soldier's Call, he's definitely getting the nod for this one!

 

Greatest race in the world?

Irish Champion S.

 

If you could be someone else in the industry for a day who would it be, and why?

I've always wanted to be rich and famous with photographers following me around so think I'll have to say David Redvers.

 

Emerging talent in the industry (human)?

Great to see loads of young people coming through in the industry but the Tradewinds team particularly know what they're doing.

 

Horse TDN should have made a Rising Star and didn't?

Flight Plan.

 

Under-the-radar stallion?

Tasleet.

 

Friday night treat?

Watching rugby on the telly whilst doing a crossword and slagging off someone on a WhatsApp group.

 

Guilty pleasure outside racing?

Playing golf and my electric guitar (not at the same time).

 

Race I wish I had been there for…

Dawn Run's Gold Cup.

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Space Traveller Retired To Ballyhane Stud

Space Traveller (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}–Sky Crystal {Ger}, by Galileo {Ire}), successful in group events in England and Ireland and placed three times in Grade I company in North America, will enter stud in 2023 at Joe Foley's Ballyhane Stud, where he will serve mares at an introductory fee of €6,500.

Carrying the colours of Clipper Logistics and trained in Europe by Richard Fahey, Space Traveller was Group 3-placed as a juvenile before winning the G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot–defeating future multiple top-level scorer Space Blues (Ire)–and was a last-to-first winner of the G2 Boomerang Mile on Irish Champions weekend at Leopardstown as a three-year-old. Transferred to the American stable of Brendan Walsh in the summer of 2021, Space Traveller was a reliable performer at the top level between eight and nine furlongs, finishing runner-up in the GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile, an unlucky third in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf in Florida and an equally luckless second in what became his final start in the GI F. E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita last March. He retires with five wins and seven minor placings from 25 starts for earnings approaching $750,000.

The highest rated son of Bated Breath, Space Traveller is out of a Galileo mare from the deep family of Crystal Music.

“We're delighted to welcome Space Traveller back to Ballyhane,” said Foley, who bought Space Traveller for 85,000gns at Tattersalls October in 2017. “He was a really good-looking yearling and has developed into a tremendously imposing individual. He gave us some great days on the racetrack and his Royal Ascot win was memorable as his acceleration that day was so impressive. By Bated Breath out of a Galileo mare who herself was out of a Kingmambo mare, he gives breeders some top class bloodlines to mate to.”

 

WATCH: Space Traveller defeats Space Blues in the 2019 Jersey S. at the Royal meeting

 

BALLYHANE STUD FEES — 2023

Dandy Man (Ire)–€15,000

Soldier's Call (GB)–€7,500

Space Traveller (GB)–€6,500

Sands of Mali (Fr)–€5,000

Elzaam (Aus)–€4,000

Prince of Lir (Ire)–€3,000

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