The listed-winning dam, whose yearling colt is by Twilight Son (GB), is a half-sister to the GI Northern Dancer Turf S. and G2 Jebel Hatta winner Wigmore Hall (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and the GI Gamely S. heroine Ocean Road (Ire) (Australia {GB}).

2nd-Wolverhampton, £9,650, Novice, 4-8, 2yo, 5f 21y (AWT), 1:02.47, st.
LADY LIGHTNING (GB) (f, 2, Earthlight {Ire}–Lady Liberty {Ire} {SW-Ger}, by Shirocco {Ger}) Sales history: 30,000gns Wlg '22 TADEWE; 30,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $6,581.
O-The Serendipity Partnership; B-Cashel Rock Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Ed Dunlop.

First winner for Earthlight as a sire!

Lady Lighting strikes at @WolvesRaces for @Rossaryan15 and @EdDunlopRacing… pic.twitter.com/2S6R5j7fto

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 8, 2024

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One of the catalogue highlights is Malina Girl (Ire) (Malinas {Ger}) (lot 22), a winner of four of her six starts to date, including placed efforts in the Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase and the Coolmore Mares Novice Chases. Another is Optional Mix (Ire) (Carlotamix {Fr}) (lot 12), a five-time winner at the races for trainer Eoin Doyle and is out of an own sister to the winning hurdler Tramp Stamp (Ire) (King's Theatre {Ire}).

The 15-year-old mare Misrepresent (Distorted Humor) (lot 2) is set to be offered by Ballinahown Stud in foal to Dandy Man (Ire), meaning she is carrying a full-sibling to Countess Rosina (Ire), third in the Listed Unzip Me S. at Santa Anita. Misrepresent is a daughter of Grade II winner and Grade I-placed Halory Leigh (Halory Hunter).

Ballet Blanc (GB) (Highland Reel {Ire}) (lot 17) is part of a draft from Amanda Perrett's Coombelands Racing Stables and exits a promising runner-up effort at Lingfield on Mar. 1.

The sale has been supported with entries from trainers Mick Appleby, Ed Dunlop, Edward Lynam, Rebecca Menzies, Amy Murphy, Jamie Osborne, Henry Spiller and Tom Lacey.

Prospective buyers are required to register or logon to join the sale ahead of the commencement of bidding from 12 noon, Wednesday, Mar. 8. Bidding is scheduled to close from 12 noon on Thursday, Mar. 9.

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“All being well and everything being equal, we're probably going to go to Sandown next Friday in a listed race over a mile and a quarter and we'll see how we get on there,” said trainer Ed Dunlop. “There is a race in France next weekend for 3-year-olds over a mile and a quarter if I'm not happy with Sandown, but at the moment we're heading to Sandown. We'd like to sort of drop down before going back up again. Sandown is a stiff 10 furlongs, which will suit.”

Reflecting on John Leeper's Derby performance, Dunlop said, “He was a bit keen at Epsom and Frankie suggested we drop him back in trip; this seems an ideal race. We've always thought on pedigree and looks he should stay a mile and a half, but we mustn't forget he's only run four times in his life.

“He did a lot in a month, going from a Newcastle novice to the Derby with a listed race in between. He fell into everyone's dream given his pedigree and being named after my father and people latched on. That dream has gone now, we've moved on and he's a horse we're in no rush with. He should be better as an older horse and we retain utmost faith in him. It didn't happen at Epsom, but the one thing was he didn't have a hard race–when Frankie knew he wasn't going to be involved, he just let him coast home.”

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Beginning with Bolshoi Ballet, it is safe to say that Aidan O'Brien has not delivered as obvious a Derby talent since 2009 when Fame and Glory (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) went through the G3 Ballysax S. and G2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial with similarly authoritarian poise. Before him, Galileo, High Chaparral (Ire) and Yeats (Ire) also took that “old school” route with injury interjecting to stop the last of that trinity from following up in this prestige event. Bolshoi Ballet has the look of his sire–who also went it alone in 2001–about him and the dramatic show of faith that his team have placed in him speaks volumes. “He was always going to have those two races in the spring after travelling as a 2-year-old and he's very uncomplicated and relaxed, stays and quickens,” O'Brien said. “He has a very good mind and does everything right. He's happy to sit in or make the running–that's the way he's always been. You're never sure about anything and it is a new track for him, but Leopardstown is left-handed. Obviously it's not as extreme as Epsom, but you have to quicken and you have to go left and down the hill and up the hill and all that kind of stuff. We always thought he would stay, but he's a very good-moving horse with plenty of class and speed so the rain is not ideal. He did handle it okay in France last year and didn't fold up, so hopefully he'll be able to cope with it. It's another chapter in his career, so it will be interesting and we'll learn a lot from it.”

Remarkably, Ryan Moore has not ridden the stable's last three Derby winners and must have been downhearted to miss out to Frankie in both the English fillies' Classics so far, but there is no danger of being on the wrong one this time. “I don't see the extra two furlongs here being a problem and he is just a straightforward and very classy colt. Straightforward is what you want around here, while his draw in nine is just fine. If he runs to his form and the level we expect, then he should be going close but this is a Derby and you can't be complacent, especially against a whole host of unexposed horses as he faces here.”

Just a cursory glance at the racing results from March to now show that Ireland has a genuine edge over Britain across the board under both flat and National Hunt codes and therefore it is no surprise that Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) and Bolshoi Ballet enter this Classic as officially the two top-rated colts. Mac Swiney upset his own stable's G1 2000 Guineas hero Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in the Curragh equivalent a fortnight ago and did so coming off a far-from-ideal preparation having scoped dirty after his below-par return in Bolshoi Ballet's G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown May 9. Friday's prolonged rainfall will have been a welcome sight to Jim Bolger, with the homebred seeming to excel on easy ground and he has everything in place for a big effort now. “You know how well he was a couple of weeks ago and he came out of that race very well and he's been fine since,” his owner, breeder and trainer said.

It is 27 years since the Shadwell silks were carried to success here, with the John Dunlop-trained Erhaab swooping five years after the great Nashwan had opened the operation's account. There have been few more visually stunning winners than the William Haggas-trained Mohaafeth in the May 1 Listed Newmarket S., an early prep which last saw the Derby hero in 1985 as Slip Anchor (GB) took it in en route. One of a Frankel trio with live chances, his five-length success in that four-runner contest in which at least two rivals under-performed is of either major or little significance and it will be impossible to tell until they have passed the post here. What he does have is a beautiful pedigree and temperament and all of the potential it is possible to possess. It is fair to say that of all the main principals, Mohaafeth was the one with connections least wanting this type of ground and their sense of anticipation has been dampened.

Ed Dunlop may not have trained an abundance of high-profile horses throughout his career, but most of his profession can only dream of having a Ouija Board (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) or Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab). That the former has already produced a Derby winner in Australia (GB) only means that the onus on Snow Fairy is greater as her John Leeper enters this renowned theatre. When giving the dam's first colt his title, Cristina Patino was exercising the kind of prescience that graced the late Khalid Abdullah as he bestowed the name Frankel on his greatest Thoroughbred prize. John Leeper has come though the initial stage of his career fully justifying his owner-breeder's bold call and his deceptively impressive win in the May 15 Listed Fairway S. at Newmarket has only served to augment the level of enthusiasm surrounding the handsome homebred.

“It is probably one of the more interesting stories of the race. Having a horse named after my father is very exciting and it creates a little bit of pressure for everyone, but at the moment the horse has no idea there is any pressure on him so hopefully we can enjoy it,” Dunlop commented. “Of course it is quite emotional as well and it would be a great day if he could go on and win the Derby. The trip should be up his street, because his mum won the Oaks. I'd be surprised if there was any problem with the trip.”

Frankel's prospects of a first Derby winner are significantly boosted by the presence of Godolphin's Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who comes here as the winner of York's G2 Dante S. May 13. Although the importance of that extended 10-furlong prep has tended to wax and wane over time, the subsequent exploits of its winners Golden Horn (GB), Authorized (Ire), Motivator (GB) and North Light (Ire) and of the beaten Workforce (GB) have upheld its reputation as a blue riband trial of significance. Hurricane Lane showed a tenacity there which will stand him in good stead, especially with Friday's rain coming in the nick of time for the unbeaten chestnut. “As we saw in the Dante, his best work was in the last couple of hundred yards. Everything bodes well to step him up to a mile and a half and it might bring about further improvement,” Charlie Appleby said. “He lacks racing experience, but he has done well since York and one of his great attributes is he is laid-back. Sometimes, the occasion can get to horses on Derby Day but I don't think it will be any problem to him. I thought he showed character in the Dante. He's a colt you can put anywhere in a race, so he should adapt to any tactical moves.”

With the drastic change in the going, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Third Realm (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and Godolphin's Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who were first and second in the May 8 Lingfield Derby Trial staged on soft ground, come into play. It is also a boost to Teme Valley's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) who was fifth in the Dante, and to Godolphin's G3 Autumn S. winner One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who was 3/4-of-a-length second to Mac Swiney in the G1 Futurity Trophy on heavy ground in October.

Third Realm's trainer Roger Varian said, “He's not a big horse, he's a small-to-medium colt. He's very well-balanced, he's got gate speed and I'm quite confident he's going to get the trip. He's versatile, he can relax in behind horses and has shown a turn of foot. He's pretty straightforward and I think he's the type of horse Andrea [Atzeni] could put anywhere, which is comforting, going into a race like this.”

Appleby said of his other duo, “One Ruler had a very good two-year-old profile. He was never out of the first three in five starts and the form with Mac Swiney, who recently won the Irish 2,000 Guineas, is very solid. I am confident he will be one of the last to come off the bridle. The trip is a big question mark, but if he is going to get a mile and a half he has got a good chance of getting it around Epsom. Adayar gained valuable experience in the two trials, particularly at Lingfield, where he fought on well. He will see out the trip really well. He is lightly-raced and with maturity will be a nice type. Placed in two Derby trials, he is worthy of his place in the field.”

The two supporting races, the G3 Princess Elizabeth S. for fillies and mares, and the G3 Diomed S., take place over an extended mile and in the latter Juddmonte's Maximal (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) will provide a last clue ahead of the main feature. Second to Hurricane Lane in a 10-furlong conditions event at Newbury Apr. 16, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained homebred had Tasman Bay (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) back in third on that occasion and that rival went on to be second to John Leeper in the Fairway. A son of Frankel's half-sister Joyeuse (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Maximal has his own agenda to work to and despite a few reversals he remains a colt of importance to his breeding operation dropping back in trip.

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Leading the way is current favourite and G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial S. hero Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), one of six for Aidan O'Brien and the various Coolmore partners. Joining the G3 Ballysax S. victor from Ballydoyle are: former race favourite High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who won the G2 Beresford S. at two and was third in the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. to Godolphin's Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) on May 13; G1 Criterium International winner and G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up Van Gogh (American Pharoah); and the winners Sir Lamorak (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), The Mediterranean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Besides Hurricane Lane, Charlie Appleby and Godolphin have also kept in the group-placed Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and the G3 Autumn S. winner and G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy S. second One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Adayar will be ridden by Oisin Murphy.

“Godolphin and Charlie Appleby have given me the ride,” Murphy told Sky Sports Racing. “I had a sit on him last week. He felt really nice-it was a sensible canter, but he's a gorgeous horse, improving type, bred for the job. I'm super excited to be involved in the race. I'd like to win a Derby-hopefully it's this year.”

Fresh off a win in the G1 Tattersalls Ireland 2000 Guineas, Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), who won the Vertem Futurity Trophy S. at two, will contest the Blue Riband for Jim Bolger. Mark Johnston's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud scorer Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) is another to take his place in the Epsom showpiece for owner Teme Valley. Ahmad Al Shaikh's Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who won the G3 Chester Vase S. on May 5 for Andrew Balding, is also slated to start.

Anamoine Limited's John Leeper (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), a son of 2010 G1 Oaks heroine Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab) and named for trainer Ed Dunlop's father John, also stands his ground. He won the Listed Betway Fairway S. on May 15. Other listed winners set to take part are: Group 3 winner and May 21 Listed Cocked Hat S. victor Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for Martyn Meade, Aquis Farm and Ballylinch Stud; Listed Betfair Newmarket S. victor Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) for the William Haggas/Shadwell axis and Roger Varian and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Third Realm (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who saluted in the Listed Novibet Derby Trial S. on May 8.

Rounding out the field is the winner Southern Lights (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for Aquis Racing, Al Mamoura Partnership and Joseph O'Brien;  Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for Richard Hannon and Amo Racing Limited; and Luke Comer's Seattle Sound (Ire) (Australia {GB}).

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G3 Chester Vase scorer Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is doing well ahead of the Blue Riband. His best showing as a juvenile was a third in the G2 Veuve Clicquot Vintage S. and he was fourth in his seasonal opener-the Apr. 13 Listed bet365 Feilden S. at HQ.

Andrew Balding, the son of trainer Ian Balding who trained Mill Reef, said, “The Derby is still the plan for Youth Spirit. He seems fine after his run at Chester, he hasn't done a lot since but he's come out of the race well.

“The key thing to find out that day was whether he stayed the trip and he saw it out well. He'll go there with no stamina doubts, which there will be about some of the field and that's got to be to his advantage but it's a much stronger race than the Chester Vase was so he's got to up his game again.

“I don't think that the track will faze him. He's a very well balanced horse and he handled Chester well so he shouldn't have a problem with Epsom Downs. He's a different horse to [2020 Derby runner-up] Khalifa Sat, but both are very talented and if we can get the same result as last year with Youth Spirit we'd be delighted.

“It's great for the owner [Ahmad Al Shaikh] to have another contender for the race. He's a big supporter of racing and he's got plenty of horses in training with many yards so it's lovely for him to have another candidate for the Epsom Derby.

“It's the most important race of the year for any Flat trainer I think and to have a horse good enough to run in it is an achievement in itself–anything else on the day would be a massive bonus.”

There is, of course, a strong Irish presence in the Derby entries, with 14 horses coming over from the Emerald Isle. Aidan O'Brien, who is seeking a record-extending ninth victory in the 1 1/2-mile Classic, has an octet entered at this stage including current ante-post favourite Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the impressive six-length winner of the G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial. One-time Derby favourite, G2 Beresford S. victor High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) also enters after running third in the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. at York earlier this month. Others representing the Coolmore partners include French Group 1 winner Van Gogh (American Pharoah) and G3 Chester Vase S. second Sandhurst (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Jim Bolger's Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), the 2020 G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy S. victor and Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial fourth, also stands his ground.

Godolphin currently has a quartet of Derby aspirants, among them the undefeated Dante winner Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), group winner and Group 1 placed One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the group-placed Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

Group 1 winner Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), a winner of the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and fifth in the Dante, represents Mark Johnston. Roger Varian fields listed winners El Drama (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Third Realm (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}, while Richard Hannon will send G3 Betway Solario S. winner Etonian (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}). Listed Newmarket S. winner Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) steps forward for William Haggas. Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), successful in the G3 Zetland S. last October, is one of two for trainer Martyn Meade.

'TDN Rising Star' John Leeper (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) will also take part in the Epsom Classic. The Ed Dulop trainee broke his maiden at the second time of asking in a Newcastle novice on Apr. 30 and saluted in the Listed Betway Fairway S. at Newmarket on May 15. (Click here for a TDN video feature by Emma Berry).

The next confirmation stage is Monday, May 31st, while there is a final chance to enter with a supplementary fee of £63,750.

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John Leeper is the latest of three foals and becomes the first black-type winner for MG1SW distaffer and dual Classic heroine Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab), who is also responsible for G3 Hoppings S. runner-up Virgin Snow (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}). Snow Fairy is kin to G3 Furstenberg-Rennen victor Big Bad Bob (Ire) (Bob Back) as well as to Bobbie Soxer (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), herself the dam of GII Mathis Brothers Mile runner-up Mittersill (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). John Leeper's fourth dam, Listed George Stubbs S. second Persian Fantasy (GB) (Persian Bold {Ire}), also produced Listed Buckhounds S. victor Persian Lightning (Ire) (Sri Pekan) and is a half-sister to Listed Preis der Stadt Baden-Baden winner Lucky Guest (Be My Guest) and Cara Fantasy (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). Cara Fantasy has three stakes winners to her credit headed by MGSW G1 Racing Post Trophy second Elusive Pimpernel (Elusive Quality).

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
BETWAY FAIRWAY S.-Listed, £37,000, Newmarket, 5-15, 3yo, 10fT, 2:09.53, gd.
1–JOHN LEEPER (IRE), 129, c, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Snow Fairy (Ire) (Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 9.5-11f, Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 11-14f, Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 14f+, 2x Hwt. Older Mare-Eng & Ire at 9.5-11f, Hwt. Older Mare-Eng at 11-14f, MG1SW-Ire & Jpn, G1SW-Eng & HK, G1SP-Fr, $6,340,956), by Intikhab
2nd Dam: Woodland Dream (Ire), by Charnwood Forest (Ire)
3rd Dam: Fantasy Girl (Ire), by Marju (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O/B-Anamoine Ltd (IRE); T-Ed Dunlop; J-William Buick. £20,983. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $34,415. *1/2 to Virgin Snow (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}), MGSP-Eng.
2–Tasman Bay (Fr), 129, c, 3, Le Havre (Ire)–Purely Priceless (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (€220,000 Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Sir Peter Vela; B-SARL de Chambure, Haras d'Etreham & Pencarrow Stud Ltd (FR); T-Sir Mark Todd. £7,955.
3–Fancy Man (Ire), 133, c, 3, Pride of Dubai (Aus)–Fancy (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (€30,000 Ylg '19 GOFOR). O-Michael Pescod; B-Longfield Stud (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £3,981.
Margins: 1 3/4, 4 1/4, NK. Odds: 1.50, 5.00, 1.75.
Also Ran: Sea the Shells (GB), Flyin' High (GB). Scratched: Via Sistina (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result.

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Whether it's at Epsom or a later big-race target, to have a blue-blooded colt in the stable who has shown some early promise is naturally special, but John Leeper holds extra poignancy for Dunlop as he was named by Cristina Patino in honour of the trainer's late father. The depth of the owner/breeder's loyalty to the Dunlop family is illustrated by the fact that John Leeper Dunlop trained his namesake's third and fourth dams, the former being Fantasy Girl (Ire) (Marju {Ire}), who is also the dam of another Dunlop/Patino pattern winner Big Bad Bob (Ire) (Bob Back).

“She's an incredibly loyal owner. She had horses with my father for over 30 years and  totally as a result of that that I ended up training for her,” Dunlop acknowledges. “Snow Fairy came along as a sort of not particularly exciting pedigree but obviously she then went and did what she did.”

What she did, after being put through the ring as a yearling at Tattersalls Ireland and returning to her vendor at €1,800, was win six Group 1 races in Britain, Ireland, Hong Kong and Japan from 21 starts across four seasons. A rather unprepossessing sort physically, she nevertheless had talent welded to tenacity, along with a liberal dash of temperament. 

“When she came to us from Ireland, she used to lie down in anger coming down Warren Hill. She was very naughty,” recalls her trainer. “She got better with age, but she was feisty. [John Leeper] can get on his hind legs occasionally but he has a very nice temperament in the box. He will do what you want to do with him. He doesn't worry.”

A good omen then ahead of potentially heady days to come, as spectators return to the racecourses and John Leeper is primed for major meetings. Whether one of those is the Cazoo Derby Festival remains to be seen. Twice raced to date, and the earner of a TDN Rising Star for his four-length maiden victory at Newcastle on his sole start this year, the next test comes on Saturday at his home course of Newmarket. He is currently the short-priced favourite for the listed Fairway S., having side-stepped a potential run in a hot-looking Dante S.

As the long-legged Dunlop sprawls across a bench in the sunshine at his La Grange Stables and considers the imminent possibilities for the horse stabled just behind where he sits, the trainer appears to be as relaxed about life as the trio of whippets lounging about on the grass before him. But surely training a colt with such a pedigree and such a name, whose stable is in the row named after his own spectacular mother, brings with it a modicum of pressure?

“He's bred to be a good horse, but we've seen many well-bred horses that were not very good,” he says in his measured way. “The instructions I gave Hollie [Doyle] at Newcastle, where he was drawn on the outside, was to just to drop him in and ride him like a good horse, not to hit him unless she had to. Obviously, he won very impressively. Okay, it was a maiden, and it's very early days to be going further forward than that. There has been some hype about him for obvious reasons, with his pedigree, and the way he won. Hopefully it's going to be right.”

Dunlop does, however, admit that there is a certain aura attached to the colt referred to by his adoring rider Fletcher Yarham simply as 'Johnny'.

“He will always be different,” he says. “He's named after my father. He's by a world champion out of a world champion, so it doesn't get much better than that. We don't get horses like that, you know. We trainers all whinge that none of us really get a horse that's capable of running in a Derby, let alone winning it. This horse does have that chance. So far, the chance is still occurring. It might go out of the window shortly but, yes, it's special.”

It is no surprise that the sleek, dark brown John Leeper is already turning heads on Newmarket Heath, leading the Dunlop string, just as Frankel used to do for Sir Henry Cecil's team.

“People are noticing him now,” the trainer adds. “It's that time of year. We've seen it many times. The hype of the Derby horses. This horse is getting a few admirers on the Heath and, you know, he may not for very much longer if things don't go the right way. He's a fine, imposing horse that leads the string because, he's the only colt we have in the yard as a 3-year-old. The rest of them are sadly already geldings.”

Whether John Leeper runs in the Derby naturally depends on his forthcoming performance on the Rowley Mile, but Dunlop already has an eye on the longer term, and is blessed to train for a breeder whose loyalty goes hand in hand with patience.

“Mrs P. has all her homebreds broken in by Dick Brabazon on the Curragh. The vibes were good from Dick and he arrived with me in February or March last year. He was always an imposing horse, but he was immature for obvious reasons. So we weren't expecting to see a great deal to start with,” he recalls.

“Anyone who rode him liked him. He was a very good-moving horse, good temperament, good brain and a very well-balanced horse. He had one run at Doncaster, he ran well and I wanted to run him again, but he had a very tiny setback, so we decided to put him away. Mrs P. doesn't like her horses running very much as a 2-year olds, unless they're obvious 2-year-old types. So we were under instructions not to do a great deal with him. He looked quite leggy and a bit long over the winter but my team did a great job and he just got stronger and stronger. As you'd expect with his pedigree, he should get better with age.”

He continues, “We'll find that out in the next six months. Mrs. P. likes to keep them in training. She enjoys her racing and she loves this horse. No disrespect to her other horses, but this is her favourite horse in training, obviously. So, you know, as long as he stays fit and well, and we don't have any injuries with him or whatever, hopefully he'll be seen around for a while.”

Eleven years have already passed since Snow Fairy's Classic season. Her name is etched multiple times on La Grange's slate roll of Group 1 winners, which includes the luckless Derby faller Hethersett, who went on to win the St Leger for Dick Hern during his time training in Newmarket. Time will tell whether John Leeper can add his name to the list of eight Classic winners written on the wall, but for now, Dunlop is entitled to dream a little.

He says, “Ouija Board was quite a long time before [Snow Fairy]. So probably at that age one took it a little bit for granted. We certainly didn't take Snow Fairy for granted. She changed our lives in many ways. To be honest—of course she won two Classics—but I'm most proud of what she did in Japan, you know, for  an international horse to win two Group 1s in Japan. I don't know if it's been done since. It's quite a hard thing to do and she made us very proud. The frightening thing is there's still a chance for the next six weeks that both Ouija Board and Snow Fairy could sire a Derby winner.”

He adds, “He has a chance, but so do a lot of others. I said to Mrs P., 'It's a good job that you chose a good horse for my father's name, but you put quite a lot of pressure on him', and she just said, 'I always knew he was going to be a good horse'.”

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“He's a big powerful horse and an absolute gentleman,” his rider commented. “He was very professional and very relaxed–he settled well and the further he was going the better. He's pretty special, I think. Ed said to ride him like a good horse and try not to use my stick. The big step up in trip today helped and he'll probably stay a mile and a half in time.”

Snow Fairy enjoyed six outings as a juvenile, winning over six furlongs on Lingfield's Polytrack before finishing third in the G3 Prestige S. Taking off at three, she entered the G1 Epsom Oaks with valid stamina doubts having booked her ticket in the 10-furlong Listed Height of Fashion S. but saw out the mile-and-a-half trip strongly. Third before being eventually promoted to second behind her on that occasion was Remember When (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), the dam of last year's blue riband hero Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in what could prove a twist of fate if John Leeper provides the dream scenario on the first Saturday in June.

After winning the G1 Irish Oaks by eight lengths, Snow Fairy was even tried over an extended 14 furlongs in the G1 St Leger but found that distance too far before turning into an international queen with four more top-level triumphs. This is her third foal, with the aforementioned Virgin Snow also finishing third in the G3 Darley Pride S. Her family includes the operation's Listed Autumn S. and G3 Furstenberg-Rennen winner and over-achieving sire Big Bad Bob (Ire) (Bob Back), who sadly died in 2016.

2nd-Newcastle, £5,600, Novice, 4-30, 3yo, 10f 42y (AWT), 2:10.11, st/sl.
JOHN LEEPER (IRE), c, 3, by Frankel (GB)
     1st Dam: Snow Fairy (Ire) (Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Mare-Ire at 9 1/2-11f, Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 14f+, Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 9 1/2-11f, Hwt. Older Mare-Eng at 11-14f, Hwt. Older Mare-Eng at 9 1/2-11f, Hwt. Older Mare-Eng at 9 1/2-11f, Hwt. Older Mare-Ire at 9 1/2-11f, MG1SW-Jpn, G1SW-Eng, MG1SW-Ire, G1SW-HK, G1SP-Fr, $6,340,956), by Intikhab
     2nd Dam: Woodland Dream (Ire), by Charnwood Forest (Ire)
     3rd Dam: Fantasy Girl (Ire), by Marju (Ire)
Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $4,832. O/B-Anamoine Ltd (IRE); T-Ed Dunlop. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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5.50 Newcastle, Novice, £5,600, 3yo, 10f 42y (AWT)
JOHN LEEPER (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) makes his keenly-anticipated reappearance for Anamoine Ltd, having been taken out of his intended return at Newmarket earlier this month due to the quick conditions. Ed Dunlop opts for the Tapeta for the son of the brilliant Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab) who made such a promising debut when fourth over an inadequate seven furlongs at Doncaster in September.

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