Europe | Horse Racing Free Tips

Irish EBF Ballyhane S. Attracts Bumper Entry

Following its successful inaugural running in 2020, the valuable Irish EBF Ballyhane S. has attracted an entry of 369 juveniles for its return on Aug. 2.

With guaranteed prize-money of at least €200,000, the juvenile contest, which is run over six furlongs at Naas on the August Bank Holiday Monday, has understandably proved popular. It also offers a bonus of €50,000 if the winner is by a Ballyhane Stud stallion.

“We are delighted to co-sponsor with the Irish EBF and have been thrilled with the response from a large variety of owners and trainers from Ireland and Britain,” said Ballyhane Stud owner Joe Foley. “Last year we had more than 400 entries and were able to stage a consolation race as well. There are fewer entries from Britain this year as a result of Brexit travel concerns and Covid, but it's still a fantastic level of support. I think people like the fact that the entry fees all go into the prize-money for the main race and the consolation race.”

He added, “We had positive feedback from the breeze-up consignors last year who felt that it was a great selling point for the horses with an entry, and that it helped to improve their sales price. A lot of them have signed up again this year and eligible horses will be advertised in the breeze-up catalogues. Of course it's an even greater incentive to buy a 2-year-old by a Ballyhane sire as, if the race is won by a horse by Dandy Man, Elzaam or Prince Of Lir, the winning owner will receive around €200,000 with the bonus.”

Last year's Irish EBF Ballyhane S. was won by Coolmore's Chief Little Hawk (Air Force Blue), who scooped €149,200 of the total prize fund of €291,400, with prize-money awarded down to the 12^th place finisher. The Jack Davison-trained Mooneista (Ire), a filly by Dandy Man (Ire) who started at odds of 50/1, came closest to landing the Ballyhane bonus when finishing third, just 2½ lengths behind the winner.

The Silver Irish EBF Ballyhane S., run on the same card for those who missed the cut, had prize-money to 10^th place and a total pot of €72,000.

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A Fresh Look With Roger Marley

Breeze-up consignor Roger Marley works in partnership with John Cullinan through their Church Farm & Horse Park Stud banner. The duo has been responsible for pinhooking and breezing such talented juveniles as G2 Flying Childers S winner Ubettabelieveit (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Mehmas (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), the record-breaking champion first-season sire of 2020.

Currently preparing a team of around 40 juveniles from his Yorkshire base, Marley gave us his thoughts on some of this year's freshman sires and reflected on Mehmas's progression from a 62,000gns Tattersalls Book 2 yearling to a 170,000gns Craven breezer.

He said, “With Tally-Ho standing Cotai Glory (GB) it would not surprise me to see him make a good start as they always support their stallions well and they tend to come up with something every year. He has 124 horses to run for him this year.

“I have a scopey Ribchester (Ire) filly who came from Goffs UK and she takes your eye out with her movement. She's a lovely filly with a really good action and there's a bit of chat about Ribchester. Everyone who has one seems to like them. This filly will be a seven-furlong type for the second half of this year. It wouldn't surprise me if Ribchester gets some nice horses later this season but he probably won't make a flying start.

“I haven't done an awful lot with the 2-year-olds yet. I'm not behind, I've done plenty of groundwork, but I haven't got many early types this year—I have the scopier, later types.”

Marley continued, “When he was with us, Mehmas always had such a laidback attitude. No-one had much regard for him here until we gave him a squeeze one morning and he seemed to come from nowhere, he flew. He'd been stumbling around the place all winter, but every time we gave him a squeeze he was there. He never took hold of the bridle when he was here; he had such a good attitude and he has obviously passed that on.

“He did surprise me with his results last year, but I guess he surprised everyone by breaking the records that he did.”

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Oisin Murphy’s Return From Ban Delayed

Champion jockey Oisin Murphy has had his return from a three-month riding ban delayed as he has not completed the requisite BHA testing in time to take up his booked rides today (Friday) at Lingfeld.

Early on Friday morning, Murphy announced via two tweets that he had been made aware of an “administrative error” which prevented his immediate comeback from a suspension after he tested positive for metabolites of cocaine when riding at Chantilly in July 2020.

He said, “At 18.50 yesterday I was personally informed by the BHA due to an administrative error I will not be able to partner my rides at Lingfield today and Chelmsford on Saturday. I'm currently looking into this situation with the BHA and I plan to be back on the racetrack as soon as I possibly can. I apologise profusely to all the owners, trainers and supporters who I'm having to let down at such late notice. It's 128 days since my last ride in the UK.”

A subsequent statement released by the BHA outlined the requirement for jockeys returning from a suspension of this kind to undergo a course of testing and to be confirmed safe to ride by the BHA's chief medical advisor.

It read, “On 22 February Mr Murphy contacted the BHA about his intended return to race riding. The BHA liaised with him and the PJA from this point onwards, including in regards to his testing requirements.

“On 2 March Mr Murphy was reminded of the requirements and that it is his responsibility to complete the necessary tests before a return to riding. As of 12 March Mr Murphy is only part way through his reinstatement testing and he is therefore unable to ride at this point.”

Murphy was handed his suspension by France Galop in late November just weeks after being crowned champion jockey in Britain for the second time. The ban was considered lenient for such an offence, which ordinarily would warrant a suspension of at least six months, but the France Galop stewards accepted a hair test and testimony from Murphy that he had not taken cocaine himself but had been contaminated during an encounter with someone he subsequently discovered to be a user.

As is usual practice, the ban was reciprocated by the BHA and the jockey was stood down from riding from Dec. 11 last year. It is understood that Murphy has completed three of the four urine tests required before he can race ride again. He responded to the BHA statement with a further message on Twitter.

He said, “Please note I can't arrange testing personally. Only the BHA have the ability to do so. I've been available and completed all the tests thus far.”

Murphy is currently booked for three rides at Newcastle on Tuesday.

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Champion Boston Harbor Dies in Japan

American champion juvenile colt Boston Harbor (Capote-Harbor Springs, by Vice Regent) passed away from the infirmities of old age on Mar. 9, Japan Bloodhorse Breeders Association's Shigeki Yusa announced via Twitter on Thursday. The pensioned stallion was 27.

“Boston Harbor passed away from old age on March 9,” Yusa said in a tweet. “We are truly saddened to lose him and are grateful for all the support from his fans over the years.”

Bred by Overbrook Farm in Kentucky, the homebred was trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas. A Churchill Downs maiden winner at first asking in May of 1996, he added the GIII Bashford Manor S. a month later and ran second in muddy going in the GIII Sanford S. at Saratoga on July 26. Back on top in the Ellis Park Juvenile S. in September, the son of Harbor Springs won the GIII Kentucky Cup Juvenile S. at Turfway Park later that month. Wheeled back in Keeneland's GII Breeders' Futurity, Boston Harbor scored again, and ended his season with another victory-this time in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Woodbine en route to champion juvenile colt honours. Tried only once as a sophomore, he was fourth in the Santa Catalina S. in February and retired after injuring himself in work with a mark of 8-6-1-0 and $1,934,605 in earnings.

Originally a resident of Overbrook Farm, Boston Harbor moved to Japan to stand under the JBBA banner beginning in 2002. Overall, he sired 21 black-type winners, four at the group level including GI Santa Margarita Invitational S. heroine Healthy Addiction. His daughters have already bettered his sire record, with 35 stakes-winning progeny, 11 group winners and three at the highest level. Boston Harbor's Group 1 winners as a broodmare sire include GI Mother Goose S. heroine Off The Tracks (Curlin), GI Madison S. victress Shotgun Gulch (Thunder Gulch) and GI Vanity S. winner My Sweet Addiction (Tiznow).

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