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Dubawi Legend “An Exciting Addition” To The Compas Stallion Roster

Micheál Orlandi has spoken of his excitement at being able to offer an accessible son of Dubawi (Ire) to breeders after announcing Dubawi Legend (Ire) will join the roster at Compas Stallions' Starfield Stud for the upcoming breeding season.

A classy sprinter for Hugo Palmer, Dubawi Legend chased home Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the G1 Dewhurst S. at Newmarket before signing off on his juvenile campaign with a rating of 115.

He achieved Group 3 success as a 3-year-old and put in another notable performance to finish third to subsequent Group 1-winning sprinter Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) in the G3 Hackwood S. that same season.

Dubawi Legend's fee has been set at €6,500 for his debut season at the County Westmeath stud where he will stand alongside fellow newbie King Of Change (GB), Far Above (Ire), Kuroshio (Aus) and Smooth Daddy.

Orlandi said, “At a fee of €6,500, we are delighted to offer breeders the opportunity to use a precocious son of the champion sire Dubawi. Not only is Dubawi the champion sire but he is also a renowned sire of sires, and can call upon Night of Thunder (Ire), New Bay (GB) and Zarak (Fr) to name a few.”

He added, “We haven't yet reached the crest of Dubawi's wave as a sire of sires so to stand his Group 1-performing son is very exciting. Dubawi Legend is the second-highest rated 2-year-old to retire to stud in 2023.

“A top class sprinter, he is an exciting addition to the Compas Stallions roster. Limited breeding rights are available.”

Dubawi Legend finished up in 2021 as the joint second-highest rated 2-year-old in Europe, with that 115 rating higher than what Night Of Thunder, New Bay and Zarak achieved at two. Dubawi's dominance as a sire of sires is illustrated by the fact that five of his sons have sired Group 1 winners in their own right in Europe.

Director of Racing at Rabbah, Bruce Raymond revealed how he holds Dubawi Legend in the highest of regard, and commented, “A speedy, well-bred son of Dubawi. He was an impressive debut winner and Group 1-placed at two and was even quicker at three when easily winning a Group 3 over six furlongs. We saw him as a Group 1-level sprinter.”

Out of a Raven's Pass mare, the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas winner Lovely Pass (Ire), Dubawi Legend is bred on the same successful cross as Mishriff (Ire) and Saffron Beach (Ire).

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Henry Beeby Hails “Sensational” November Foal Sale At Goffs

The Havana Grey (GB) train is showing no sign of slowing down and, after a booming debut season at stud that saw his fee at Whitsbury Manor Stud bumped up to £18,500, he supplied the sales-topping filly on the final day of what Henry Beeby described as a “sensational” November Foal Sale at Goffs.

That €68,000 filly (lot 962) was signed for by renowned judge Paul McCartan of Ballyphillip Stud, best known for breeding speedballs Harry Angel (Ire) and Tiggy Wiggy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), and was consigned by Olive O'Connor Bloodstock.

McCartan said, “She was a beautiful filly out of a Showcasing (GB) mare and there are plenty of 2-year-old winners in the pedigree. I've been very impressed by Havana Grey. I really liked his foals from his first crop as well.”

He added, “I thought there were some lovely foals here this year but they were hard bought. We didn't get all that we wanted. There was great trade here but I am happy with what we have bought.”

It was the younger sires who came up trumps on Thursday where 176 of the 235 foals were sold which equates to a 75% clearance rate in a week where the overall turnover rose 16% to €29,561,000.

The strong figures didn't stop there. The average rose 15% to €40,110 while the median climbed 9% to €24,000. All told, 737 of the 917 lots offered were sold, translating to a 80% clearance rate.

Goffs chief Henry Beeby said, “Sensational. That is the only description of the amazing trade this week headed by an especially vibrant day of sustained demand at the top of the market yesterday.

“As ever we extend our sincere thanks to every vendor as we know we are nothing without their wonderful horses and we are so grateful for the huge support from so many vendors who choose the Irish National Foal Sale for their best foals. That allows us to credibly promote the sale as featuring the cream of the Irish foal crop which drives every serious buyer of foals to Kildare Paddocks.”

He added, “Indeed, we have welcomed a huge group of purchasers headed, of course, by the mighty Irish pinhookers who have been taken on by bidders from the UK and across Europe. They were joined by several significant end-users, not least from Japan, who bought to race all of which led to a trade of strength, depth and vibrancy from start to finish.

“As was very clear at an excellent renewal of the Orby Sale, quality is what is selling best and that was illustrated by the strongest clearance rate of 85% coming on Wednesday and we look forward to offering many of those top foals at the Orby next year following so many great pinhooking successes here in September.

“The unique Goffs Customer Loyalty Scheme makes that option especially appealing as does the depth and diversity of our international buying bench this year. In fact the only real complaint from several overseas buyers at Orby this year was that we ran out of top tier yearlings so that is the target next year. We now turn our attention to our two-day Breeding Stock catalogue which continues to be so well supported by leading breeders and enjoys such a superb record with its graduates' progeny at the highest level.”

Along with the sales-topping Havana Grey, a filly by the Ballyhane-based Soldier's Call (lot 869) sold similarly well at €65,000 from Monanny Farm to Bitzen Bloodstock while the Aga Khan's emerging force Zarak (Fr) enjoyed a good afternoon when lot 843 was knocked down to Fort Middle Stud for €60,000.

That filly, consigned by Browne Brothers Bloodstock, was just the second by the sire to go through the ring at Goffs; the other (lot 283) sold earlier in the week for €52,000 to Guy Pariente Holding from Baroda Stud.

Not only did Far Above (Ire) win the prize for the best promoted stallion on the sales ground at Goffs this week, with shareholder Jack Cantillon and Starfield Stud boss Micheal Orlandi hard to miss in their yellow jackets, but he also posted some solid results in the ring.

The best of which was lot 834, a colt who sold from the Cantillon's family-run operation, Tinnakill House, to Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock for €48,000.

Brown is an advisor for Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, whose familiar yellow silks were carried by Far Above to Group 3 success on the racetrack, and the leading bloodstock agent revealed how connections were keen to support the horse at stud.

Brown said, “He is a smashing colt by Far Above, who Sheikh Rashid raced, and is from a family we know well; out of a sister to Perfect Power (Ire). Sheikh Rashid said to me when I was coming over here to let him know that, if I saw a nice Far Above to let him know, which I did. I saw him last night and was keen to have a go. I want to support the stallion as he gave us a lot of pleasure. He was a very good horse, very fast, and we wanted to buy this lad to race. We'll go on to Newmarket and see if we can buy a couple more.”

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King Of Change Relocates To Starfield Stud

King Of Change (GB), the 2019 QEII winner and 2000 Guineas runner-up in that same campaign, has relocated to Micheál Orlandi's Starfield Stud after standing for two full seasons at Derrinstown Stud.

He will be the second son of Farhh (GB) to join the roster at Orlandi's up-and-coming Starfield Stud on the outskirts of Mullingar, County Westmeath, joining speedster Far Above (Ire), whose first foals will go under the hammer next month.

Orlandi revealed that he tried to strike a deal to stand King Of Change upon his retirement from racing and his eventual arrival at Starfield Stud after a two-year pursuit is something the young stallion man says he's extremely excited about.

He said, “We inquired about him when the decision was made that he was going to stud. At the time, he was going to stand under the Godolphin banner and I know my great neighbours at Tally-Ho were also interested in him as well. To cut a long story short, he ended up at the late Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum's stud in Derrinstown but we have always kept a close eye on this horse.

“The owner, Mr Ali Abdulla Saeed, and his advisors came to visit us here at Starfield Stud during the summer and asked if we would be interested in creating a partnership to stand the horse. The deal was jointly orchestrated by Mr Anthony Stroud and we're really excited to finally have him here.”

Orlandi added, “With him being a Group 1 winner and a Guineas runner-up, he boasts some great performances on the racetrack and he has a super physical to go with that. He also has an excellent pedigree and I feel he has the credentials to be a successful stallion.

“From looking at his foals that have arrived here at Starfield Stud and having visited farms and spoken to the breeders who have used him, people are very positive about the foals they have by him. This gave me more confidence that he is producing good types that are similar to himself.”

King Of Change covered 72 mares in his first full season followed by 49 this term and Orlandi is hopeful that he can build on those numbers next year.

He explained, “We've discussed a few marketing strategies and plan to support him and the breeders who have used him already in the sales ring. We also plan to increase the broodmare band of his racing owner, Mr Ali Abdulla Saeed, and support the horse with as many good mares as possible from 2023 onwards.

“We will also be releasing breeding rights to him next year, which we find is a good way to support a stallion with a bedrock of mares. Off the back of the foal sales, I would be disappointed if we cannot record a record book with him in 2023, with the help of breeders and supporters of the horse.”

Along with Far Above, King Of Change will stand alongside Kuroshio (Aus), Smooth Daddy and Galileo Chrome (Ire) at Starfield Stud, with Orlandi reporting his other son of Farhh to have recorded some impressive numbers in his first two seasons.

He said, “We covered 142 mares with Far Above in year one and 117 this year. His foals are exceptional as is Farhh, the sire of Far Above and King Of Change. I'd be very confident that the Pivotal (GB) line, which has been so successful with Siyouni (Fr) and Farhh, will continue on with his sons Far Above and King Of Change. A fee for King Of Change will be announced in due course.”

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Far Above A Speed Specialist For Compas

Far Above (Ire) (Farhh {GB}) has joined the Compas Stallions roster for the 2021 season. Micheal Orlandi spoke with TDN‘s Alayna Cullen about the new stallion who showed blistering speed throughout his racing career.

AC: Micheal, Far Above, although lightly raced, was a racehorse of note. What were some of the highlights of his racing career?

MO: He was a fantastic racehorse and exceptionally fast. He started off as a breeze up horse and I liked the fact that he came through the breeze ups and developed into top-class racehorse. It showed great strength of mind and physical strength that he progressed throughout his career and got better. What I loved about his career was he actually got faster when James Tate, his trainer, dropped him back in trip. He started at seven, went back to six, and his best race and best career performance was at Newmarket in the Palace House over five furlongs. Race record is very important in signing a stallion, and Far Above ended his career being Timeform rated 122.

AC: How is it that he came to stand at Compas Stallions?

MO: These things are very interesting and normally not very straightforward, but in a roundabout way, Jack Cantillon and myself wanted to stand a stallion together under the Compas banner alongside his racing syndicate. There was plenty of other people interested in the stallion but Jack and I put together a pitch and we approached Jono Mills of Rabbah on behalf of Sheikh Dalmook and we were fortunate that they decided the best place for Far Above was Compas Stallions. We are really excited to have him. He’s really a stallion that we think complements Kuroshio (Aus) and the rest of the guys here: Cappella Sansevero (Ire) and Smooth Daddy.

AC: He is by an interesting sire and his damsire is one of the most prolific around. What are the highlights of his pedigree?

MO: He’s by Farhh, who statistically is an exceptional stallion. He is a son of Pivotal (GB), who is a proven sire of sires with Siyouni (Fr) doing so well in France. Far Above is out of a Shamadal mare, probably the broodmare sire of the moment, and the cross of Pivotal and Shamadal has worked well.

AC: He looks to be an imposing type of horse. Tell us about his conformation.

MO: He’s a fantastic physical. I remember reading somewhere that Napoleon had a famous war horse called Marengo and if I had to ride to war, I’d definitely ride to war on Far Above. He’s got fantastic use of himself first and foremost. A beautiful head, great, genuine eye with an unbelievable shoulder to him. He’s got great bone and he’s very correct. The physical is very hard to fault, because he has all the attributes you’d want. He’s got plenty of strength, he’s well balanced and he has a great way of walking. You wouldn’t hear him walk past you, he just glides over the ground. I don’t know anyone who has come to see him who has faulted him.

AC: Considering the positive reviews from those who have come to see him, do you have an idea of how well supported he might be in the new season?

MO: Breeders in Ireland are very conscious of breeding fast, precocious horses as well as breeding a horse that hopefully will sell well too. Far Above has those attributes in pedigree and physique. Breeders on the flat are very clued in, they know the time of day, and the amount of interest in him from breeders in France, the UK and all across Ireland has been great. It’s not by accident that there is a huge interest in breeding rights. The people who are planning to breed to Far Above and who have bought breeding rights for Far Above have been successful and have established themselves as leading breeders in Ireland, the UK and France for a number of years. They’re not a flash in the pan. It gives me great confidence in the stallion and I think an apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree so I’d be very confident that Far Above will be a success for everyone who’s involved in him.

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