Well, if it's happening pedigrees that buyers want, it won't take long to scope out lot 53 in the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale. A brother to leading 2,000 Guineas contender Night Raider (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), the colt will be offered under the hammer by the father-and-son team of Mick and Stephen Byrne of Knockgraffon Stables on behalf of Linden Bloodstock. 

Pedigree updates like this don't come around very often. Already a half-brother to first-season sire Far Above (Ire), the strapping Dark Angel colt was led out of the ring unsold at 125,000gns at the Book 1 session of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, leaving his breeders Brendan and David Geraghty scratching their heads. 

What has happened in the intervening period, with Night Raider bursting onto the scene with two effortless successes at Southwell, which has put the horse firmly in the 2,000 Guineas picture, would suggest the Geraghty brothers were right to command top dollar for their colt.

Knockgraffon Stables has been consigning horses at the breeze-up sales for 35 years. Few people have been doing it longer. However, in all that time, never have the Byrne family had a horse like this through their hands. The excitement is palpable. 

“It looks as though the decision not to sell as a yearling could be vindicated. He's a gorgeous big horse and is without doubt the most high-profile horse that I have ever consigned,” Stephen, 34, said. 

“I had never met Brendan or David before but, shortly after the yearling sales, I got a phone call from them asking if I'd be interested in breezing this horse for them. They told me a bit about him, that he was a Dark Angel half-brother to Far Above, and I jumped at the opportunity to have that type of calibre of horse in the yard.”

It takes something special to catch the eye in the dark December months but that's exactly what Night Raider did in winning on debut at Southwell by nine lengths. Bought for 155,000gns by Joe Foley on behalf of Clipper Logistics at Tattersalls in 2021 as a foal, Night Raider confirmed the promise of that scintillating debut when dishing out a comprehensive beating to previous winners back at Southwell last month, and is now as short as just 10-1 for Classic glory at Newmarket. 

So what did the consignor make of it all? 

Byrne said, “I got very excited, didn't I? I've only been doing this full-time since last year. Obviously Mick has been doing this a long time. He's been breezing horses for as long as I can remember and, actually, the first horse I ever cantered was a breeze-up horse. I think I was 10 years of age at the time. The game has become a lot more professional since Dad started and the quality has risen. A lot of very good horses are coming from the breeze-up sales. 

“Night Raider looks as though he could be very smart and fingers crossed he can keep on progressing. I'd say this horse is very nice, too. He's not your typical breeze-up horse-he's quite big-but he does everything very well and he looks like he could make up into a very smart racehorse in time.”

Brendan Geraghty, who, along with his brother David, bought Night Raider's dam Dorraar (Ire) (Shamardal) outside the ring at Goffs after she failed to sell at €14,000 in 2017, shared how the plan to breeze the full-brother was first hatched.

He said, “We brought him to the foal sales and we brought him home. Then we brought him to the yearling sales and brought him home as well. To be honest, it was probably the pure stubborn Mayo man coming out in me both times! But, to be honest, I was shocked he didn't sell as a yearling. We'd loads of vets and I was sure he'd be popular.

“In fairness to Jack Cantillon, he has put me down a few good roads in recent times so, when I asked him where I should send the horse, I didn't hesitate when he recommended Stephen. We think he is a special horse, really and truly. Even from day one, Stephen has been saying, 'Brendan, I love this lad.' It's exciting and hopefully he can show people what he can do in the breeze. It has been a joy working with Stephen and Mick and long may it last.”

The Mayo native, who has spent time in Australia and has only a small number of mares at his base close by to Knockgraffon in Tipperary, revealed how it hasn't all been plain sailing with his pride and joy Dorraar. A winner herself and from the family of Benbatl (GB), the 13-year-old overcame a serious injury after she was sourced by Linden Bloodstock. She is now happily reported to be back in foal to Dark Angel, who, naturally, Geraghty says he is a massive fan of. 

Geraghty said, “My brother David goes through the sales and it works well. Once I saw Dorraar at the sales, I fell in love with her and had to buy her. It has worked out great. When we bought her, she was in foal to Toronado (Ire), but, as it turned out, she got injured at home and only for the lads at Fethard Equine Hospital and her big heart, she wouldn't have pulled through. After she lost the Toronado filly, we gave her a couple of seasons off, so she is a relatively fresh mare despite her age of 13.

“There aren't many mares like her around. Far Above put her name in lights and now Night Raider looks like he could be very good. I love Dark Angel. His record speaks for itself and he gets results day in, day out. Night Raider is only going one way.”

And so, too, is Knockgraffon Stables. Along with popular work rider and long-time friend Shane 'Rancher' Ryan, who Byrne says he would be lost without, the work gets done. Brothers Michael and David, who like Stephen, enjoyed some success in the saddle, lend a helping hand as does Mick, 67.

“I am only back working here this past year,” Stephen explains. “I gave it about five or six years as an amateur. I rode a bust of winners but decided it wasn't for me. I just stopped enjoying it. You have to be riding good horses to enjoy it and I wasn't riding good horses.”

That's not to say that a certain Mr S R Byrne came and went without anybody noticing he had ever been in the weighroom to start with. Through Jim Will Fix It (Ire) (Lord Of Appeal {GB}), trained by Seamus Roche, Byrne enjoyed his biggest day in the sun when out-battling big-name amateurs Robbie McNamara and Nina Carberry to win the Grade 2 Future Champions Bumper at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival in 2010. 

Byrne piloted that horse to three more victories under rules but it wasn't enough of a lure. A stint with leading breeze-up consignor Con Marnane was the next port of call followed by seven years working for Joseph O'Brien. Not a bad grounding for the National Hunt jockey who has turned his attention to blooding top-class runners on the Flat. 

Byrne said, “I really enjoyed my time with Joseph. He's a very easy man to work for and you learned plenty from him as well. The biggest thing I learned from Joseph is patience. Patience and keeping calm, that is key. If things weren't going right or horses weren't doing what you wanted them to be doing, Joseph would always keep a steady head and never panic.”

He added, “Not only that but, there were so many nice horses coming through Joseph's, it trained your eye as to what a nice horse looks like. Joseph buys really strong, solid horses. I'd like to think I learned plenty from him about what an athlete looks like. I try to buy a nice horse by a solid stallion. We can't afford to buy the horses by the top stallions but you can buy some very nice horses by solid sires. That's what we try to do. A lot of the good racehorses that I have sold are not by the big sires, but they reached good ratings on the track.”

Beautiful Aisling (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) is a good example. Bought by Knockgraffon Stables and Donovan Bloodstock for £22,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, she rocked into £120,000 when bought by Anthony Stroud at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale in 2022. After winning twice and reaching a rating of 90 for Simon and Ed Crisford, Beautiful Aisling went on to fetch 240,000gns at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale later that year. 

Such a result proves that not only can Byrne turn a profit in the ring, but he also produces solid racehorses who can fulfil their potential and stand the test of time on the track. 

Romina Power (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), a listed winner in Germany who has subsequently been snapped up by Joseph O'Brien, fellow listed winner Tardis (GB) (Time Test {GB}) and Sailthisshipalone (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) are other notable graduates.

It is clear to see that the Byrne family has a proven track record in producing quality runners but you won't see them hogging the limelight when they do. Instead, they prefer to get on with business in the background. 

Stephen said, “I'll tell you a good story about Dad. When I was working in Edward O'Grady's, Paddy Mangan won the conditional riders' championship and brought the trophy into work. I was looking at all the names on the trophy and, next thing 'Michael Byrne' pops up. I was like, 'Dad was champion conditional?' I rang him up and I asked him and he goes, 'oh, I was, yea', as if it wasn't a big thing. But it is a big thing.”

The pressure may be rising ahead of what could potentially be a breakout sale for Byrne, but the burgeoning operator is approaching Tattersalls in a similarly understated manner. 

He concluded, “I was doing a few breeze-up horses whilst working with Joseph. We'd a couple of horses that sold well so it looked as though we could do the job to a good standard. I said I'd take the leap and give it a go full-time and, touch wood, things have gone really well. Hopefully we can keep on building and keep attracting a nicer horse. We think we have nice horses this year so fingers crossed it goes well.”

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The manner in which he swept aside the Guineas hero Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the St James's Palace S. was something to behold. So, too, has been the progression the colt has put in this season. 

Paddington reappeared to win the prestigious Madrid Handicap at Naas off just 97 and shares something in common with fellow Aidan O'Brien-trained Group 1 winners Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and Treasure Beach (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in that he cut his teeth in handicaps before recording top-notch successes. 

It's fascinating to see how far Paddington has come in such a short space of time and it will be even more interesting to predict where he might end up this season. 

He has given a strong indication that he will be even better over further and his pedigree would back that up being by Siyouni and out of a Montjeu (Ire) mare. 

Connections must be thinking about stepping Paddington up to 10 furlongs in time, with races like the Coral-Eclipse and possibly even the Irish Champion S. the most obvious races for him if they lean that way.

His success on Tuesday carried added significance given O'Brien became the most successful trainer in Royal Ascot history after he crossed the winning line. 

O'Brien's tally at the royal meeting now stands at 83 winners. He is just 53 years old.  Like Paddington, there will be a lot more to come. 

River Tiber An Important Winner

The Coventry has a tendency to throw up the odd forgettable winner every now and again. In fact, no winner of the race has gone on to land a Classic since the 2012 scorer Dawn Approach (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), who remained unbeaten at two and landed the following year's 2,000 Guineas for Jim Bolger. 

Few would bet against River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) charting a similar path and he could be the horse to bridge that Classic gap for the Coventry and something like the Dewhurst would look to be an obvious target for the colt this term.

“Different class,” is how Ryan Moore described the winner, and that is as good a summary as any for a horse who took over from long-time leader Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) deep inside the last furlong before putting almost two lengths between that rival and then holding the late flourish of the runner-up [Army Ethos (GB) (Shalaa {Ire})].

It was a performance of some substance, and one that earned River Tiber his position at the head of the betting for next year's 2,000 Guineas, for which he can be backed at odds of 10-1. 

The win provided Aidan O'Brien with a record-extending 10th Coventry success, which makes the master of Ballydoyle the most successful trainer in the race's history, but an even bigger subplot to emerge from River Tiber winning was how Coolmore's investment in Wootton Bassett is beginning to pay off. 

The Coventry was a big race for the stallion given Amo Racing's Bucanero Fuerte (GB) also ran a huge race to fill the placings back in third on just his second career start.

O'Brien touched on how excited he is about the progeny of the stallion, and rightly so, judging by the early accomplishments of Wootton Bassett at Coolmore. 

Bradsell Pays Big Compliment To Bear

Speaking of the Coventry, last year's winner Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) ensured that the words forgettable will never apply to him when he clung on to land a dramatic edition of the G1 King's Stand S. 

Much of the chat about Friday's Commonwealth Cup has revolved around Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never), who had Bradsell confined to the rear-view mirror at Haydock last month. 

Between O'Brien's fantastic start to the royal meeting and Bradsell providing the form with a major boost, one should expect that Little Big Bear won't go off the colour of the 13-8 that is on offer right now. 

Worth Forgiving Sub-Par Efforts 

For a nation that supposedly doesn't have any good sprinters, Britain didn't do too badly by sending out the first 10 home in the King's Stand. 

Indeed, there were genuine excuses for the Australian runners Coolangatta (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) and Cannonball (Aus) (Capitalist {Aus}) given the rain that fell beforehand would not have played to their strengths. 

It should also be noted that Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), last year's Queen Mary winner and a well-backed 7-2 chance before the off, can be forgiven for failing to get involved after racing alone on the stand's side rail with Cannonball. 

Melbourne Cup Could Be Calling For Vauban

Willie Mullins has been talking about the Melbourne Cup for Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) even before the gelding won the Triumph Hurdle last year. 

Connections came desperately close to winning the race in 2015 with Max Dynamite (Fr) (Great Journey {Jpn}) and in Vauban, hugely impressive in landing the Copper Horse Handicap, they could well realise the dream. 

Three Cheers For Brilliant Broodmare Reem Three

How good is Reem Three (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire})? A three-time winner and listed placed when in training with Luca Cumani, she now boasts three Royal Ascot winners as a broodmare after the success of the aptly-named Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Queen Anne S. 

Reem Three had already supplied Wokingham winner Cape Byron and Britannia scorer Ostilio, not to mention Ajman Princess finishing second in the Ribblesdale. A tremendous record. 

A Mare In Foal An Unstoppable Force? Henderson Thinks So

Ascot Stakes winner Ahorsewithnoname (GB) (Cacique {Ire}) will soon be off to the paddocks after connections of the Nicky Henderson-trained mare revealed that she was in foal to Cracksman (GB). 

There are some who swear that mares running in foal improve their performance, but it's almost impossible to prove it makes that much of a difference if any at all. 

One thing's for certain, Ahorsewithnoname's career-best performance was a timely one, and Henderson was left convinced that getting the mare covered in the spring played an integral part in the Royal Ascot success. 

He explained, “It definitely changed her. She's just much sharper. She used to be much more relaxed at home but when she came back from [being covered in] Newmarket, it certainly woke her up a bit. It's been a tried and tested route but you can only do it once. You've got 90 days–so, as I say, you can only do it once. 

“We're pretty sure it had an effect. Now, with some, it might have the opposite effect. They might go all dreamy and sleepy and mummy. There's no doubt [it worked].”

Of course, Ahorsewithnoname is not the only mare to have recorded successes at the royal meeting whilst in foal.

Credit to Kevin Blake on Sky Sports Racing for the knowledge, but Indian Queen (GB) (Electric I {GB}) was also in foal when storming to her Gold Cup win in 1991. 

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However, Doyle has no plans on resuming his riding career in Britain or Ireland, where the 27-year-old has enjoyed successful spells respectively.

No, Doyle is merely keeping his eye in before returning for New Zealand, where he has a 1,000 Guineas prospect to look forward to next season, by riding at the breeze-ups.

It's not surprising to see Doyle in such demand ahead of the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale, either. Just over a week on from partnering Danny O'Donovan's Eqtidaar (Ire) filly who sold to Peter and Ross Doyle for £120,000 at Goffs UK last week, Doyle has been snapped up by five different consignors for Wednesday's breeze.

He said, “The breeze-ups are where I got my first taste of riding racehorses properly. I have been riding in breeze-ups since I was 12 years old and can even remember riding in them when they were back in Dundalk.

“It's something I enjoy doing and, while I was home, I didn't want to be tipping in and out of a yard for a month or two. By riding the breeze-up horses, it gives me a chance to keep my eye in and the fitness levels up without having to make any commitments to anyone.”

He added, “I rode a nice filly last week for Danny O'Donovan. She was a good model and came up good and fast. That's what the buyers want. But this is a tough environment as well. When you are racing, if things don't go right on the day, you always have another chance.

“The breeze-up handlers don't have that luxury. They have one shot at this and, if it doesn't go to plan, it can take a lot of value off their stock. There's a different kind of pressure involved in race-riding and riding in the breeze but it's something I enjoy doing and I'm looking forward to Wednesday to be honest.

“I ride for Danny O'Donovan again, as well Stevie Byrne, Eoin McDonagh, Paddy Vaughan and Conor King. I've sat on a few very nice horses in the pre-breeze and hopefully the clock will reflect that on Wednesday.”

To have a rider of Doyle's calibre in action at the breeze-ups speaks to the professionalism of the sphere. Here is a jockey who rode multiple stakes winners aboard the Denis Hogan-trained Make A Challenge just a couple of seasons ago and would still have his supporters were he still riding in Ireland.

However, without a big-name runner to throw his leg over, Doyle elected to give New Zealand a go earlier this year, and the decision has been vindicated with 19 winners on the board including that all-important Group 1 victory aboard Pignan (NZ) (Staphanos {Jpn}) in the Manawatu Sires' Produce S.

Doyle said, “It was great to get that Group 1 and it wasn't something I was expecting to do. It was a great way to round off the trip as it came on my final day riding in New Zealand. “Sometimes the Group 1 races in New Zealand can get a bit of stick for being handicaps but this was a two-year-old set weight race for fillies and colts and I think the winner is a proper filly, too.”

He added, “I was absolutely elated to get that sort of a result and I think she could even be a Guineas filly for next year. I am heading back to New Zealand on July 1 and the 1,000 Guineas would look the right race for her down there. We're very excited and hopefully she will train on. “There's no reason why she wouldn't. She will have a prep and then it will be all systems go for the Guineas, hopefully.”

There has been no shortage of Irish jockeys trying their hand at Australia, but not many have come to the conclusion that New Zealand was the place to be. But it was on the recommendation of Doyle's friend that the offerings in New Zealand were worth exploring and he hasn't looked back.

Doyle explained, “I bumped into Samantha Finnegan, whose sister is Chrissy Bambury, who does very well down there. She just happened to ask me what I was up to for the winter and I didn't have any plans as such.

“It was Samantha who suggested I go to New Zealand and she got me a job. That's how it all came about. Australia is a very big place and there is a big pool of horses and jockeys. I thought that I could do New Zealand first and get a feel for the place and perhaps move on but I don't think there's any sign of me moving on at the minute as I am happy down there. The people have been so good to me in New Zealand.”

He added, “I was in Ballydoyle every day at the time, which was fantastic, and I couldn't thank Aidan [O'Brien] enough. You learn an awful amount riding out at Ballydoyle every morning when you're working alongside the likes of Seamie Heffernan and Wayne Lordan, two top-class jockeys.

“Things are bound to rub off on you when you are working alongside that calibre of jockey, but the thing is, Ireland is an extremely difficult place to do well in as a jockey, and I just wanted to be busy. I didn't mind taking a hit with the prize-money if it meant I was to be as busy as I am riding down in New Zealand and long may it continue.”

Of course, reinventing himself is something that comes second nature to Doyle. Some people may forget that Doyle had all but retired but for being lured back to race-riding by Hogan in 2019.

“I have reinvented myself a couple of times alright, yea–I didn't race-ride for 18 months at one stage! I had no plans to come back race-riding and then Denis twisted my arm that time.

“We got on really well and had some great seasons together. We're still the best of friends but things got a bit quiet for me at home in Ireland. I was trying to find the right horses and I just needed a fresh start.”

He added, “But I like going racing for eight or 10 rides and a few favourites as well. It's good to be riding for the big trainers in New Zealand and sitting on the nicer types of horses.”

Be it New Zealand or breeze day at Newmarket, Joe Doyle is back in demand, that's for sure.

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If successful, Auguste Rodin would bridge a 53-year gap, and complete a long-held ambition for the master of Ballydoyle, who came agonisingly close to achieving the feat with Camelot (GB) in 2013.

Auguste Rodin is understood to have come out of an exercise gallop at the Curragh racecourse on Saturday in good shape by O'Brien, who also revealed that he has every faith in last year's crack juvenile Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) getting the Guineas trip. 

Both colts were reported to be on course for Newmarket by O'Brien at a Ballydoyle press morning on Monday.

He explained, “Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear will be aimed at Newmarket and then the lads will have to decide whether they will let the two of them run together or split them up. They were obviously two very classy colts last year, and what Little Big Bear did in the Phoenix was just different, but we were also very impressed with Auguste Rodin in the Vertem Futurity as everything went wrong in the race.”

O'Brien added, “Little Big Bear would be very comfortable and happy to go back sprinting any time, but there's a very good chance he will get a mile. He races very relaxed.

Aidan O'Brien: “If we have a horse capable of doing the Triple Crown, Auguste Rodin is the one.” pic.twitter.com/xHs8107Cnk

— TDN (@theTDN) March 27, 2023

“Auguste Rodin, you would imagine, will have no bother stretching out to a-mile-and-a-quarter or a-mile-and-a-half. He's that type of horse. We were nearly not running him at Doncaster because of the ground, as he's an exceptional mover–a very slick, very long and low mover. 

“He is that type of horse that could start in the Guineas and stretch out. He was always very classy, from the first time Ryan [Moore] rode him. I remember Ryan riding him in February, as a two-year-old, and he was raving about him then. If we have a horse who could do that [win the Triple Crown], he would definitely be the one.”

One horse who won't be seen at Newmarket in May is Statuette (Justify), who has suffered a setback. Unbeaten in both of her starts at two, including the G2 Airlie Stud S., Statuette will be joined on the easy list by Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the reigning Gold Cup hero, who will miss the defence of his Royal Ascot crown due to injury. 

O'Brien said, “Statuette is on a little bit of a hold-up. I don't think she's going to make the Guineas. We'll go gently with her and see what happens.

“I don't think Kyprios will make the Ascot Gold Cup. He got a little bit of an infection in a joint and it's not settling down. We'll just have to wait and see. It happened a month ago and it's just not settling. Sometimes those things can settle very quickly and sometimes they don't. He got an infection inside the joint-an unusual thing-and the joint had to be flushed. And then there was more infection, so they had to flush it a second time.”

Asked what horses could potentially fill the Gold Cup void for Ballydoyle, O'Brien responded, “We were very impressed with Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) at the Curragh, on her last run. She grew another leg when she went to two miles. I'm not sure whether Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) will stretch out that far, but I'd imagine Goodwood, Irish Leger and Melbourne Cup, those types of races for him.”

Breeders' Cup scorer Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) will be trained for the French 2,000 Guineas while an audacious plan has been hatched with the speedy Tenebrism (Caravaggio) to win the G1 King's Stand S. and G1 Platinum Jubilee at Royal Ascot. 

O'Brien said, “I think they [Ballydoyle three-year-olds for this season] are strong. There are plenty of chances there, and we have two very strong Guineas chances, and then we have the horse for France [Victoria Road].”

He added, “Tenebrism is going to go sprinting and will probably start in one of the local sprints. She's nearly ready to go. She's a fast filly, and I'd say five or six furlongs would be comfortable for her.

“Last year we were dallying around with her, seeing where we were going to go, but the minute we started sprinting with her, it was very obvious she was a sprinter. She's very quick. She'll be trained differently. Last year, we were trying to stretch her out, to see how far she would go, and she was still very competitive at those distances because she's just a good filly.”

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A general 8-1 chance for Guineas glory, Juddmonte's Chaldean will be bidding to chart the same path to victory as his sire Frankel, who took the Greenham before turning in one of the most memorable performances of all time in the Newmarket Classic. 

Balding is no stranger to Guineas success himself. In 2020, he sent out Kameko to win the race under Oisin Murphy. While Kameko won the 2000 Guineas without having a prep race, Balding is happy to adopt a different approach with Chaldean, given how the colt thrived on his racing last year. 

Balding told TDN Europe, “We are very happy at this moment in time. Chaldean has done very well in his coat and has come forward in his work so, at this moment in time, we are just where we want to be.”

He added, “I think we'd prefer a prep for the Guineas with him and the Greenham would be the obvious one for him. He's not penalised in that and it's eight miles down the road from us. It would be the equivalent of having a good gallop at home to go there and have a race. 

“He's a horse who improved with racing last year–with every race he got better–so we have been planning for a prep with him. That is the intention at the moment, to go to Newbury and then on to Newmarket all being well.”

Chaldean went from strength to strength last season. After suffering defeat on debut, he went on to win his next four starts, culminating with victory in the G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster followed by a battling victory over Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) in the G1 Dewhurst S at Newmarket. 

Asked if the fact that Chaldean is a May foal contributed to his stupendous progression last term, Balding said, “It could well be. If I'm honest, he was a little unlucky first time out as he got caught in a pocket and was just a little bit inexperienced but he learned a lot from that and, as I said, with each run he seemed to get better. It was a very rewarding two-year-old career and hopefully he can do as well this year.”

He added, “After he ran a few times last year, he became not particularly flashy at home. He's very relaxed and every time we took him to the track, he put it in. He's just a great horse to have anything to do with.”

Frankie Dettori partnered Chaldean to his Champagne and Dewhurst wins and Balding confirmed that the intention is for the legendary jockey to maintain the partnership. 

He concluded, “That's the intention [for Dettori to keep the ride this season]. We are hoping that is the case.”

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The son of Danehill was bred by the late Joe Crowley with his daughter Annemarie and son-in-law Aidan O'Brien. He was sent into training with the latter at Ballydoyle as a juvenile in 2001, later racing for the partnership of Sir Alex Ferguson and Susan Magnier.

Rock Of Gibraltar's sensational racing career, which saw him land seven consecutive Group 1 races in 11 months, began in the April of his 2-year-old season when he broke his maiden over five furlongs in the hands of Mick Kinane at the Curragh. Kinane, Ballydoyle's stable jockey at that time, would be aboard for 12 of the colt's 13 starts, his one omission being when suspended for the 2000 Guineas. Rock Of Gibraltar, ridden that day at Newmarket by Johnny Murtagh, raced on the far side of the track, beating stablemate and race favourite Hawk Wing by a neck to land the first of his two Classic victories, with Kinane back in the saddle for his follow-up at the Curragh.

Kinane remembers his partnership with Rock Of Gibraltar as “the most fun I had riding any racehorse”.

He told TDN on Monday, “He was an exceptional racehorse. He loved racing, and he was the only horse I ever rode who would have a buck and kick and a squeal going down to the start. He had an unbelievable turn of pace. He was a fantastic miler, a brilliant 2-year-old and a brilliant 3-year-old.”

In hindsight, Rock Of Gibraltar's 2000 Guineas starting price of 9-1 seems extraordinarily generous. By the time he lined up for his seasonal debut on the Rowley Mile on May 4, 2002, he was already a dual Group 1 winner, having annexed the Grand Criterium and Dewhurst S. to conclude a juvenile campaign in which he won five of his seven races, including the G2 Gimcrack S. and G3 Railway S.

At three, he became the fifth horse in history to land the 2,000 Guineas double in Britain and Ireland, and then went on to add the St James's Palace S., Sussex S., and Prix du Moulin to his outstanding record, becoming the first horse to win seven consecutive Group 1 races in the northern hemisphere, beating a record previously held for 30 years by the great Mill Reef. In his final start, Rock Of Gibraltar was second to Domedriver (Ire), beaten less than a length in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Arlington.

Horse of the Year in 2002, Rock Of Gibraltar embarked on his stud career at Coolmore the following season, effectively replacing Mozart, another top son of Danehill who had died the previous May after only one season at stud. 'The Rock' remained in Ireland for all bar one of the subsequent years, when he stood at the Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan in 2007. His 16 Group 1 winners include the top sprinter Society Rock (Ire), Eclipse S. winner and former useful sire Mount Nelson (GB), and the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Samitar (Ire). In recent seasons Rock Of Gibraltar has featured as the broodmare sire of subsequent winners of the 2,000 Guineas, Kameko and Poetic Flare (Ire).

Rock Of Gibraltar was out of the Be My Guest mare Offshore Boom (GB), who had been bought from her breeder Moyglare Stud by Crowley and the O'Briens in 1997 for IR£11,000. One of her later foals, also by Danehill, was the G3 Derrinstown Stud  1,000 Guineas Trial runner-up Nell Gwyn (Ire).

A lengthy essay in Racehorses of 2002 perhaps summed up the late stallion's racing career of 10 wins from 13 starts best when stating, “It goes almost without saying that the hardy Timeform epithet 'tough, genuine and consistent' fits Rock Of Gibraltar to a T.”

In tribute to Rock Of Gibraltar, Paddy Fleming, stud manager at Castlehyde, said, “He was healthy and looking great right up to the end. He was a fantastic racehorse and a very good sire who will be missed by all the staff here.”

The post ‘Tough, Genuine and Consistent’: Rock Of Gibraltar Dies at 23 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Bolger gave €31,000 for the recently named Roman Moon (Ire) after Prendergast recommended the filly at the Goffs Orby Sale last September and she is set to break new ground by becoming his first runner with the Friarstown operator.

Roman Moon will carry the white and purple colours of Bolger's wife Jackie, once carried to major glories by Teofilo (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), New Approach (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and more recently Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}), when she hits the track this summer.

Speaking about the reasoning in sending the filly to the 89-year-old handler, Bolger told TDN Europe, “It was Kevin who suggested that we buy the filly and, when we did, we said that we would leave her with him knowing that she would be in safe hands.

“If I remember correctly, I was sitting beside Kevin when she walked into the ring and he told me that he was thinking of buying her on spec. Clare Manning [Bolger's granddaughter] also liked her and, when what she told me was confirmed by Kevin, I told her to go ahead and buy the filly.

“I decided there and then that, if Kevin was interested in training her for me, he could have her. She cost €35,000 so is qualified for all of those auction races and will carry Jackie's colours.”

Bolger added: “Kevin is very happy with her. You could say that Kevin is a victim of his age, and I suppose myself to a lesser extent, as not too many people want to send a man in his late 80s a racehorse. But, as far as Kevin is concerned, there are few better than him at his craft.”

Prendergast outlined his ambition to continue training “until the man upstairs calls it all to a halt” to the TDN Europe last week and Bolger's Roman Moon will form part of a 15-horse string.

Bolger's numbers are understood to be closer to 100 or more, the majority of which are owned by himself, with the wheels of his famous Coolcullen-based training establishment kept turning by the trainer's breeding arm of the operation.

It is a truly unique way of running things, with Bolger deriving just as much interest from breeding winners as he does in training them.

“One is dependent on the other but, as far as enjoyment is concerned, I suppose it would be 50-50. I have 80 broodmares and I would need 60-70 of those to go in foal every year in order to keep the wheel turning as I own 95% of the horses I train,” he explained.

“The majority of my mares will go to my own stallions but we use outside stallions as well. We could send up to 20 mares to outside stallions every year and the dam [Halla Na Saoire (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire})] of Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) has been covered by Mehmas (Ire). She also has a yearling by Make Believe (GB).”

Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), best known for getting the better of his stablemate Poetic Flare in a gripping Irish 2,000 Guineas last May, has been kept in training as a 4-year-old.

Just under 12 months on from that heroic display at the Curragh, Bolger recalls of how he wasn't best pleased to see his better-fancied Poetic Flare beaten but, any pain felt in the defeat soon disappeared when he realised he had the dam (Halla Na Saoire) standing out in the field.

“I was disappointed initially when Mac Swiney beat Poetic Flare in the Irish 2,000 Guineas last year but, when I realised that I had the dam of the winner standing out in a paddock, it made it a bit easier,” he said, before sharing details on some of stallions he supported this year.

“Along with Make Believe and Mehmas, we sent mares to Profitable (Ire), Blue Point (Ire) and Belardo (Ire). I sent 25 mares to Teofilo, about a dozen to New Approach and we supported Dawn Approach as well.”

Mac Swiney may be the best older horse Bolger has in training and is firmly on course to kick-start his 4-year-old campaign in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh later this month but the trainer has Classic aspirations for TDN Rising Star Wexford Native and Boundless Ocean.

He said, “Good ground will make a huge difference to Wexford Native (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and if we get good ground in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, he could go there. His proper trip will end up being 10f or 1m4f–he could stay the Irish Derby trip.”

Bolger added, “Boundless Ocean (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) was too keen [when 13th in the 2,000 Guineas] at Newmarket but we think we've got him settled at home now and will pick a race for him soon. He could go for the Irish 2000 Guineas but I would be in no rush to run the two of them against each other.”

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“Unfortunately he's had a little bit of a niggle,” said Burrows. “We're just in the process of investigating exactly what is bothering him. There are no immediate plans for him at the moment.

“He certainly won't be making a Guineas trial, and I'd say it would be highly unlikely, depending on what we find, that he'd make the Guineas. We're getting pretty close. It's very recent, and we're still in the investigating stages.”

Albasheer was last seen finishing sixth in the G1 Dewhurst S. on Oct. 10.

“I had been very pleased with him, so it's very disappointing and frustrating,” Burrows said. “Fingers crossed it's nothing too serious, but with the timing of it, we're going to be struggling. Ideally, the plan was to try for the [G3] Craven or the [G3] Greenham. He won't be making them, and I won't be rushing him just to make a Guineas. He's a proper nice horse, he's going to want a bit of time. How much time, we don't know yet.”

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