Harry McCalmont | Horse Racing Free Tips

Norelands Gets Back Into Historic Family With Gaelic Tales

When the McCalmont family's Norelands Stud purchased the 5-year-old mare Gaelic Tales (Giant's Causeway) for $120,000 through BBA Ireland last week at Keeneland January, it was getting back into a Group 1 family that it had played a hand in developing.

Harry McCalmont currently runs Norelands, which is adjacent to Ballylinch Stud and was established in 1912 largely as a base for mares visiting Ballylinch's famed sire The Tetrarch. Harry McCalmont's father Major Victor McCalmont purchased Gaelic Tales's seventh dam, Agars Plough (Ire) (Combat {GB}), as a foal in 1952.

“Agars Plough won the Irish Oaks about a week after I was born, so a very long time ago in 1955,” McCalmont said. “One of her daughters was Mesopotamia (Ire) (Zarathustra {GB}), who was champion 2-year-old filly in England and Ireland and won the Chesham by about 12 lengths. She is the sixth dam of Gaelic Tales.”

Mesopotamia would go on to be a highly influential producer, and among her descendants foaled at Norelands was Danish (Ire), a great-granddaughter of Mesopotamia. Danish was retained by the McCalmont family and broke her maiden and was listed-placed at Leopardstown at two for trainer Michael Kauntze shortly after Victor McCalmont's death in 1993. Danish joined John Hammond in France for a 4-year-old campaign in which she won at listed level and was third in the G3 Prix de la Nonette before shipping to the U.S. to take the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Keeneland. Danish was bought by Sheikh Mohammed for $1.55-million at Keeneland November in 1996 in foal to Gone West.

The best horse produced by Danish for Sheikh Mohammed was the Listed Flame Of Tara S. third Blixen (Gone West), who would later become the dam of Godolphin's G1 Dubai World Cup winner African Story (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). Blixen also foaled the winning Storybook (UAE), whose sire Halling is, incidentally, a great-great grandson of Mesopotamia. By the time Storybook retired to the paddocks she had been sold to War Front's owner Joe Allen. Storybook is the dam of three stakes horses as well as Gaelic Tales, who was sold to Phoenix Thoroughbreds for $100,000 at Keeneland September in 2018. Gaelic Tales failed to find the winner's enclosure in 10 starts, but was placed six times. She was retired in early March of 2021 and covered by Coolmore's Classic-winning first-season sire Tiz The Law (Constitution).

In the meantime, the McCalmont family had been on a hunt to restore Mesopotamia's line to their paddocks. They had even succeeded once, finding a mare at Arqana a few years ago, but she died in a paddock accident shortly after coming home.

“My father had had a lot of the family,” McCalmont said. “After he died, we had a few from the family and for one reason or another we had lost them-they'd died off or been sold. I'd been trying to buy back into that family for several years and hadn't really been able to.”

Hope was sparked again when McCalmont's son Hamish was flipping through the Keeneland January catalogue and landed on Gaelic Tales.

“Neither of us were at Keeneland, so I got Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland to look at her,” McCalmont said. “He really liked her, said she was a beautiful mare, so we bought her. So let's hope it all works out for the best.”

McCalmont said Gaelic Tales will likely foal in Kentucky and be bred back there before returning to Ireland.

“She's in foal to Tiz The Law, who really probably is an out-and-out American sire,” he said. “So we'll probably foal her down in Kentucky and then cover her with something that will fit better into the European plan, because it's a very European family. We'll probably then bring her back to Ireland at the end of this year when she's back in foal.”

As she embarks on her broodmare career, Gaelic Tales certainly has excellent precedent in her pedigree. The legacy of the Norelands-bred Mesopotamia is still growing today, and features Group 1 winners and champions in England, Ireland, France, New Zealand and the U.S., including 1973 Irish champion 2-year-old filly Welsh Garden (Ire); 1990 G1 Middle Park S. winner Balla Cove (Ire); 1995 G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and G1 Sprint Cup winner Cherokee Rose (Ire); the aforementioned Juddmonte International and Coral-Eclipse winner Halling and Dubai World Cup winner African Story; G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Just The Judge; 2020 G1 2000 Guineas winner Kameko, and many more.

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Egan To Retire From IHRB

Denis Egan will take early retirement from his role as chief executive of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board. After 25 years with the regulator, he will step aside on Sept. 30.

Egan, 60, joined the Turf Club in 1995 and became CEO in 2001. When the Turf Club became the IHRB in 2018 he took on the role of CEO at the new body.

“Irish racing has an enviable reputation worldwide, both for its fairness and integrity and has enjoyed huge success at home and around the world,” said Egan. “I am proud that the Turf Club, and more recently the IHRB, has had a significant role to play in this regard. I believe we now have a strong platform in place to build and grow for the future and I believe the time is right to hand over to a successor to take the organisation to the next level.

“I would like to thank the members of the Turf Club and the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee and particularly the staff of the IHRB for their professionalism and indeed their support down through the years.”

Harry McCalmont, chairman of the IHRB, said, “Denis has made a huge contribution to our organisation, and indeed to the Irish horseracing industry in general both at home and abroad. He is highly regarded throughout the world of horseracing and has served the sport well both in Ireland and internationally. Announcing his decision now allows us to identify his successor in a planned way and we will commence this process soon. While we are sorry to see him leave, we fully respect his decision and would like to wish him well for the future.”

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Lope De Vega Colt Tops Second Day At Tattersalls October Book 2

A son of Lope de Vega was the star turn when selling for 675,000 guineas (US$916,770) on a remarkable second day of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, which saw nine lots sell for 300,000 guineas (US$407,451) or more, taking the two-day total to 14, three more than last year's three-day total.

Anthony Stroud continued his buying spree on the second day of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, securing the Lope de Vega colt out of the Galileo mare Loch Ma Naire for 675,000 guineas (US$916,770).

“He is bred on a successful cross – Lope De Vega ex Galileo – he is an attractive horse and beautifully bred, and Lope De Vega has done incredibly well,” said Stroud, after buying on behalf of Godolphin.

The colt's dam is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Simply Perfect and was offered by Newsells Park Stud on behalf of breeder Andrew Stone's St Albans Bloodstock.

“The team did a great job prepping him but we have only had him for eight or nine weeks, so credit must go to Andrew Stone of St Albans Bloodstock who bred him and the farm that raised him,” said Julian Dollar of Newsells Park Stud.

“In this climate we did not think it would be at all easy, but the market seems to have taken off incredibly this week. I keep thinking there was value last week, but I am not complaining, it is fantastic. Thanks to all the people prepared to take their hands out of their pockets and spend big money on racehorses, long may it continue.”

The colt, who Stroud secured at the expense of underbidder Andrew Balding, is the fifth highest priced colt in the history of the October Book 2 sale.

Glen Hill Farm Strikes for Frankel Filly at 460,000 Guineas

Fairway Thoroughbreds' John Camilleri, breeder of wondermare Winx, enjoyed a second consecutive day in the limelight when the Frankel filly out of Love is Blindness was sold to Hubie De Burgh for 460,000 guineas (US$624,757) on behalf of Craig Bernick's Glen Hill Farm. Like yesterday's 400,000 guineas (US$543,267) Kingman colt, Camilleri's filly was offered by Harry McCalmont's Norelands Stud.

“She has been bought for Craig Bernick of Glen Hill Farm to go into training with Fozzy Stack,” said de Burgh. “We tried all week through Book 1 and could not get anything. This filly is by one of the great sires of the modern era and there are classic winners in her page, she could be a Guineas or an Oaks filly.

“On top of that she is a beautiful looking filly from a top farm where I keep a lot of stock, and I've known her since she was foaled. I watched her and every time I have seen her she gets better and better and better. As you can see, she is a queen. Now we keep our fingers crossed and hope she is going to be as good as we think she is going to be!”

Of the buyer Craig Bernick, De Burgh added: “Craig is a great lover of the horse industry and is going to be a great breeder, he has got some wonderful stock in Europe already. He wants to collect this quality of bloodstock because he is thinking 20 years ahead, hopefully she will be one of the foundation mares in the broodmare band. Craig is developing an Australian operation, European and American, it is very exciting.”

De Burgh rounded off by saying; “You just don't get your hands on fillies like this. She has a bit of Frankel about her, she really walks, has a really good hind-quarter, she is just all quality.”

The Sir Percy mare Love is Blindness is a half-sister to the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club winner Reliable Man and a granddaughter of the English and Irish Oaks winner Fair Salinia.

White Birch Farm Strike for Showcasing Colt

Agent Demi O'Byrne secured two of the lots to sell for 300,000 guineas (US$407,451) or more on the second day on behalf of Peter Brant's White Birch Farm, the first of which was the Showcasing colt consigned by Kenilworth House Stud. The son of the Acclamation mare Harlequin Twist was knocked down to O'Byrne for 310,000 guineas (US$421,039), a substantial return on the 70,000 guineas (US$95,073) that Kenilworth House Stud manager Gerry Ross and “a couple of mates” paid for him at last year's Tattersalls December Foal Sale.

Ross said: “He had a good walk – as auctioneer Alastair Pim said he was one of the best-looking walkers he had seen through the two weeks. A foal will never lose its walk. Hopefully he will go on to fulfil his potential, he has been flat to the board here all week and his last show was as good as his first. He has been a pro so far, hopefully he will continue.”

Of the prospects ahead of this sale for a profitable result, Ross said: “A week ago I would never had dreamt of that sort of money, but once you have a couple of big players involved you never know where it is going to end.

“Yesterday's trade was the best trade there has been all year. There was no vendor going into the ring with their chest out, but at least you've a bit more confidence.”

Little more than 30 minutes later, O'Byrne struck again when securing a daughter of first season stallion Ribchester for 300,000 guineas (US$407,451). Out of the Teofilo mare Hint of Pink, the filly was another success story for Harry McCalmont's Norelands Stud who bred the filly in partnership with Patrick Robinson, author of the famed bloodstock novel “Horse Trader: Robert Sangster and the Rise and Fall of the Sport of Kings”.

“Her half-brother winning in the last week or so was a big plus, timing is everything in this business,” said McCalmont. “I am very pleased because she belongs to my good friend Patrick Robinson. A couple of years ago Patrick wrote a book called 'Lone Survivor' which became a blockbuster movie. Patrick decided to retire and take up breeding horses and gave me a few quid to spend on them. I am delighted for him.”

Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale continues with the third and final session at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

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Kingman Colt Tops Book 2 Opener At Tattersalls October Sale

Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale got off to a strong start with five lots selling for 300,000 guineas (US$411,500) or more and a son of Kingman topping proceedings at 400,000 guineas (US$548,667).

The fireworks started early during the opening day of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, with the Kingman colt out of the Rip Van Winkle mare Allez Y selling for 400,000 guineas (US$548,667) to Godolphin. The granddaughter of champion European 3-year-old filly l'Ancresse was bred by John Camilleri's Fairway Thoroughbreds and consigned to the sale by Harry McCalmont's Norelands Stud.

“He is a very nice horse, nice horses are easy to sell, and there is a strong market for nice horses,” admitted McCalmont. “The dam Allez Y is going to Australia, she belongs to John Camilleri, who bred Winx, and is in-foal to Lope De Vega on Southern Hemisphere time. I am delighted I have sold a good horse for him, very happy.”

The son of Kingman is one of seven yearlings on offer in Book 2 by the in-demand stallion and was knocked down to Anthony Stroud after he saw off the efforts of Irish trainer Joseph O'Brien.

“He is from Norelands who do a fantastic job, he is a well-balanced horse, moved well and we have had a lot of luck with Kingman – Palace Pier and Persian King. He will go to France to be trained by Andre Fabre,” reported Stroud.

Allez Y is a half-sister to the Group 3 winning Frankel colt Master of Reality, who is trained by Joseph O'Brien and is as short as 22/1 for this year's Melbourne Cup.

Date With Destiny's Daughter Makes 350,000 Guineas

Newsells Park Stud were celebrating when their daughter of first season sire Churchill out of George Washington's only foal Date With Destiny sold for 350,000 guineas (US$480,209). The three-parts sister to the Group 3 winner Beautiful Morming, who realized 1.4 million guineas (US$1,920,806) at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale in 2018, was knocked down to Stroud Coleman's Anthony Stroud after he saw off AMO Racing's Kia Joorabchian stood alongside Robson Aguiar.

Julian Dollar of Newsells said: “When we bought Date With Destiny some people asked us if it was because of that rarity value, but it really wasn't. We'd had some luck with the family before, and Flawly was one of the first mares we bought and she produced Best Name – she was one of the best mares we had early on in terms of sales and as a producer. We were very fond of the family so when the opportunity came to buy a bit more of it, we came in with her.

“We mated her to Galileo and she produced a lovely filly in Beautiful Morning, so we went to the son. The Churchill was an interesting mating, going back to something familiar but to put in a bit more speed and precocity, the mare herself was quite precocious.”

Newsells Park Stud purchased Date With Destiny at the 2011 Tattersalls December Mare Sale for 185,000 guineas via agent John Warren.

Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale continues at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

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