This is a man who has been operating at a 23 per cent strike-rate or higher since 2018. That takes serious doing in an environment as competitive as Ireland.

While the 46-year-old has been training officially since 2012, his Tipperary-based operation has been open to outside owners for roughly half of that time, and boy has it snowballed in that period.

From sending out six winners from 26 runners domestically in 2018, Twomey has bettered that tally–and strike-rate–every year since, and sent out an incredible 31 winners from 105 runners which equated to a 30% hit-rate last year.

Of those 31 winners in Ireland, six were achieved with two-year-olds, including G3 Round Tower S. winner Treasure Trove, and the stable also broke the €1 million mark for prize-money earned for the first time in a season.

But the achievement that mattered the most to Twomey was a first Group 1 success achieved with La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}) in the G1 Pretty Polly S. which was quickly followed by another top-flight victory to mark a season to remember when Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) landed the G1 Matron S. on Irish Champion S.

“We try to improve every year,” says Twomey, reflecting on last year's achievements. “We had two Group 1 winners so that is where the bar is set. The aim is to try and keep on improving and to do the best we can by our horses.”

Twomey has a wealth of talent to work with for the upcoming season and is already off the mark courtesy of Irish St Leger hope French Claim. There are Group 1 aspirations for Rosscarbery, who changed hands for 1,000,000gns at the sales last December and will race in the colours of Lady Bamford this season, while the trainer has been typically-shrewd in adding to the ranks over the winter months.

Judging by the pedigrees on show in the two-year-old department, there are plenty of stars for the future waiting to bob their heads above the parapet and, while the trainer has 60 juveniles to run this season, he revealed that he would be happy if he could add “a good one” to the team at the upcoming breeze-up sale circuit.

“We're looking forward to the breeze-up sales and hope to be active at them. We will be at the Craven and at Doncaster and hope to travel to Arqana and possibly Goresbridge as well. If things fell our way and we managed to pick up a good one out of them, I would be delighted.”

Older Horses
French Claim (Fr) (French Fifteen {Fr})
Teme Valley Racing
He had a good year last year, was third in the Irish Derby, and finished up being rated 108. He wasn't beaten that far in the St Leger, when things didn't go his way, and then it was trainer error in the Irish Cesarewitch–I shouldn't have run him that day.
It was good to see him off the mark at Navan last week. That was a good starting point for him and I think he is an exciting horse for the year ahead.
Hopefully he can step up in a stakes race next, probably the Vintage Crop back at Navan next month, and then on to a Group race.
I think he appreciates an ease in the ground but he's a relentless galloper and hopefully we can have a good campaign with him. He could be an Irish Leger horse.

Rosscarbery (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire})
Lady Bamford
She was a great addition last year, starting in a maiden in April, taking us to Sligo and Roscommon and everywhere along the way. I enjoyed training her and she ran her best RPR on her last start-every time she ran, she ran better than the last day. She is very giving and very genuine.
She went to the sales at the end of last year and was sold but luckily Lady Bamford decided to send her back to us. We are very much looking forward to training her this year. She is a dual Group 3 winner and is Group 1-placed.
I think 10 and 12 furlongs is probably her optimum, she doesn't quite get 1m6f, and races like the Pretty Polly, Prix Jean Romanet and the Yorkshire Oaks could suit.
Ultimately, something like the Breeders' Cup Fillies and Mares at Santa Anita would be the goal, and I'd say her campaign will be very much geared towards the second half of the season.

Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus})
Moyglare Stud
A filly we are very keen on. She ran a good race in the G3 Renaissance S. at the Curragh at the end of last year and then we decided not to run her again with this year in mind. We had a couple of hold-ups in the spring of last year and it basically wiped out last season on us.
She has been training very well this winter and into this spring so she might start in the G3 Athasi S. at the Curragh next month. I think anywhere from six to seven furlongs will suit and she likes fast ground. I'm looking forward to her this year.

Final Gesture (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})
Bobby Flay
This is a very well-bred filly. We liked her form in France and Bobby Flay kindly sent her to us. This is our first horse for him and the plan will be to target the fillies' staying division in Ireland and England this season.
If she is good enough, we'd love to travel to America in the second half of the season for something. The first aim is to win a stakes race and the second is to achieve Group form. If we can win a Group race, we can think about travelling, and we're excited about her.

Rolling The Dice (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire})
Arabian Bloodstock
A nice filly, she won a Newbury maiden as a two-year-old and was third to Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the G2 May Hill S. at Doncaster. She lost her way a little bit as a three-year-old, though. She joined us last August and we're looking forward to running her this year.

Mea Domina (Fr) (Pivotal {GB})
Merry Fox Stud Limited & Newsells Park Stud Ltd
A nice filly with a good pedigree, she has been bought as a potential broodmare for her owners. We're delighted to have her. She showed nice ability when winning her maiden at Fontainebleau and again when winning her listed race quite comfortably at Saint-Cloud. The plan is to start her off in the Heritage S. at Leopardstown on Wednesday.

Spasiba (Fr) (Ultra {Ire})
Paddy Twomey
A lovely horse, he was physically immature at three and we didn't over-race him as a result. He's rated 92 and the plan would be to start in a winners' race over 1m4f or 1m6f and then maybe into a handicap and see where we end up. I'm looking forward to him.

Beamish (Fr) (Teofilo {Ire})
John Joseph Flynn
He's entered in the Alleged S. at the Curragh on April 16 and it looks like being a good starting point for him. He won't mind a bit of an ease in the ground. He's a lightly-raced horse for one who is turning five–he's only run six times in his life–but he's in good form and we're looking forward to him this year.

Erosandpsyche (Ire) (Sepoy {Aus})
Barbara Dreeling
He joined us last year and progressed through the ranks of the sprinting division, culminating with a second-placed effort behind Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder) in the G1 Flying Five S. at the Curragh on Irish Champions Weekend.
He's an exciting horse for the season ahead but it will probably be the second half of the season before he gets going. He likes nice ground.

Twomey embraces jockey Billy Lee after La Petite Coco's Group 1 triumph | Racingfotos.com

Three-Year-Olds
Colts
Change Sings (Ire)
Trevor Stewart
A Saxon Warrior (Jpn) colt out of Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), he's a lovely horse and makes his debut at Leopardstown on Wednesday. We're looking forward to starting him off.

Fillies
Persian Jewel (Ire) (Showcasing ({GB})
Teme Valley Racing
She had a nice introduction at Leopardstown on Sunday. The ground was a good bit heavier than what she would like and I was very happy with how she came home. I would hope that she is a filly who can go and win her maiden the next day.

Bella Blue Eyes (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire})
Eddie Walsh
She ran once for us last autumn, and the plan would be to start off in a maiden and try to win that. She's a nice filly for Eddie Walsh, who has been a great supporter of mine since I started training.

Easy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB})
Team Valor International LLC & Gary Barber
A nice filly, she joined us after winning her maiden for Andy Slattery and we ran her first time up for us in the Ingabelle S. on Irish Champions Weekend, but unfortunately she picked up a little setback that day which ruled her out for the rest of the season.
We hope to start her in a winners' race or a handicap and hopefully she can progress through the ranks. I'd say she has plenty of ability.

Treasure Trove (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr})
Merry Fox Stud Limited
She was good last year, winning three times and achieving black-type on six different occasions, which takes a bit of doing for any horse at any stage of their life. For a two-year-old to do it, it's remarkable. She's tough and hardy–the aim this year is to win a stakes race.
She's Guineas-entered but I probably see her more as a sprinter and races like the Polonia S. at Cork could suit her well. In a dream scenario, she'd get to the Commonwealth Cup, but it's only early in the season yet, so let's see where we get to.

Tagline (GB) (Havana Grey {GB})
Arabian Bloodstock
She was a good two-year-old and placed in the Dick Poole S. and ran well in the G3 Oh So Sharp S. as well. She will be a good fit for the fillies' sprint division in Ireland.

Shelton (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}})
Martin Schwartz
She came from the breeze-ups last season and won impressively at the Curragh, where she beat Basil Martini (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), who went on and won a Group 3 afterwards.
Shelton was also a good second in the G3 Flame Of Tara S. and got a small setback in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. after that. I think it will be the second half of the season before she is out.

Two-Year-Olds

Colts
Noche Magica (Ire)
Night Of Thunder (Ire) colt out of Pious Alexander (Ire) (Acclamation {GB})
Bought by Avenue Bloodstock for £230,000 from Mountarmstrong Stud at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale
Mohammed Ahmad Ali Alsubousi
He's a nice colt and hopefully he will start around mid-April in a six-furlong maiden. I like what I have seen from him and he'll be one of my earliest runners. He should be out this month.

King Cuan (GB)
Tasleet (GB) colt out of Rutherford (Ire) (Dutch Art {GB})
Cost €21,000 at Goffs Sportsman's Sale from Leon Carrick
Red Lily Racing Syndicate
He is a brother of Ernest Rutherford (GB) (Ardad {Ire}), who won for Michael O'Callaghan, and is a nice colt for a new syndicate in the yard. The syndicate is Naas-based so the dream would be to aim him at the Ballyhane S. and the Goffs Sportsman's race. He's entered in both and hopefully he will turn out to be a bit of value for what we paid for him.

Red Hugh O'Donnell (Ire)
Dark Angel (Ire) colt out of Rionach (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire})
Robert Moran
The first foal out of Rionach, who ran to a high level and placed in the Athasi S. This horse is a nice colt who looks like he will make a two-year-old. He has good action and is a lovely straightforward horse to deal with.

Eulace Peacock (Ire)
Dark Angel colt out of Cnoc An Oir (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire})
Team Valor and Gary Barber
Another nice Dark Angel colt who is very straightforward and is good-actioned. He looks like he will appreciate nice ground and I'd imagine it will be mid-summer before he starts.

Deepone (GB)
Study Of Man (Ire) colt out of Avyanna (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
Bought by Paddy Twomey for 62,000gns at Tattersalls Book 3 from Beechvale Stud
Vimal Khosla
Nice colt who I hope to run some time in May, once the seven-furlong races start. This is a nice horse and has the option of median auction races.

Get The Papers (Fr)
Soldier Hollow (GB) colt out of Belle Riviere (Frankel)
Haras De Saint Pair
Another nice colt who qualifies for those median auction maiden races and, when the seven furlong races start, he will be ready to go. We like him and he'll be out from mid-season onwards.

Lone Piper (GB)
Kingman (GB) out of Guilty Twelve (Giant's Causeway)
Merry Fox Stables
Nice and straightforward horse out of a Group 3-winning Giant's Causeway mare. Looks one for the second half of the year and I like what I see.

Staple (Ire)
Dark Angel colt out of Samaah (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire})
Bought by Alex Elliott for 280,000gns from Yeomanstown Stud at Tattersalls Book 1
Valmont
He's a nice colt and has been training well. He was picked up at Book 1 and Valmont is new to our yard. It's nice to have them on board and we have some good prospects for them.

Not Afraid (GB)
Night Of Thunder colt out of Zeb Un Nisa (GB) (Iffraaj {GB})
Bought by Alex Elliott for 280,000gns at Tattersalls Book 2 from Hascombe & Valiant Stud Ltd
Valmont
A nice colt who came from Book 2, I am happy with what he is showing us so far and will be one for the second half of the season.

Bothar
Street Sense colt out of Flashly (Denman {Aus})
Homebred
Newtown Anner Stud
A lovely Newtown Anner homebred, he is out of a half-sister to Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia (Street Boss). It's an unusually-bred horse for this part of the world but he's a nice first foal out of Street Sense and I like what I am seeing from him.

McClane (Ire)
Fracas (Ire) colt out of Saoire (GB) (Pivotal {GB})
Homebred
Joseph Joyce
This year is a first for me as I am going to have three juveniles by Fracas to train, which Joseph Joyce kindly sent to me. This is a son of Saoire, who obviously won the Irish 1,000 Guineas for Francis Crowley, and we also have a sister of Smash Williams (Ire) and another sister to McTigue (Ire).
They are very much for the second half of the year but look to be nice horses and we're looking forward to training them for Joseph, who is a true owner-breeder in that he raced the stallion and the dam.

Say Never No More (Ire)
No Nay Never colt out of Queen Iseult (GB) (Camelot {GB})
Bought by Jason Taylor Equine at Goffs Orby Sale from Castlehyde Stud for €280,000
Lapetus Racing Syndicate
These colts are for the Lapetus Racing, which is a new American-based syndicate to have joined the yard, and their aim is to unearth a horse good enough to go to Royal Ascot and, ultimately, the Breeders' Cup after that. The horses were bought by David Ingordo and Jason Taylor at Goffs and, like I said, the Breeders' Cup is the dream.

Cathal (Ire)
No Nay Never colt out of Lucky At The Bay (Lucky Pulpit)
Bought by Jason Taylor Equine for €120,000 from Baroda Stud at Goffs Orby
Lapetus Racing Syndicate
He is very much in the mould of the No Nay Nevers that I have seen at the races-a strong and forward type. We're just about to start doing fast work with him.

Fillies

Vanity Pays (GB)
Kodiac (GB) filly out of Mystic Jade (GB) (Raven's Pass)
Bought by Paddy Twomey for 100,000gns from Fernham Farm at Tattersalls Book 1
Stanley Watson and Trevor Stewart
Nice filly who has been working well. Hopefully she will start when we get a bit of nice ground or else on the all-weather by the end of April. She's sharp and early. She's pleasing us.

Jenni (Ire)
Mehmas (Ire) filly out of Inuk (Ire) (Kodiac)
Ennistown Stud
Mehmas is a stallion who we really like and this filly is out of a Kodiac half-sister to The Mackem Bullet (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}). She's one of our more forward two-year-olds and we hope to run her over five furlongs in mid-April. I like what I see with her. I'd say Noche Magica, Vanity Pays and Jenni will be my first two-year-old runners this season-they're a bit ahead of the rest of them at this stage anyway.

Lady Lilibetrage (Ire)
Magna Grecia (Ire) filly out of Quick Chat (First Defence)
Bought by Jason Taylor Equine for €200,000 from Glenvale Stud at Goffs Orby
Lapetus Racing Syndicate
She is straightforward and has been training well. She looks like a filly for six to seven furlongs in the middle of the summer. I think she'll like a bit of nice ground.

Dark Lyric (Ire)
Dark Angel filly out of Hay Chewed (Ire) (Camacho {GB})
Bought by Richard Ryan for €160,000 at Goffs Orby from Grangemore Stud
Teme Valley Racing
She is finding her work very easy and we're happy with her. We've been lucky with Dark Angel and she looks another nice filly by him.

Elana Osario (GB)
Lope De Vega (Ire) filly out of Moi Meme (GB) (Teofilo {Ire})
Bought by Paddy Twomey for 375,000gns from Hillwood Stud at Tattersalls Book 2
Robert Moran
She is a lovely filly and is one for the second half of the season. I thought Robert did a good job in naming her because Alana Osario was the wife of Lope De Vega. This filly has some class so hopefully she can live up to that good name.

Mysticmoon (Ire)
Lope De Vega filly out of Onthemoonagain (Fr) (Cape Cross {Ire})
Eddie Walsh
This is the second Lope De Vega we have and she looks as though she will be one for the second half of the season. Coincidentally, she's the first foal out of Onthemoonagain, who ran to quite a high level in America for Martin Schwarz, a big supporter of this yard.

Lucky Silks (Ire)
Mehmas filly out of Champagne Or Water (Ire) (Captain Rio {GB})
Bought by Paddy Twomey for €260,000 from Tally-Ho Stud at Goffs Orby
Martin Schwartz
Champagne Or Water was a stakes winner for Willie McCreery and her first foal was Group 1-placed in Canada last year. This is the second foal and is one for mid-season onwards.

Conradi (GB)
Calyx (GB) filly out of Althiba (GB) (Shamardal)
Bought by Alex Elliott for €110,000 from the Channel Consignment at the Arqana October Yearling Sale
Valmont
Nice filly and I'm very pleased with what she is showing us. We haven't dipped her yet but she's nice.

Heart Of Darkness (GB)
Mehmas filly out of One Kiss (GB) (Sayif {Ire})
Cost 50,000gns at Tattersalls Book 2 from Llety Farms to Skymark Farm
Lady O'Reilly
A nice sharp filly who looks as though she will want good ground. She should be ready to run when the ground dries up in May and June.

Alinta (Ire)
Australia filly out of Termagent (Ire) (Powerscourt {GB})
Homebred
Mrs Diana Vasicek
She has a nice pedigree, being a daughter of G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Termagent. She's one for the second half of the season and hopefully she makes up into a nice filly.

Eternal Harmony (Ire)
Night Of Thunder filly out of Majenta (Ire) (Marju {Ire})
Homebred
Mrs Diana Vasicek
Majenta was another very good racemare, having finished third in the Lenebane S. for Kevin Prendergast. This is a nice filly who I hope to run in late-summer or the autumn.

Porters Place (Ire)
Make Believe filly out of Shreyas (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire})
John Joseph Flynn
A nice filly who we picked up for 70,000gns out of Book 2, she is out of the 110-rated Shreyas, who is a sister to Youmzain (Ire). I think she has the makings of being a very nice three-year-old.

Eagle Of Destiny (Ire)
Gleneagles (Ire) filly out of Miss Macnamara (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire})
Cost €175,000 from Clonlisk Stud at Goffs Orby
Robert Moran
A sister to Sonnyboyliston (Ire) (Power {GB}) and Lot Of Joy (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), she would look like one to have a run or two at the back end of the season before what will hopefully be a productive three and four-year-old campaign.

Forthright (Ire)
Zoffany (Ire) filly out of Last Gold (Fr) (Gold Away {Ire})
Bought by Hugo Merry at Tattersalls Book 3 for 65,000gns from Castletown Stud
Valmont and partnership
A sister of Lumiere Rock (Ire), who is a smart Saxon Warrior (Jpn) filly for Joseph O'Brien, she is for a partnership that includes Valmont.

Clermont Ferrand (Ire)
Kodiac filly out of Alsace Lorraine (Ire) (Giant's Causeway)
Homebred
Merry Fox Stud
A lovely homebred for Merry Fox Stud, she does everything right and is for the second half of the season.

Super Sox (GB)
Showcasing filly out of Minoria (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire})
Cost €50,000 from Clenagh Castle Stud at Tattersalls Ireland
Dowager Countess of Harrington
The second foal out of Minoria, she is a sister to It's Showtime Baby (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), who was a good two-year-old for Jessica Harrington last season. This is quite a tall filly and she is pleasing us. Hopefully she'll be out by mid-season.

The post ‘The Breeders’ Cup Is The Goal’ – Paddy Twomey Stable Tour appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Rosscarbery justified Twomey's decision to supplement at a cost of €30,000 for that Group 1 contest when running a gallant third behind stablemate La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler Of The World). 

However, she was later thrown out after Lordan weighed in 5lb light, after which Twomey said he was convinced the error was not the fault of his or his rider's, and went on to blame “a technical glitch with the scales”.

Rosscarbery, one of the star attractions of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale later this month, went on to achieve Group 1 black-type when beaten just a neck into second in the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville in August. 

A statement published by Irish racing's regulator on Friday revealed that the connections of the filly have now withdrawn their appeal in light of the IHRB's apology and Twomey described himself as happy that the issue is now resolved.

He said, “It was a pity that it happened. Having a first and third in a Group 1 race is a very hard thing to do and it was unfortunate that she was disqualified. It is what it is and we're moving on. Thankfully we had a good year on the whole and we're just happy that this issue is resolved.”

An independent investigation carried out by Grant Thornton found that no blame could be attributed to Twomey or the connections of the filly, who would have bagged €30,000 in prize-money for her third-placed effort. 

The statement read, “The IHRB has established that the disqualification of Rosscarbery from the race resulted from an error in the weigh out process which it accepts was not the fault of the owner, the trainer or the rider. The IHRB very much regrets the incident and unreservedly apologises to Mr Moran, Mr Twomey and Mr Lordan.”

It added, “Following the finish of the race in question, the stewards received a report from the IHRB clerk of the scales that Wayne Lordan, rider of Rosscarbery, who had placed third, had weighed in almost 5lbs light. 

“Having considered the evidence on the day, the stewards disqualified Rosscarbery from third place in accordance with the provisions of Rule 231(i) in that he weighed in at more than 1lb light. They also referred the matter to the Chief Executive Officer of the IHRB for further investigation.

“The IHRB immediately began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the weighing-out and weighing-in of the rider of Rosscarbery on the day. On Monday, June 27 2022, the IHRB appointed Grant Thornton to carry out an independent expert technical investigation while also carrying out an internal review of IHRB systems, processes and procedures for the weighing-out and weighing-in of riders.

“On September 6 2022, following a thorough forensic investigation, Grant Thornton issued the IHRB with their report and findings, which the IHRB shared with Mr Moran and Mr Twomey's representatives.”

The post IHRB Apologise To Connections Of Rosscarbery Over Group 1 Disqualification appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Ute Schone, who runs the farm alongside her husband Bernd, described La Petite Coco's Group 1 victory as “a dream” and revealed that she still hadn't come back down to earth after Sunday's race. 

Speaking on Monday, she said, “What can I say? Yesterday was so unreal. I am speechless. It is a dream, honestly. Watching her yesterday, that last furlong, I stood there in complete shock. I couldn't believe it. 

“Even last year when she won her Group 2 on Irish Champions Weekend. I mean, hello? You are standing there watching it and you can't believe that it's a horse that you bred.”

Schone added, “We had La Petite Coco for two years and yesterday we were watching her winning a Group 1. Wow. It's indescribable, honestly. 

“My husband [Bernd] and I, we are just small breeders, and something like this has never happened to us before.”

Bernd and Ute run a boarding facility in Rhode. They cater mostly for international clients and breed a handful of their own mares. La Petite Virginia (Ger) (Konigstiger {Ger}), the dam of La Petite Coco, was one of those mares.

“We refused a few offers [for La Petite Virginia] earlier on in La Petite Coco's career but, after she won the Blandford Stakes, we received an offer that was very hard to refuse,” – Ute Schone, breeder of La Petite Coco

That was until the Schones received an offer that they couldn't refuse for the mare after La Petite Coco won the G2 Blandford S. at the Curragh last term.

However, fortune had not always followed La Petite Virginia and, before La Petite Coco came onto the scene, the Schones endured their share of hard-luck stories. 

Shone explained, “La Petite Virginia was very weak when she came to us first. Her dam had to be put down when she was only two months old and she was raised by a foster mare. We got her as a weanling and, because she was pretty weak, it was quite obvious not to put her into training. 

“Because she was so well-bred, we decided to breed from her. We couldn't afford the big stallions but we went to what we thought would suit her, what was affordable and nice.”

She added, “Her first foal was a filly by Thewayyouare. She was sold abroad and won, which was great. We sent her to Power (GB) and we sold the foal to a man in Germany but unfortunately it died as a yearling. That was only the start of the bad luck with her. 

“We had a beautiful Excelebration (Ire) colt foal. Just gorgeous. We turned him out in the field and everything was great. The vet liked him as well. He was perfect. The following morning came and the foal was dead. 

“We skipped a year with her after that but then decided to try and do it again with her. We went to Ruler Of The World (Ire). We liked him as a racehorse. He's a Derby winner and is obviously by Galileo (Ire). We saw him in the flesh and we liked him a lot. The rest is history now. 

After that we sent her to Ivawood (Ire) because we thought it would be a good idea to try and get a bit more speed into her so we still have that 2-year-old. She is in training with Andrew Kinirons.”

La Petite Virginia is a half-sister to Lavirco (Ger) and Laveron (GB), both known for being proven National Hunt stallions, and is from a good Gestut Fahrhof family.

Despite this, Schone did not think that La Petite Coco would make much at the sales and elected to race her. After two solid runs in Irish maidens for Andrew Kinirons, La Petite Coco was sold privately to Team Valor and sent to Paddy Twomey, for whom her career has blossomed with. 

The one constant in the La Petite Coco story has been Billy Lee and Schone is under no doubt the role the rider has played.

She said, “We didn't send La Petite Coco to the auction because we didn't think she'd make any money. We decided to put her in training with Andrew Kinirons and he did a very good job with her. 

“Andrew has a very good connection with Billy Lee. He rode her in two races and he always liked her, which meant a lot. I think we were very lucky having Billy on board so early in her career.”

Schone's Ivawood half-sister to La Petite Coco has yet to grace the track but the reports are good. As for La Petite Virginia, she was sold back to Gestut Fahrhof for an eye-watering sum and is understood to have given birth to a colt foal by Gleneagles.

Schone said, “Once you produce a good horse, the sales call is never far away. We refused a few offers earlier on in La Petite Coco's career but, after she won the Blandford Stakes, we received an offer that was very hard to refuse. Luckily enough, she went back to her breeder [Gestut Fahrhof].”

She added, “You could say it was a life-changing amount of money and you don't have to worry about certain things anymore. On the other hand, we owned La Petite Virginia for nearly 13 years. She became a part of the family. We went through so many things with her. Ups and downs. You build up a relationship with a horse like that. 

“But she has gone back to one of the best stud farms in Germany and we know she will have a great life. There are no concerns there. We sold her in foal to Gleneagles (Ire) and she had a colt foal. The plan was to send her to Camelot (GB) after that.”

The post “We Received An Offer That Was Very Hard To Refuse” – La Petite Coco’s Breeder appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The trainer described himself as “disappointed and upset” that Rosscarbery, supplemented for the Curragh Group 1 at a cost of €30,000 to the filly's owner Robert Moran, missed out on prize-money and valuable black type due to what he described as an Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) error. 

Twomey believes that the finger of blame points to the clerk of the scales who, according to the trainer, told Lordan that he was 5lbs too heavy upon weighing out. 

As a result, 5lbs of weight was taken out of the saddle cloth and Twomey is convinced that the same saddle that Lordan weighed out in was the one that returned to the weigh room after Rosscarbery ran a career-best to finish third behind her stablemate. 

Twomey told TDN Europe on Monday, “I am very disappointed and upset over Rosscarbery being disqualified from finishing third in a Group 1. She is a filly on the up and what happened on the day was clearly an error on the part of the clerk of the scales. I am very upset by it. 

“I enjoyed winning my first Group 1 but all I could think about for three or four hours afterwards was losing third in a Group 1. It has been referred to the IHRB and that's the latest.”

He added, “Robert was very sporting in supplementing the filly and she justified that decision by finishing third. Through no fault of the filly's, the owner's, the trainer's or the jockey's, she didn't get the chance to collect the prize money or the Group 1 black type that she deserved. 

“He spent €30,000 to run this filly and never had the chance to earn that money back due to an error that was made by the clerk of the scales.”

It was just last month that Moran, speaking exclusively to TDN Europe, revealed that he contemplated wrapping up his ownership vehicle in Ireland after a number of bad experiences left him demoralised with racing. 

Although Moran couldn't be contacted on Monday, Twomey explained how the American-based owner never had a chance of recouping the €30,000 stumped up to run Rosscarbery on Sunday, which bears the brunt of the frustration within the camp. 

Twomey said, “We spoke at Limerick a couple of weeks ago and I told him [Moran] that I was thinking of supplementing. I changed my mind last Tuesday morning but, at two minutes to 12 [the latest supplementary stage], I put her in. 

“I rang Robert at a minute past 12 to tell him I had spent €30,000 supplementing the filly. He said, 'that's fine,' so for Robert to be sent out without a chance of recouping that money is something that really upset me.”

Had Rosscarbery not been disqualified, she would have covered the cost of running in the Pretty Polly, with €30,000 on offer for finishing third. Instead, the Ger Lyons-trained Thunder Kiss (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) picked up the third-place prize money and black type while Rosscarbery left empty-handed.

Niall Cronin, communications manager for the IHRB, would not offer further comment on Monday.

Speaking immediately after racing on Sunday, he said, “Wayne Lordan weighed out at 138.1lbs and weighed back in at 133.5lbs. 

“As a result there was an inquiry into the weighing-in procedures of the third-placed horse. As per rule 231, section 1, the horse had to be disqualified. The stewards have referred the matter on for further investigation. Mr Twomey is aware of that.”

Given the extensive ramifications the disqualification has to Rosscarbery's residual value as a broodmare, TDN Europe understands that Twomey and Moran are prepared to pursue legal options should their filly not be reinstated as the third home in Sunday's Group 1. 

Speaking about future plans for Rosscarbery, and what it meant to notch a breakthrough Group 1 with La Petite Coco, Twomey said, “We know that 1m2f is a little on the sharp side for Rosscarbery and she'll be even better over 1m4f and should even get 1m6f. 

“She proved she belongs at Group 1 level and we're going to have to map out a campaign for the second half of the season now. Hopefully we can win a Group 1 with her and, all of those races that Coco can run in, she could also. The likes of the G1 Champions Fillies & Mares S. at Ascot could also suit. She's very versatile.”

He added, “I couldn't see anything beating La Petite Coco yesterday to be honest. When you can't get it done [first Group 1] for a while, it seems far away, so it was nice to  get that under our belt.”

The post Twomey “Disappointed And Upset” Over Rosscarbery Disqualification  appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The victory of Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) in Saturday's Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies' S. on Dettori's home track of Newmarket was therefore a huge shot in the arm for him after he had given a television interview assuring viewers that he was not about to retire. There was a little wobble on landing from his customary flying dismount, but he was back to his showman best as he kissed the veteran former trainer Clive Brittain on both cheeks in the winner's enclosure and then promptly departed for Istanbul and his ride in the following day's Turkish Derby.

Lezoo's win will have been well received at Tweenhills, the northern hemisphere home of her sire Zoustar, who has his first European runners this year. He has had just three winners to date but is one of only three first-season sires to have a stakes winner to his name, along with Tasleet (GB) and James Garfield (Ire), and the second half of the season is always far more telling when it comes to the quality of runners on show.

Lezoo was bred at Chasemore Farm by Andrew Black, who has previously stated his fondness for mares by the late Red Clubs (Ire) and enjoyed notable success with that stallion's daughter Ceiling Kitty (GB), who won the G2 Queen Mary S. ten years ago. She went on to produce another Newmarket Listed winner, Eartha Kitt (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), while her final foal, Arthur Kitt (GB) (Camelot {GB}), emulated his mother by becoming a juvenile Royal Ascot winner when taking the Chesham S. in 2018.

Ceiling Kitty sadly died while foaling Arthur Kitt but her daughter is continuing the line at Chasemore. Eartha Kitt is now the dam of Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who was sold last year as a yearling for 525,000gns to Godolphin and won on debut at Ascot on May 7. It has been a good season for the Surrey-based farm so far, with homebred Brad The Brief (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) winning the G2 Greenlands S. at the Curragh last month. 

Lionhearted

There was a further fillip for the Tweenhills/Qatar Racing team when Lion Of War (GB), unbeaten in two starts, became the latest juvenile to be awarded a TDN Rising Star on Thursday, in so doing paying his own tribute to his late sire Roaring Lion. David Redvers spoke to Brian Sheerin about the issue which meant Lion Of War cost only 7,000gns at Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale last year, but his co-trainer Mark Johnston has famously put pedigree ahead of conformation in his yearling selection over the years with notable success, and he and son Charlie look to have a smart colt on their hands.

Roaring Lion has to date been represented by just five runners. The two that have won, including Swift Lioness (GB), are both inbred to Sadler's Wells.

A Summer to Savour

At this stage it is hard to know which big-race contest to look forward to the most in the coming weeks. This Saturday's Coral-Eclipse seems a good place to start, with Alenquer (Fr), Bay Bridge (GB), Native Trail (GB), Lord North (Ire), Stone Age (Ire)  and Mishriff (Ire) remaining among the confirmations at the five-day stage, while the Aga Khan's Prix du Jockey Club winner Vadeni (Fr) was supplemented at a cost of £50,000 on Monday. 

Then there's the potential rematch between Kyprios (Ire), Stradivarius (Ire) and Mojo Star (Ire) in the Goodwood Cup, which, if it comes up soft enough (but not too soft for Stradivarius) could include Saturday's epic weight-carrying hero Trueshan (Fr), who is working his way into the hearts of the racing public as all good stayers who return year after year are wont to do.

Most tantalising of all, however, must surely be the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. It is not out of the question that Ascot's high summer feature could include the Derby and Irish Derby winners of this year and last, not to mention the 2021 Arc winner.

On a memorable day for Ralph Beckett on Saturday, which started with Lezoo's stakes win at Newmarket, Westover (GB) franked the Derby form in emphatic fashion when bowling to a dominant success in the Irish Derby to add to Frankel's Classic haul for the season, which already included the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Prix de Diane.

A big, long-striding colt, the lightly-raced Westover looks to have plenty of maturing still to do, which can also be said of Desert Crown (GB), who was so impressive at Epsom despite still looking like a gangly teenager. 

We've so far been denied a sighting of Adayar (Ire) this year but it would be fantastic to see him attempt to defend his King George crown, while Hurricane Lane (Ire) will surely come on from his comeback third in the G2 Hardwicke S.

We also shouldn't overlook the claims of Oaks runner-up Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who has drawn favourable comparisons with another Gosden star by the same sire, Taghrooda (GB), who landed the King George after winning the Oaks in 2014. At this stage, Britain's premier 1m4f weight-for-age contest really does look the race not to miss this summer.

No Slacking

It has been a good couple of weeks in Europe for South African owner/breeder Mary Slack, whose UK arm of her famous Wilgerbosdrift Stud bred Saturday's G3 International S. winner Aikhal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Slack owns the Aidan O'Brien-trained 3-year-old colt, who remains among the acceptors for this Saturday's Eclipse S., in partnership with Coolmore and Westerberg. She raced his dam Diamond Fields (Ire), a half-sister to Irish Derby winner Latrobe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Oaks runner-up Pink Dogwood (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), whom she bought through Form Bloodstock as a yearling. The daughter of Fastnet Rock (Aus) won the G3 Gladness S. and was runner-up in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot, where Slack enjoyed success this year with the G3 Hampton Court S. winner Claymore (Fr) (New Bay {GB}).

The latter is trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, the resident trainer in Newmarket's historic Abington Place, which is also owned by Slack.

Twomey in Form: I Should Coco!

There was a time when Paddy Twomey was more regularly seen on the sales grounds as a consignor and pinhooker, but over the last ten years his training business has gradually taken hold to the point where he currently boasts the finest strike-rate in Ireland, where he is in seventh place in the table for this season with significantly less ammunition than those above him.

Some of the shine was taken off his first Group 1 victory with La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}) when his third-place finisher Rosscarbery (Ger) (Sea The Star {Ire}) was disqualified after Wayne Lordan weighed in 5lbs light, having reportedly been asked to remove 5lbs of lead from his weight cloth by the clerk of the scales when weighing out. An appeal will doubtless ensue, but when the frustration subsides, Twomey can take great pride in the progression of Team Valor's La Petite Coco, who has won her last four starts, stepping up from a median auction race success at Killarney last July to win at Group 3 and Group 2 level before returning from a 287-day absence to land the G1 Pretty Polly S.

She thus became the second winner of that race for her now-Italian-based Derby-winning sire after Iridessa (Ire), and was another feather in the cap for the small Co Offaly town of Rhode, where she was bred by Bernd and Ute Schone.

Twomey had already reached a Group 1 landmark in another field, as he was the breeder of Serious Attitude (Ire) (Mtoto {GB}), winner of the G1 Cheveley Park S. and GI Nearctic S. for Rae Guest. Since being sold to Shadai Farm, she is now the dam of Grade II winner and GI Tenno Sho runner-up Stiffelio (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}).

In what is well on its way to becoming his best season, Twomey, with a strike-rate of 35%, also saddled Sunday's Irish Derby third French Claim (Fr) (French Fifteen {Fr}).

Going Rogue

Rogue Millennium (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) provided an enormous thrill for 80 members, friends and family of the The Rogues Gallery syndicate who turned up at Epsom to watch her run seventh in the Oaks after winning the Lingfield Oaks Trial. The smartly-bred filly added more black type to her record when second in the G3 Hoppings Fillies' S on Friday evening.

Earlier that day, her trainer Tom Clover unleashed the second smart 2-year-old to race this season for the Tony Elliott-run syndicate when Rogue Lightning (Ire) ((Kodiac {GB}) bolted home at Newmarket for an easy debut success. 

That followed the second victory of Rogue Spirit (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who got off the mark at Beverley in May and then beat subsequent G2 Norfolk S. winner The Ridler (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}) when second in the Two-Year-Old Trophy at the same course before winning easily at Wolverhampton on June 20.

All three horses mentioned were purchased relatively inexpensively by Clover with bloodstock agent Billy Jackson-Stops, who married Lily Gredley at the weekend. 

Rogue Spirit was an 11,000gns purchase at the Tattersalls December Sale, at which Rogue Millennium was also recruited for 35,000gns, while Rogue Lightning was picked up for 42,000gns at the Craven Breeze-up Sale. All three look set to provide plenty more fun outings for the jolly band of rogues.

A Knight To Remember

The quiet achiever of the week award must go to the Irish National Stud resident Decorated Knight (GB), who was represented by a pair of smart novice winners over the weekend. Ferrari Queen (Ire) zoomed to success on her debut for Charlie and Mark Johnston, winning by six lengths at Doncaster, to become her sire's first winner from his second crop. A half-sister to two Group 2-winning stayers in Pale Mimosa (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}) and Nearly Caught (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), she looks well bought by her trainers at €18,000 at last year's Orby Sale.

The following day Prince A A Faisal's 3-year-old Kind Gesture (GB) won her second race on the bounce, this time by ten lengths at Windsor for Roger Varian and David Egan, who had also ridden Ferrari Queen.

Kind Gesture was bred, like her sire, by Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud, which celebrated its first homebred Classic winner the previous weekend with Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Prix de Diane. The stud will be offering Nashwa's half-sister by Decorated Knight as lot 93 in the forthcoming Arqana August Yearling Sale. It is the first time that Blue Diamond Stud will appear on the list of consignors in Deauville and its draft of three also includes an Invincible Spirit (Ire) half-brother to Kind Gesture (lot 252). Gerry Meehan took the helm as yearling manager at Blue Diamond Stud earlier this year and anyone who perused the Newsells Park Stud yearling drafts during Meehan's lengthy stint there will know to expect a well prepared consignment. 

The post Seven Days: Much Ado About Frankie appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Limiti Di Greccio, winner of the Listed Staffordstown Stud S. last season, had been as short as 15-2 to provide Twomey with a breakthrough Classic success at the Curragh on Sunday.

Twomey explained, “She picked up a minor training setback and is not ready to run at the Curragh on Sunday.”

He added, “The plan is to train her with a view towards the second half of the season where races like the Matron Stakes could be targeted.”

The Tipperary-based trainer may be without Limiti Di Greccio at the Curragh on Guineas weekend but Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is firmly on course to fly the flag for the yard in the G2 Lanwades Stud S on the same day. 

Pearls Galore was beaten just a neck in the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown last season before chasing home Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Prix de la Foret at ParisLongchamp and Twomey is hoping to achieve top-level success with the 5-year-old at some stage during the campaign.

He said, “Pearls Galore will run in the Lanwades Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday. That has been the plan since she won at Leopardstown on her return and she has been kept in training with the distinct aim of winning a Group 1. This looks the logical next step and then I'd be hopeful of targeting Group 1s for the rest of the year with her.”

On future plans, Twomey added, “She's in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot but I don't fancy taking on Baaeed with a filly so I'd say the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes, the Falmouth Stakes, the Prix Rothschild and even the Prix Maurice de Gheest, races like that could suit. Any of those mile or seven-furlong Group races, she could be aimed at those.”

Rumbles Of Thunder (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) maintained the strong start to the season for the stable in carrying Twomey's own white and green colours to victory on just her second start for the trainer in the Listed McCalmont Memorial S. at Gowran Park last month.

A Listed winner in France last term, Rumbles Of Thunder was picked up privately by Twomey, who shared that Group races will be on the agenda before a possible appearance at the December Mares Sale at Tattersalls.

He said, “Rumbles Of Thunder was very good at Gowran Park. We had her a little bit fresh going there, we didn't over-train her going to Cork and thought she'd come on for that, which she did at Gowran Park, and I think she's a filly who can progress throughout the season. She will have a Group campaign.”

Twomey added, “The plan is to race her throughout the year and, if everything went to plan, we might send her to the December Sales if she is not sold beforehand. I think she will end up being traded at some stage.

“She's a nice filly, is well-bred, and showed a nice level of form before joining us. She showed an ability to quicken when winning at Toulouse, came from the back of the field to win a Stakes race quite readily, so we said we'd roll the dice on her.”

La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}), who mowed down Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G2 Blandford S. at the Curragh on Irish Champions Weekend last season, the recent Moyglare Stud-owned addition Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) and French Claim (Fr) (French Fifteen {Fr}) are others that Twomey is quietly hopeful about this term. 

He said, “La Petite Coco is in great form and we purposely didn't run her in the first half of the season. She will probably start her season off in the Munster Oaks at Cork and her owners would like to have a tilt at the Breeders' Cup later in the year. The Pretty Polly and the Yorkshire Oaks could also be on her radar. We'll keep her to fillies' races for the first part of the campaign and if we have a good time we could look at taking on the colts at some stage. 

“Just Beautiful has settled in well but, again, we're looking towards the second half of the season with her. She's a nice addition to the team and is training well.”

Twomey added, “French Claim will be aimed at the St Leger. He won well at Cork on soft ground and we ran him in a Derby trial as connections were keen to explore the Epsom option but that faster ground didn't play to his strengths. He likes an ease in the ground and will be aimed at Doncaster.”

The post Limiti Di Greccio will miss Irish 1,000 Guineas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post