Tag: Tattersalls July Sale

Royal Ascot-Placed Filly Hits The High Notes At Tattersalls With 330k Sale

Royal Ascot-placed Balalaika (Ire) (No Nay Never) was the headline act at the July Sale on Thursday when selling to BBA Ireland's Eamonn Reilly for 330,000gns with the agent coming out best in an entertaining tussle for the Rebecca Menzies-trained filly. 

Bred by the late Sir Robert Ogden, Balalaika is out of an unraced Frankel (GB) daughter of G1 Matron S. winner Emulous (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and boasts a rating of 90. 

Also involved in the bidding for the Sandringham third were Gavin Hernon, Matt Coleman, and Mark McStay but Reilly battled off the attention of Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock to land Balalaika.  

“There are no plans, but she will stay in training and although no trainer has been decided on, she will probably stay in the UK,” Reilly said.

“Her last run was very promising and she has been bought as a long-term broodmare prospect for an existing client. She is good-topped filly, has a good walk and behaved very well up here. There is plenty happening with the pedigree.”

Six horses broke the six-figure mark on the day to make it 34 all told at the July Sale this year. Thursday's trade was solid with 147 of the 156 lots offered selling at a 94% clearance rate. The aggregate was 4,445,500gns while the average was 30,241gns.

Duarte Hopes Whisky Turns Out To Be Sweet Investment For Australian Clients

It's fair to say that Whisky On The Hill (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}) did not stand out as a horse who would ever rock into six figures earlier in the spring. 

After three low-key efforts in maidens, Whiskey On The Hill offered his first crackle of potential for trainer Ado McGuinness when finishing third on handicap debut at Cork as an unfancied 33-1 shot. 

He has since been sent off favourite on his next three starts and won every one of them for his owner Alex Zevenbergen, climbing 24lbs in the process.

Armando Duarte was of the opinion that there is more improvement left in the good-looking gelding and went to 135,000gns to secure him on behalf of the same owners of his flagship buy Alenquer (Fr).

The G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup winner is now plying his trade in Australia for Ballymore Stables and trainer Michael Moroney and Whiskey On The Hill will chart a similar path. 

Duarte said, “He's for the same team of people-Ballymore Stables and Paul Moroney [bloodstock agent]–who bought Alenquer and English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}). That's the only horse we looked at here at the sales who we liked and who fitted our profile. Let's hope he will be lucky for them now as well.”

He added, “Whiskey On The Hill fits the bill and was not over-expensive. He is very similar to Emissary (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who we bought off Juddmonte a couple of years ago.”

Jasour Team Keep The Party Going At Tattersalls

Just a few hours after Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) stormed to G2 Kingdom Of Bahrain July S. glory a couple of miles up the road on the Newmarket July course, HH Sheikh Sultan's Al Mohamediya Racing made a splash in the sales ring when going to 125,000gns to secure Vega Sicilia (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}).

A smart performer for Harry and Roger Charlton, Vega Sicilia was bought with the aim of competing in the top races in Bahrain for the leading owner in that jurisdiction. 

Vega Sicilia came to the July Sale off the back of winning a Goodwood handicap over 1m4f in the style of a progressive horse. Now rated 91, he boasts a high enough rating to compete in some of the top races in Bahrain.

Ali Majeed, who purchased Vega Sicilia on behalf of Al Mohamediya Racing, said, “We bought this horse because we bought a sprint horse [Edward Cornelius (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB})] and were looking for a Classic horse. We think this horse will be for a-mile-and-a-quarter or a-mile-and-a-half. He will handle fast ground and is rated 86 so he can run in the Bahrain Series directly. He has the rating.”

He added, “Al Mohamediya Racing is the leading owner in Bahrain for two years now and we wanted a Classic horse. There is the Crown Prince and the King Cup if we are happy with him. 

“It's amazing for Al Mohamediya Racing and for every Bahraini. To win with Jasour in a Group 2 at Newmarket in the race sponsored by the Kingdom Of Bahrain was very good. Everybody was very happy and the celebrations were very fun.”

It was a busy week on and off the track for Al Mohamediya Racing. Along with Jasour landing the July S., the owner recorded wins at Windsor and Newcastle and signed for seven horses for 444,000gns.

Another Bound For Bahrain As Donald Takes Home The Parent

The Parent (GB) (Frankel {GB}), was another six-figure lot sold on Thursday when Alastair Donald of Sackville Donald went to 105,000gns to secure the three-year-old on behalf of a Bahraini client. 

A winner of a Goodwood maiden last year, the gelding placed in two of his three starts this term and is rated 81. 

Donald said, “He is for a Bahrain-based client and goes to Bahrain for the Turf series. He was the only horse we wanted. He should be perfect for the series. 

“He is a fast-ground horse, a cracking-looking horse, and he is bred to be good. I am very pleased to get him.”

He added, “I don't think he stayed the trip on his last run and the form of his other runs look very strong. He should do well in Bahrain and will be trained by Alan Smith.”

Tiverton Off To America After 100k Sale

Be it mares or horses-in-training, the Juddmonte draft always commands plenty of interest and the Dermot Weld-trained Tiverton (GB) (Expert Eye {GB}) proved exactly that when selling to Jerry McGrath for 100,000gns. 

“Tiverton is going to the US,” McGrath said. “As a young man I worked for Dermot Weld. I have a few contacts there and they told me how highly this horse was regarded, particularly as a 2-year-old.”

Indeed, Tiverton showed good form as a juvenile, winning a Listowel maiden before being pitched into Group 3 company. He has run just twice this season, finishing down the field in both starts. 

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‘I Wouldn’t Bet Against John Magnier’ – Mare In Foal To Wootton Bassett Heads July Sale

The opening session of the four-day July Sale at Tattersalls revolved around the well-bred mares on offer and Mick Donohoe of BBA Ireland was once again on hand to take home the top lot when going to 350,000gns to secure Galileo (Ire) mare Sweet And Lovely (Ire) for 350,000gns from WH Bloodstock. 

In foal to Wootton Bassett (GB), one of the most exciting sires in Europe, Sweet And Lovely (lot 212) is a full-sister to Aidan O'Brien's Irish and Lancashire Oaks winner Seventh Heaven (Ire). 

The sale marked a memorable week for Violet Hesketh, who along with Mimi Wadham, runs WH Bloodstock, given she wedded Henry Lascelles recently.

Sweet And Lovely hails from the same family as Over The Rainbow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (lot 143), who Coolmara Stables pushed the boat out to secure at 270,000gns earlier in the afternoon, and it was this pedigree that was described as one of the most attractive in the sale by Donohoe. 

The leading buyer of the afternoon said, “To be fair to the lads in Coolmore, they are really banking on the Wootton Bassett cross and I wouldn't bet against John Magnier in making a stallion. We'll see what the foal is like but Wootton Bassett could be on the cards next year.”

Donohoe confirmed the top lot was purchased for an existing client, who operates in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, although couldn't divulge the name. Donohoe, one of the most familiar judges in the business, has bought a series of fillies/mares for Yulong over recent years. He is the operation's bloodstock advisor in Europe.

 

The leading agent was out on his own as the leading buyer on the afternoon with seven lots purchased for a total sum of 1,343,000gns. That included Different Light (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 192), offered by The Castlebridge Consignment at 330,000gns and fellow Galileo mares Evening Hush (Ire) (lot 264) and Divintus (Ire) (lot 145) for 250,000gns and 235,000gns, respectively.

 

Of the 215 lots offered on Tuesday, 188 sold at a 87% clearance rate. The aggregate stood at 7,179,300gns for an average of 38,188gns while the median was 16,000gns.

First Flat Foray For Coolmara With 270k Dubawi Mare

Coolmara Stables is best known for producing top-class National Hunt stock, which was evident at the major store sales in Ireland this spring, but there has been a conscious effort on the farm to branch out on the Flat.

There were few better foundation mares for the County Cork men to target at the July Sale for such a venture than Over The Rainbow (Ire) and they duly delivered. 

The Dubawi (Ire) daughter of Irish and Lancashire Oaks winner Seventh Heaven (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was knocked down to Paul McGrath, the farm manager at Coolmara Stables, for 270,000gns.

McGrath admitted afterwards that such a price was as strong as he was prepared to go for Over The Rainbow, but described himself as thrilled to have secured the well-bred broodmare prospect, who is in foal to St Mark's Basilica (Fr). 

He said, “This is a new division for us-we have been talking about getting a Flat broodmare band together for some time. We decided we'd make a start this week. She was not easily bought and went for a bit more than we thought, but we are delighted to have her.”

Coolmara Stables is home to classy National Hunt broodmares Petite Parisienne, Line Mexia (half-sister to Vautour), Tocororo, Ainsi Va La Vie, Reine De Whitfield and more. It is owned by farmer and breeder Kieran Mariga but it was McGrath who was representing the operation on Tuesday. 

He added, “Over The Rainbow is a foundation Flat broodmare, she has a good covering and she has a good pedigree–it's hard to get. We will make stallion plans once we have got the foal from her. 

“We want to keep the quality up and we will take it one step at a time with regards to developing a Flat band of mares. We will be aiming to operate on a commercial basis.”

 

 

'Kingman Has Been Good To Me – But This Mare Didn't Fall Through The Cracks!'

Noel O'Callaghan | Tattersalls/Laura Green

Noel O'Callaghan of Mountarmstrong Stud had his brothers Gay and Tony to thank for making Kingman (GB) filly Divine Spirit (Ire) (lot 155) expensive on him.

Part of the quality Godolphin draft, Divine Spirit was sold in foal to Cracksman (GB) to bloodstock agent Matt Coleman on behalf of the Mountarmstrong Stud operator for 210,000gns. 

Speaking outside the sales ring afterwards, O'Callaghan threw his head in the direction of the Yeomanstown Stud and Tally-Ho Stud maestros and commented, “put it this way, she didn't fall through the cracks–I wasn't the only family member on her! It's a public auction, they're there for everyone.”

He added, “To be honest, she's very good-looking. She could be a tad bigger but hopefully Cracksman will suit her. She'll be covered by a big stallion next spring but I wouldn't even hazard a guess as to which one until February or March. 

“Kingman has been very good to me. I got 850,000gns for a yearling by him and sold another for 450,000gns, so he's been good to me. He's in the elite stallion bracket.”

O'Callaghan, whose famous white and navy silks have been carried by Group 1 winners No Speak Alexander (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}), Alexander Goldrun (Ire) (Gold Away {Ire}) and Alexander Tango (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), admitted to having found the trade on the opening day of the July Sale to be strong.

He said, “They are making their value here. The nice ones are making their value. The market is very resilient for the good ones.”

Coleman was well versed on Divine Spirit. He was involved in the buying of the filly as a yearling for 95,000gns here in November 2018. 

Divine Spirit was later sold by Tally-Ho Stud to Godolphin for 850,000gns at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale and, after winning a maiden and achieving Group 3 black-type for Charlie Appleby, everything turned full circle on Tuesday. 

Coleman explained, “I know the filly well–I bought her with Roger O'Callaghan as a yearling to breeze and then Anthony [Stroud] bought her as a breezer for Godolphin. She is a filly I have known for a while. She was a very good-looking yearling and breezed very well, she was very fast. 

“I think she has a lot of Green Desert to her–she is medium sized, is a very good walker and is very strong. Her brother Manaccan (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) has done fantastically well this year and the pedigree has really exploded since she was bought as a yearling. It is a very happening pedigree.”

As well as being a half-sister to Manaccan and Raucous (GB) (Dream Ahead), Divine Spirit is out of the 2009 G2 Queen Mary second Shyrl (GB) (Acclamation {GB}). It's a speedy pedigree and one that will fit in well at Mountarmstrong Stud, according to Coleman. 

He said, “Noel likes these fast mares and he was keen to buy her. I think there was a bit of family competition for her! She obviously suits what the O'Callaghan family are renowned for breeding, [which is] fast horses. Fingers crossed she breeds some good foals for Noel. She had a good walk as a yearling and she has kept that walk.”

  • The Godolphin draft was the main attraction on day one with 30 lots sold for over 2 million gns. Along with Divine Spirit, Whispering Romance (Ire) and Pomology broke the 200,000 gns mark. Whispering Romance, another daughter of Kingman, was sold to Justin Casse on behalf of Magnolia Mares for 220,000gns while Sam Sangster snapped up Pomology (Arch) for the same figure.
  • Galileo may be gone but the demand for mares by the legendary stallion remains as strong as ever. Seven sold on Tuesday to the tune of 1,289,000gns at an average of almost 200,000gns which made him the most successful stallion of the opening day's trade. 

Basil Martini The Toast Of Haras du Thenney

Etienne Drion of Haras du Thenney made a flying visit to Newmarket for the July Sale with the aim of sourcing a classy broodmare prospect for the Deauville farm and left home for France a very happy man after buying Basil Martini (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) (lot 191) for 190,000gns.

A Group 3 winner for Joseph O'Brien as a juvenile last season, Basil Martini formed part of a small but select list for Drion, who made the visit a productive one. 

He said, “We came over this morning with 15 mares on our list. By the time we'd finished looking, we had five. All the other mares made too much money. She's a Group 3 winner at two and, while it's early days with regards to picking a stallion, she is an exciting mare for the farm. We'll go to a proven sire, I'd say, and we're happy with her.

“It's a young farm and we are building our broodmare band. We're slowly trying to get better quality mares. She's the only thing we bought today–that and a sandwich!”

Luckily for Drion, the sandwich didn't cost as much as Basil Martini, but he revealed how he thinks the latter could prove to be good value at 190,000gns. 

“We said we'd give it a go and we're happy to have gotten her. When we saw what the other mares were making, we didn't think we'd get her so, listen, you always want to pay less but there were so many people on the same mares, we knew we'd have to fork out a bit.”

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Jackson-Stops On the Lookout For Next Rogue At Tattersalls July Sale

Buoyed by one of his biggest results this summer with Royal Ascot winner Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) putting his name in lights, leading bloodstock agent Billy Jackson-Stops will be on the lookout for his next headline act at the Tattersalls July Sale this week.

However, the man who sourced Tom Clover's brilliant G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. heroine on behalf of The Rogues Gallery Syndicate [along with the trainer's wife Jackie] shared feelings of caution on the eve of the eagerly anticipated horses-in-training sale given the amount of international footfall at Park Paddocks on Monday. 

The purchase of Rogue Millennium for just 35,000gns from Shadwell at the 2021 Tattersalls December Mares Sale was an inspired one. The Dubawi filly has gone from strength to strength under the care of Clover, a big supporter of Jackson-Stops, which made the Royal Ascot success extra special. 

The agent explained, “To do it on the biggest stage of all at Royal Ascot meant the world to me. But, not only that, to enjoy it with Jackie and Tom Clover, it meant so much more as we work very hard together as a team trying to find the right horses at the sales. 

“Tom was at Kempton the day we bought Rogue Millennium, so Jackie and I did all the work together at Tattersalls. We were very lucky to land on the filly and to have been given the order from Tony [Elliott, of The Rogues Gallery Syndicate], who has been a superb supporter of both myself and the Clovers. 

“He runs a very successful syndicate and told us to go out and buy a well-bred filly to run for the syndicate. Finding a Dubawi out of a stakes-placed mare, like we did, it was just great for everyone involved and then to get her to the big stage at Ascot and to win like she did, it was pretty emotional.”

Jackson-Stops added, “I have been lucky enough to have bought some nice horses, the likes of Shadn (Ire) (No Nay Never), who won a Group 2 for Andrew Balding, but to do it for a tight-knit team meant the world really. To do it for Tom Clover, who trained Rogue Millennium so well in bringing her back in trip, for Tony, game as ever in paying the supplementary fee, it was huge. “It's an angle that I like to pursue a lot, fillies in training. Tom Blain [Barton Stud managing director] and I bought a filly last year at the December Mares Sale called Wonderful Times (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) and we didn't pay a huge amount [85,000gns] for her. We managed to get a listed win out of her in France and she runs in a Group 3 in Vichy next week. There are various other fillies who we have done well with in the past and it is a good angle to explore.”

Soldanelle (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) is another. Sourced at Arqana last year for €65,000, she went on to secure black-type in Germany and is now a valuable broodmore prospect. But it's Rogue Millennium who is Jackson-Stops's shining light. She may not have been sourced at this exact sale but Jackson-Stops, a former assistant trainer to John O'Shea in Australia, explained how finding gems at the horses-in-training sales is something he has always tried to do. 

He said, “I absolutely love selecting horses in training. Buying horses for Australia is a big part of my business and, having been an assistant trainer for a long time, form is something I am very strong on. Shiraz, Future Score, and Taramansour have all done very well in Australia. I pay a lot of attention to the form and it's a great part of the business for me.”

On his expectation for the week ahead, he added, “I think the market will be very strong.  We saw fillies by Lope De Vega (Ire) and Muhaarar (GB) selling very well at Arqana last week and I think that sets the tone. The quality is here and I have already seen a lot of international clients here on Monday, including well-known faces from Australia, and one or two Americans. I have an order to find something for America this week, which I don't think will be too easy. We have a couple of fillies in mind but I suspect that they will make a lot of money. 

“I think this will be a big week. It's great that the sale has moved to a four-day sale. The momentum behind the sale is huge and it's such a great place in the middle of the season for English, American, Middle Eastern and Australians to come over and buy horses at a peak time for everyone.”

It was the well-bred mares who played a star role at this sale 12 months ago. Leading the way at 540,000gns was Rihaam (Ire), a Dansili (GB) mare who was knocked down to Blandford Bloodstock from Shadwell Stud, while Sea The Rose (Ire) (Kendargent  (Fr) and Shining Bright (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) were not far behind at 500,000gns and 450,000gns respectively. 

There are plenty of classy fillies with form and well-bred mares that could rock into six figures this week, too. Of the maiden mares with top-notch form on the track, Group 3-winning juvenile Basil Martini (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) may lead the way. 

In achieving that Group 3 victory in the Weld Park S. at the Curragh last term, Basil Martini accounted for none other than Gan Teorainn (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), who went on to chase home superstar Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac

before fetching 1 million gns here at the December Mares Sale. 

Basil Martini, who forms part of a strong draft from The Castlebridge Consignment, reached a mark of 100 in seven starts for Joseph O'Brien.

Wootton Bassett (GB) is riding the crest of the wave after River Tiber's success in the G2 Coventry S. and Bucanero Fuerte (GB) landing the G2 Railway S., and the mares in foal to the Coolmore-based stallion will command plenty of interest. 

On Tuesday, Frankel  (GB) mare Pansy (Ire), one of just who are in foal to Wootton Bassett, boasts a classy pedigree being a full-sister to Hidden Dimples (Ire). 

Pansy is out of a sister to Gregorian and is being consigned by Baroda Stud. David Cox's operation also offers White Jasmine (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a full-sister to G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S winner Khaadem, the only mare in the sale who is in foal to Baaeed (GB). 

Meanwhile, the second mare in foal to Wootton Bassett, Sweet And Lovely (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), will be offered by WH Bloodstock on Tuesday. 

She is a full-sister to 2016 Irish and Yorkshire Oaks winner Seventh Heaven, already the dam of a black-type horse in Boogie Woogie (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). The four-day sale gets underway at 9.30am on Tuesday morning.

 

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‘He’s Got Something About Him’ – Diamond Set To Shine At July Sale

One of the most exciting horses catalogued in next week's Tattersalls July Sale, Ethical Diamond (Ire) is likely to appeal to buyers for the Flat and some of the powerhouse National Hunt trainers, according to his breeder William Kennedy.

Ethical Diamond confirmed himself a horse with a bright future when running out an easy winner of a Limerick maiden last month for Michael O'Meara and promises to attract plenty of footfall to Baroda Stud's barn this week. 

He may not have made his debut until three, but Ethical Diamond has stepped forward in each of his three runs, with that easy Limerick win representing his first try at a-mile-and-a-half. 

While the big National Hunt trainers will doubtless be on the horse who races, like the entire Kennedy string, in the colours of his wife Emma, the breeder is keen not to pigeon-hole the Awtaad (Ire) gelding as a jumping prospect. 

“He's got something about him,” Kennedy said. “If he was mine, I'd keep him on the Flat but I've no doubt that some of the jumping men will be interested in him as well. He could do either job.”

A native of Tipperary, Kennedy spent 17 years in finance, which may explain the commercial aspect to his endeavors as an owner-breeder. He keeps 24 mares in partnership with investor John Wall at his farm in Cashel with an emphasis on producing the more stoutly-bred runners. 

To that extent, Kennedy is something of a rare breed. Even rarer still is the amount of success he has enjoyed from that relatively small broodmare band. 

Dermot Weld's 2010 Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Bethrah (Ire) (Marju {Ire}) is a graduate from the farm as is Aidan O'Brien's 2013 Irish Oaks runner-up Venus De Milo (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}).

It's very much quality over quantity at Stanley Lodge Stud, managed by Nick Cope, and while Kennedy does not have anything remaining from Bethrah's family, he does have a full-sister to Venus De Milo who is more than pulling her weight. 

He explained, “We try to produce really nice Flat horses. We are not as interested in producing the earlier type of horses. I've been very fortunate to breed a Classic winner and a Classic-placed filly. If Ethical Diamond was a filly, I wouldn't dream of selling him but, because he's a gelding, he's in the sales. 

“I've raced a few fillies over the past few years and they have done well for us. We've had Noble Music (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), Best On Stage (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}) and Foxtrot Liv (GB) (Foxwedge {Aus}), so we keep some of those fillies. We have to be commercial, too, and if the right offer is made, we'll listen. But generally, if I have a nice middle-distance filly, I'm inclined to try and hold onto her.”

On his commercial approach to the operation, he added, “I can't put it in the leisure-only category just yet. I wish I could! If we were rich enough for that, it would be great, but the whole thing has to wash its face. 

“Over the past few years, we weeded out some of the mares who weren't cutting it and brought in some new ones, so we're up to 24 mares between myself and my business partner John Wall. We try to keep the quality up as best we can.”

Kennedy owns Pearl Diamond (Ger) (Areion {Ger}), the dam of Ethical Diamond, outright himself. She wasn't deemed good enough to be put in partnership with Wall and, after Ethical Diamond-the third of her three foals-arrived, a decision was made to press pause. 

He explained, “Pearl Diamond has nothing else on the ground. Her first foal was by Dandy Man (Ire) but didn't turn out to be much good and the Fast Company (Ire) filly [Actually (Ire)] showed ability with Mick Mulvany. 

“But sometimes, with these little projects of my own, I like to take a few foals off the mares and see how they go and then leave the mare quiet for a couple of seasons. That way, if she earns it, she gets a nice cover. If not, we move them on.”

Pearl Diamond has certainly earned that cover.

“It's looking that way now,” Kennedy replies. “We'll see how this fella gets on but I wouldn't be averse to going back to Awtaad because he definitely gets you a nice horse with the right ground. There is a lot of quality in them and, from the stock that we have produced by Awtaad, I like them.”

The Kennedy colours have been carried by plenty of nice fillies in recent seasons. Best On Stage did well for Paddy Twomey while Noble Music is the most successful mare that the family had in training in France with Jerome Reynier. 

There isn't much fat on this operation. Every part of the outfit plays an important role, right down to the handful of handicappers that are kept in training with O'Meara. 

Kennedy said, “We have a pre-training facility for the yearlings who don't sell and there's a few handicappers there as well to bring the younger horses along. We run the handicappers and Micahel has been doing a very good job for us. 

“Michael and I were in school together, he was in class with my brother, so I have known him for a long time. He pre-trained Foxtrot Liv before she went to Paddy Twomey and he did the same thing for Raven's Cry (Ire) (Raven's Pass). 

“I felt that Michael deserved a chance with a couple of the older handicappers to basically have those at home. They do two jobs; one, they bring on the younger guns and two, they give us all a bit of amusement at home. Take for example Bobby K, he's named after our little boy. When it came to naming the horse, our little boy wasn't well at the time, so we called the horse after him and it has given him an interest in the horse. He's a pet and will be around the farm for as long as he wants to be here. Myself and Emma have three kids.”

The expectation is that Ethical Diamond, who commanded wildcard status after his taking Limerick performance, will earn Kennedy's operation a pretty penny and help sustain the production of the high-class middle-distance fillies he so craves. 

But make no mistake, it is not just Kennedy who will get a great kick out of next week's sale, as he has built up a huge team of people that have helped make all this possible. 

“I'd love to tell you it's a massively profitable business and that everyone should be doing it but I can't. We try to run it lean and tight and, as we are producing the seven-furlong plus type of horses, we can do a lot of the work at home with them and there is no rush to be sending them off to the trainers before they have to.”

He added, “Nick Cope runs Stanley Lodge Stud and is very forward-thinking. He's one of the younger crew and is definitely well-connected in that area and has a very good eye for a horse. “To be fair, we've a very good team in Cashel as well. That's where we have the breeding stock.

Michael has built up a nice team and has some excellent riders, too. Jamie-Lee Gonet is an apprentice jockey based with Micahel and she gets plenty of opportunities there as well. 

“I must say, Billy Lee has been a major help to us. He rode Ethical Diamond as a two-year-old and told us that he had plenty of ability but to be patient and to give him time. He was dead right and hopefully the horse goes on to sell well next week.”

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