31.03.17

The Anvil gives Aidan a double on the night

©Healy Racing Photos

The Anvil powered clear in the closing stages to open his account in style at Dundalk and give Aidan O'Brien a double on the night.

Donnacha O'Brien was soon prominent on the 3/10 shot and he was in front at halfway.

The Galileo colt was ridden passing the two pole but started to motor inside the final furlong, pulling away for a cosy five-and-a-half length victory.

The winner had only been beaten a neck in the Group 2 Royal Lodge last season and came into the race with a rating of 109.

"He was entitled to do that off his rating, and a step up in trip will suit him well,” said the winning rider afterwards.

(Quotes by Alan Magee)

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Anna's flying start to the season continues

©Healy Racing Photos

Asking continued Ana O'Brien's flying start to the season when getting off the mark in the mile maiden at Dundalk.

The Ballydoyle filly was sent off 6/4 favourite on her return to action having been runner-up on her final start at Leopardstown last season.

The daughter of Zoffany tracked the leaders before launching her challenge a furlong and a half out.

She wore down front-runner Sir Danilo inside the final furlong to gain a length victory.

The winner's stable-mate Music Box was a big eye-catcher as she stayed on strongly close home on her debut, just denied for second by a nose.

“She travelled well and picked up well. She loved the surface, and is a filly that will like fast ground. I'd say she will get a bit further,” said the winning rider.

(Quotes by Alan Magee)

Looking for some value in the Classic I have a look through a few who are over priced

Big Meeting mid week next week at Leopardstown Auckland Belgravia & Bound could all bid to break maidens

Happy 19th Birthday to Galileo - The Greatest Sire in the World

Rain Goddess could be a real dark horse for the 1000 Guineas plenty speed on dam side her Grand Dam is Virginia Waters nuff said

Looks like Derrick Smith has purchased Stonestreet Stables share in Spirit of Valor

Former Ballydoyle Resident Treaty Of Rome won his 2nd win in his last 3 starts he cost $2.6 million as a yearling good to see hes doing ok.

New stats poster set up for the new season

Straight to the English or French Guineas for Caravaggio

AIdan Happy with stars work at Naas and will skip trip to Dundalk

Caravaggio, second favourite for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas, is set to go straight to Newmarket or tackle the Pould d'Essai des Poulains in what amounts to a change of tack.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien had said he was looking at running the colt in the Listed Patton Stakes over seven furlongs at Dundalk on April 12, before a decision was made regarding Classic plans.

However, speaking on Friday, the trainer said: "We took Caravaggio to Naas on Monday and were happy with what he did there. So we've changed our mind about running him at Dundalk and the plan now is that he'll reappear in either the Guineas at Newmarket or in the French Guineas."

Caravaggio, a son of Scat Daddy, was unbeaten in four starts last season. He has not run since landing the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh in August and has never raced beyond six furlongs, but that has not prevented him from figuring prominently in the Guineas market, his odds ranging from 5-1 to 8-1. Stablemate Churchill is the 6-4 favourite.

29.03.17

Coomore Purchase slot in Worlds richest sprint

Could Acapulco be sent to the worlds richest sprint in Australia in October.

Everest dream becomes a reality as the slot holders begin the search for sprinters

The $10 million dream of Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club is reality with all 12 Everest slots sold, and a quarter already earmarked with entries.

The slots, worth $1.8 million plus GST for three years, are scattered among a range of businesses. the final slot was sold to global giant Coolmore Stud.

TJ Smith favourite Chautauqua and Magic Millions winner Houtzen have joined She Will Reign as pencilled for a $600,000 slot this year, more than six months out from the race at Randwick on October 15.

Everest slot owners: Damion Flower, James Harron, Max Whitby, Greg Ingham with Chautauqua, Yulong Investments with She Will Reign, Aquis with Houtzen, Chris Waller Racing, Coolmore Stud, The Star, TAB, Inglis, ATC.

Its in the History Books now - As for this season looks like John Gosden will be a major threat in British Championship but Aidan has ammo to do it again

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Cliffs of Moher form boost

Dedicated to my Friend @SueMaguire3 xxx

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Minding looks really well she has even grown alot from last year she looks big

Sires Tables updated

A.P.O'Brien 2017 Earnings update

He has classic credentials

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28.03.17

Aidan takes some of his stable stars to Naas to exercise by Red

Glorious sunshine bathed Naas on Monday as Aidan took 80 of his string along to be exercised on the course, among them were some star names, which Aidan has to go to war with in the 2017 season.

They were headed by the Group 1 Qipco 2,000 Guineas favourite Churchill, whom Aidan said would head straight to Newmarket on May 6 without a warm-up run.

He also heads the market to win the Group 1 Investec Derby, last year's champion two-year-old was given an outing over seven furlongs with fellow Guineas hope Caravaggio, who will put his Newmarket credentials to the test at Dundalk next month.

Aidan's son Donnacha was up on Churchill, winner of the Group 1 Dewhurst and National Stakes, he went in a group of 13 on an afternoon.

Aidan said of Churchill “He's a fine big, powerful colt and we rate him very highly. We haven't thought beyond the Guineas and we'll see how he gets on at Newmarket before thinking further down the line. We're very happy with him and the plan is to send him straight to Newmarket once everything goes well over the next few weeks."

However, Caravaggio, who was last seen when winning the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh in August, is likely to run at Dundalk on April 12 before any decision is made about his Guineas participation.

Aidan said about Caravaggio, and ridden by Seamie Heffernan at Naas: "He's never raced beyond six furlongs, so before asking him to go a mile we're looking at running him in the Listed Patton Stakes over seven furlongs at Dundalk and see how things go. He had a very minor hold-up after winning the Phoenix Stakes and we just ran out of time with him."

Seamie Heffernan was also on board Rhododendron, the favourite for the first fillies' classic the Group 1 Qipco 1000 Guineas on May 7.

"She's done well and I'd imagine she'll go straight to Newmarket, " Aidan said of the Fillies' Mile winner who went in a group that included Hydrangea, Promise To Be True, Roly Poly and Brave Anna. Apart from Rhodendron, the other fillies entered for the Guineas will probably run in some of the trials.

"We have plenty of colts to run in the different Derby trials, including Cliffs Of Moher, Sir John Lavery, Capri, Yucatan and Douglas Macarthur."

The star attraction at Naas was the seven-time Group 1 winner Minding, she was one of the big stars of last season, Aidan said: "Minding might start off her campaign back here at Naas in the Group 3 Alleged Stakes or maybe the Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes, and we'll probably campaign her over a mile and a quarter in the first half of the season.

Ascot Gold Cup winner and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe third Order Of St George also was on hand. Aidan said "Order Of St George is likely to reappear in the Group 3 Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan on April 23 and will be campaigned from a mile and a half upwards, with the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup again a target."

US Army Ranger, who failed to win in three attempts last year after finishing second to Harzand in the Group 1 Investec Derby, is back to try to justify the big reputation he took to Epsom after winning the Chester Vase.

Aidan said: "He's done well and he might start off in a Group 2 over a mile and a quarter back here at Naas."

Sprint queen Acapulco also exercised at Naas on Monday under Seamie Heffernan, alongside stablemates Painted Cliffs and Cenotaph. After which Aidan said: "Hopefully Acapulco will be in foal to Galileo and we'll train her up to Royal Ascot. If all goes well she might have a couple of runs before the Group 1 King's Stand stakes."

On her last start Acapulco finished sixth in a Grade 3 event over 6.5 furlongs at Santa Anita in November 2016.

Aidan is bound to be the envy of trainer's everywhere with such quality in depth, and should be able to target Bobby Frankel's world record of 25 Group/Grade 1 victories in a season.

Ballydoyle workers yesterday at Naas - Churchill - Alice Springs - Caravaggio & Minding Thanks to Patrick McCann

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APOB 2017 Prizemoney Earnings

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Galileo Progeny with Career Earnings over a Million

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Top Earning Horses in Training 2017

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Garter shows classic credentials at Naas

Orderofthegarter and Ana O'Brien ©Healy Racing Photos

In somewhat similar circumstances to their earlier winner, Alphabet, Aidan and Ana O'Brien's Orderofthegarter routed the opposition in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Maiden at Naas.

Always up there in a forcing role, Orderofthegarter was pushed out to go clear under two furlongs out, and the twice previously second placed Galileo colt kept on strongly to easily beat Tommy Hallinan by eleven lengths.

Ana O'Brien said: "He'd a couple of good runs. He galloped home well and will get further. He'll step up now and could go to Leopardstown for a Guineas Trial.

"We are happy with the way the horses have run today. You are never sure how forward they are this time of the year before you run. We won't have a two-year-old runner out until the Dundalk meeting (on April 12) or maybe the meeting here the weekend before that. They will be just ready to start.

"Caravaggio will work here tomorrow and then the plan is to go to Dundalk for the Listed Patton Stakes (on April 12) over seven furlongs. Everything seems fine with him so far.

"Churchill is good and everything seems to be fine so far with him as well."

(AM & EM)

Easy as ABC for Alphabet at Naas

Alphabet (Ana O'Brien) easily wins the six furlongs maiden at Naas
©Healy Racing Photos By Alan Magee

Aidan O’Brien opened his account for the new turf season in devastating fashion as Alphabet made all for a wide margin victory in the Weatherbys GSB Goes Online Maiden at Naas.

The Lawman filly showed promise in three outings last year for David Wachman, and fairly blitzed her 19 rivals in this six-furlong event.

Ana O’Brien’s mount was in command from over a furlong out, and the 7/1 chance stayed on well to beat well-backed newcomer Ma Fee Heela (7/4fav) by five and a half lengths.

Jet Streaming was a further half a length back in third.

Aidan O’Brien said, “David liked her last year but his horses were sick. He thought she was quick, and she seems to handle any ground. She jumped and travelled very strongly.

“We have about seven horses that David trained last year, and they are ones that he thought were above maiden class.”

26.03.17

Aidan looks at Epsom for Seventh Heaven

Seventh Heaven could be aimed at the Coronation Cup at Epsom after her fine run in defeat in Dubai on Saturday. The Irish and Yorkshire Oaks heroine got closest to impressive winner Jack Hobbs in the Sheema Classic on World Cup night on ground possibly not totally to her liking, leaving trainer Aidan O'Brien with high hopes for the season ahead. The Ballydoyle hander said: "It (Dubai) is a tough place to go. It is very competitive there, but they all seem fine this morning. "I would have worried about Seventh Heaven on that ground as I always thought she wanted it fast, but she ran very well. You would have to be very happy with her, and would be thinking about all those mile-and-a-half races like the Coronation. She was staying on well." Stablemate Highland Reel was last of the seven runners, but last year's King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Breeders' Cup Turf winner is expected to improve for the outing. O'Brien said: "Highland Reel had a tough enough season last year and hopefully we will bring him along slowly. The winner was good and although there were not too many runners, it was a very competitive race." O'Brien was also pleased with Dewhurst runner-up Lancaster Bomber, who was not beaten far in fourth behind Thunder Snow in the UAE Derby over 10 furlongs on dirt. He added: "Lancaster Bomber ran well for his first time on the dirt. It was a tough, competitive race."

No Joy For Ballydoyle at Meydan - Seventh Heaven 2nd in the Sheema Classic she ran a Cracker.

Highland Reel Unplaced in Sheema Classic - Deauville Long Island Sound & Cougar Mountain all unplaced in Dubai Turf  - Washington DC unplaced in the Al Quonz Sprint - Lancaster Bomber 4th in the UAE Derby Spirit of Valor Unplaced - Kingfisher unplaced in the Dubai Gold Cup 

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25.03.17

Somehow the headliner on opening day of the season.

Aidan O'Brien's filly won the Cheshire Oaks last spring before running with credit in both the Investec Oaks at Epsom and the Irish Oaks at the Curragh. She rounded off her campaign with a Group Three success and is likely to be a warm order for the first Pattern race of the new turf season in Ireland. Despite having to concede weight all round, Somehow is well clear on official ratings and will take all the beating.

Aidan is double handed in the Sheema Classic by Red

Aidan O'Brien is double-handed in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan on Saturday. The Ballydoyle handler saddles last year's King George and Breeders' Cup Turf hero Highland Reel, as well as Irish and Yorkshire Oaks winner Seventh Heaven.

Aidan's son Donnacha told the Dubai Racing Channel: "Highland Reel seems in great form and I think his form improved the whole way through last year.

"He won in America and was probably a little bit unlucky in Hong Kong. We're hopeful he'll run a very big race.

"Seventh Heaven was a dual Oaks winner last year and she's a very high-class filly. She could be very exciting for this year.

"She's in great form at home and sometimes fillies take less work than the colts.

"She's definitely ready to start off."

Ryan Moore rides Highland Reel, and told Betfair: "I saw my horse was available at 5-1 earlier in the week and, at his best, it would take a good one to beat him.

"When he gets on the lead in these mile-and-a-half races he is difficult to stop, stall three is fine, and 9-2 is still probably a hell of a price, but the one doubt in my mind is that he wasn't at his best when fourth in this race last season.

"And we know what a long campaign he probably has ahead of him again. Jack Hobbs has prospects stepping back up to a mile and a half but I can certainly make a fair case for Seventh Heaven at the prices.

"I see she is 9-1, which surprised me. We couldn't get competitive from off the pace behind Queen's Trust in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita but the combination of a smaller field, and a bigger and wider track, here and a return to a mile and a half could really suit her."

25.03.17

Deauville heads Aidan's team in the turf. By Red

Aidan O'Brien fires a three-pronged assault in his bid to win the Dubai Turf for the first time at Meydan on Saturday.

Ryan Moore has sided with Deauville over stable companions Long Island Sound (Seamie Heffernan) and Cougar Mountain (Donnacha O'Brien).

Donnacha O'Brien told the Dubai Racing Channel: " Cougar Mountain is a solid horse. He sometimes find Group One level a bit tough, but there's a lot of prize-money in the race and hopefully he can pick up a bit of it.

"He's a real globetrotter and I'm particularly fond of him. He's taken me around the world.

"Deauville picked up a Group One last year and Long Island Sound went very close. Hopefully they'll improve as four-year-olds and they should make their mark at the top level this year."

25.03.17

Moore hopeful of a big run from Highland Reel By Red

Aidan O’Brien unleashes his first runners of 2017 in the exotic splendour of Saturday’s $30 million Dubai World Cup card at Meydan, that’s quite a ‘volte-face:’ the times really are changing when the flat can be a more realistic option for the ‘small man’ than the supposedly more egalitarian jumps game.

Part of that is due to the flat’s greater international dimension which is advertised in Group One style on Saturday by a Dubai World Cup card headlined by the American superstar Arrogate. He appears in the $10 million feature at 4.45 on a programme which also has a significant Irish presence.

Tony Martin’s Melbourne Cup runner up Heartbreak City lines up in the hugely lucrative two-mile Gold Cup while Hong Kong’s top jockey Joao Moreira will also team up with Mick Halford’s Wild Due in the Golden Shaheen.

Aidan carries the brunt of the Irish attack however with nine runners headed by Highland Reel and Seventh Heaven in the Sheema Classic.

The Breeders Cup hero Highland Reel was only fourth to Postponed in the race a year ago but is preferred by Ryan Moore which leaves Seamus Heffernan to team up with Seventh Heaven. The partnership landed last year’s Irish Oaks.

Big run

Moore is hopeful of a big run from Highland Reel and said: “When he gets in the lead in these mile and a half races he is difficult to stop. The one doubt in my mind is he wasn’t at his best in this race last season. And we know what a long campaign he probably has ahead of him again.” It could be significant though that St Nicholas Abbey was beaten in the Sheema Classic a year before he returned to win in 2013.

Aidan runs both Lancaster Bomber (Moore) and Spirit Of Valor (Heffernan) in the UAE Derby while he has three in the nine furlong Dubai Turf headed by Deauville. Some bookmakers make Ireland’s champion odds-on to secure at least one winner on the Meydan card.

The Ballydoyle trainer has a handful of declarations for Naas which steps into the Day One breach with the Curragh’s €65 million facelift meaning a restricted season at HQ for the next two years.

23.03.17

Highland Reel a great price for the Sheema Classic By Red

Ryan Moore believes Highland Reel is a “hell of a price” at a general 9-2 to win the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan on Saturday and believes punters should be wary of backing Postponed, the favourite, at short odds.

Moore made all on the Aidan O’Brien-trained five-year-old in the QIPCO-sponsored King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot last summer and found out just how hard he can be to pass when third behind him, on Found, in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita in November.

A month later, in the Hong Kong Vase, Moore and Highland Reel were reunited - the combination being pegged back in the final strides by Satono Crown. The pair pulled almost seven lengths clear and the winner followed up in a valuable Japanese contest on his next start.

“I saw my horse was available at 5-1 earlier in the week and, at his best, it would take a good one to beat him,” Moore said in his Betfair blog. “When he gets on the lead in these 1m4f races he is difficult to stop, stall three is fine, and 9-2 is still probably a hell of a price.”

He has only one niggle ahead of the near £5 million contest.

“The one doubt in my mind is that he wasn’t at his best when fourth in this race last season,” he said. “And we know what a long campaign he probably has ahead of him again.” Postponed was the smooth winner 12 months ago and went on to land the Coronation Cup and Juddmonte International.

However, he ran below-par in the Arc on his final start and was also below his best when beaten on his return at Meydan last month. Despite that, he is no bigger than 2-1.

“You had to be disappointed with him in the Arc and when beaten by Prize Money here last month, even if he didn’t get the best of runs,” Moore said. “The horse who we saw here last year would have won that day, even if connections seem very happy with him out here. I wouldn’t back him at the current prices myself.”

He seems more way of O’Brien’s “second strong” Seventh Heaven.

“I can certainly make a fair case for Seventh Heaven at the prices,” he said. “I see she is 9-1, which surprised me.

“We couldn’t get competitive from off the pace behind Queen’s Trust in the 1m2f Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita but the combination of a smaller field, and a bigger and wider track, here and a return to 1m4f could really suit her.”

He added: “She was very impressive when winning the Yorkshire Oaks and at the Curragh and Seamie Heffernan gets on really well with her.”

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23.03.17  

Minding heads the entries for the 2017 Tattersalls Gold Cup by Red

Multi Group 1 and Classic winner Minding is one of 38 entries for the 2017 Tattersalls Gold Cup which takes place at the Curragh on Sunday, May 28th.

First entries for the Group One contest closed this week and the race will carry record prize money of €300,000 this year.

Darley Irish Oaks winner Seventh Heaven, Breeders Cup hero Highland Reel and last year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby runner-up Idaho are also among the strong Aidan O’Brien team for the race over 10 furlongs.

Melbourne Cup runner-up Heartbreak City also features amongst a strong Irish-trained contingent which also includes four entries from the Jim Bolger team including Turret Rocks and Moonlight Magic, Success Days trained by Ken Condon, while multi Group 1 winner The Grey Gatsby, who joined Dermot Weld earlier this year, is one of four entries from the Curragh-based trainer.

Dubai Sheema Classic contender Prize Money is one of 11 high class overseas trained entries, which includes the Roger Charlton trained Decorated Knight, Red Verdon trained by Ed Dunlop, So Mi Dar trained by John Gosden and the David O’Meara trained Mondialiste, while last year’s French Derby runner up Zarak is the sole French trained entry.

23.03.17 The full draw for Aidan's runners at Meydan

Gold cup - Kingfisher (R.Moore) Drawn 8

UAE Derby - Lancaster Bomber (R.Moore) Drawn 3, Spirit of Valor (S.Heffernan) will run in Derrick Smith's silks and is drawn 12.

Al Quoz Sprint- Wahington DC (R.Moore) Drawn 10

Dubai Turf - Cougar Mountain (D.O'Brien) Drawn 11, Deauville (R.Moore) Drawn 12 and Long Island Sound (S.Heffernan) Drawn 13

Sheema Classic Highland Reel (R.Moore) Drawn 3 and Seventh Heaven(S.Heffernan) Drawn 6

Aidan O’Brien gets 2017 campaign under way in Dubai 21.03.2017

Highland Reel is second favourite to Postponed for Sheema Classic Ireland’s flat season on turf will start at Naas on Sunday, although Aidan O’Brien is set to get his 2017 campaign under way the day before with a powerful raid on the Dubai World Cup card.

The American superstar Arrogate is a dominant headline act in the Dubai World Cup on dirt but O’Brien’s principal focus will be the most valuable event on Meydan’s grass track, the Sheema Classic, over a mile and a half.

Both the Breeders Cup hero Highland Reel and last year’s Irish Oaks winner Seventh Heaven feature among a small but select field of seven that were declared on Monday for the hugely valuable contest.

Monster Churchill looking Strong For Guineas.

21.03.2017

Donnacha O'Brien has described 2000 Guineas favourite Churchill as an "absolute monster" ahead of his much anticipated three-year-old campaign. The Galileo colt won five of his six starts as a juvenile including Group One successes in the National Stakes at the Curragh and the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. He is a best priced 6-4 favourite for the first Classic of the season on May 6 and connections could not be happier with how he has wintered. Donnacha O'Brien, son of trainer Aidan, also provided a positive update on 1000 Guineas favourite Rhododendron, winner of the Fillies' Mile last October. He told the Dubai Racing Channel: "Churchill looks fantastic. He's after getting very strong and he's an absolute monster. "Rhododendron looks well and their work has all been good.

Former Ballydoyle Residents watch

The United States (Galileo) was 3rd in Ravnet Stakes (G1) At Rosehill - Our Century(Montjeu) (Named Century when at Ballydoyle) was 2nd in the Manion Cup (Group 3) At Rosehill - Sir Isaac Newton (Galileo) finished 5th in the Incognitus Blamey Stakes

Dick Whittington remains in training and is now trained by LComer

Some Major Irish Group Race Entries for Ballydoyle

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Highland Reel, Seventh Heaven, Washington Dc, Lancaster Bomber, Spirit of Valour, Deauville, Kingfisher now possible runners on DWC Night

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Ballydoyle have two in the Irish Lincolnshire at Naas 26th March, Claudio Monteverdi 9st 5lbs and De Coronado 8st 8lbs.

Former Champion Sire Danehill Dancer Passes away

Danehill Dancer who had been enjoying life at Coolmore since his retirement from covering duties in 2014 had to be euthanized this weekend due to the infirmities of old age. Purchased by Demi O’Byrne as a yearling, the son of Danehill was trained for Michael Tabor by Neville Callaghan to win both the Phoenix Stakes and the National Stakes as a two-year-old. As a sire he made an immediate impact and many breeders who identified his early promise were well rewarded in the sales ring as his fee rose from just 3,500 Irish Guineas in 2000 to a high of €115,000 in 2007 and 2008.

Danehill Dancer became Champion sire in Britain and Ireland in 2009 and was Champion 2-Year-Old Sire on three occasions. As a broodmare sire he enjoyed a stellar year in 2016 being responsible for multiple Group 1 winners The Gurkha, Minding and Alice Springs.

“Danehill Dancer was a wonderful sire and has left a significant legacy at Coolmore through his sons Mastercraftsman and Choisir and grandson Starspangledbanner, while The Gurkha is a very exciting sire prospect for the future,” said M.V. Magnier. “His brilliant daughter Legatissimo was scanned in foal to Galileo this morning and Minding and Alice Springs will be very welcome additions to the broodmare band once they finish their racing careers.”

R.I.P Danehill Dancer What a great sire - Sire of Choisir, Dancing Rain, Legatissimo, Mastercraftsman, Speciosa and Where Or When

What a wonderful mum Love Me True has been I think we will soon be adding BELGRAVIA to this.

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Former Ballydoyle Resident ANNUS MIRABILIS (Montjeu) A half Brother to Ruler of the World & Duke of Marmalade won the Group 2 Adelaide Cup this morning at Morphettville.

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Annus Mirabilis raced three-wide for a significant portion of the Adelaide Cup before working to the front on the home turn.

The Stuart Webb-trained galloper, who started at $9 had to fight the whole way down the straight to hold off challenges from the Robbie Laing-trained Double Bluff ($51) and the $3.40 favourite Master Of Arts.

The victory of Annus Mirabilis was the latest staying success for Bayliss, who guided Pilote D'Essai to victory in the Ballarat and Pakenham Cups in the spring.

Webb prepared Annus Mirabilis to win the Bagot Handicap (2800m) at Flemington on New Year's Day but the Caulfield trainer said the Sydney Cup would be a possible target for the son of Montjeu.

While the Darren Weir stable could only manage third in the Adelaide Cup with Master Of Arts, Victoria's premier trainer scored a stakes win in the next race with the consistent galloper Burning Front.

Burning Front started as a $1.65 favourite in the Listed CS Hayes Memorial Cup (1600m) and defeated the $21 chance Dances On Stars.

Webb went within a length of a feature double when his charge Great Esteem ($3.60) boxed on well for third after leading to the 300m.

Former Ballydoyle Residents The United States (Galileo) 5th in the Australian Cup Group One at Flemington & ALOFT (Galileo) wins the My Kitchen Rules Handicap stakes at Flemington & Wins $55,000 could be Melbourne Cup Bound Also Tulip a 2 Year Old by Pierro wins the Magic Night Stakes G3 for Coolmore Partners.

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So very proud we really do reach all parts of the world thanks to all 570,000 of you find it very humbling - Thanks to all the team past and present can't quite believe what the site has become since I started it in 2010.

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The Coolmore Partners have won 27 English Classics in 20 years

09.03.17

Churchill leads Ballydoyle Battalion of 27 left in the 2017 Derby

The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt tops the ante-post market for both the Derby and the Qipco 2000 Guineas after a superb 2016 that saw him win five of his six starts, culminating in the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

O'Brien has won the Epsom Classic five times and has 27 remaining entries.

Other leading Ballydoyle contenders include Sir John Lavery, Capri and Yucatan. Im on the Sir John Lavery Bandwagon having nailed my colours to the mast weeks ago.

Of the others Japanese Bred Wisconsin A son of Deep Impact and multiple Group One Winner Peeping Fawn is one of note as is the son of War Front War Secretary.

Taj Mahal a Full Brother to Glengeales remains in the mix. Smart Maiden winner Cliffs Of Moher looked classy and could become a serious player should he trial well.

Maidens Belgravia Auckland Venice Beach Inca Gold & Venezuela showed plenty of promise when defeated on their debuts.

Air Supremacy a brother to Granddukeoftuscany could bid to emulate Ruler of the World and win the Derby as an unraced horses coming into his 3 year old campaign.

O'Brien's son, Joseph, enjoyed two Derby triumphs as a jockey on board Australia and Camelot and could be represented this year for the first time as a trainer with three entries going forward - Druids Cross, Rekindling and Renaissance Man.

08.03.17

Air Force Blue to stand at Coolmore Australia in 2017

European Champion colt Air Force Blue, the highest-rated two year-old ever from the Danzig sire line, will travel to the Hunter Valley in 2017 to join the exceptional roster of stallions at Coolmore Australia. His three Gr.1 wins as a juvenile saw him earn a Timeform rating of 128p, making him the highest-rated 2YO in Europe for nearly 20 years, with the exception of Frankel. His emphatic 3 ¼ length victory in the Dewhurst Stakes prompted legendary trainer Aidan O’Brien to proclaim him the best two year-old he has ever trained.

“I am a strong believer in the best racehorses making the best sires and Air Force Blue was an incredible two year-old” said Coolmore Australia Sales and Nominations Manager Colm Santry. “We have received an overwhelming response to American Pharoah, with great breeders like John Camilleri, Gerry Harvey, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Gooree, George Altomonte and many more booking quality mares within hours of his announcement. He is now fully booked with plenty of others on a waiting list. There is a real appetite amongst breeders for these elite racehorses and Air Force Blue sits comfortably in that category” said Santry.

“I was very excited to see Air Force Blue this week and couldn’t have been more impressed with him” added Santry. “He’s got a great hind part with a massive hip, plenty of strength and real quality. He is a lovely walker and given how important action is at yearling sales, I think commercial breeders here will be very taken with him when they see him in the Spring.”

Coolmore Australia Bloodstock Sales Manager Shane McGrath, also travelled to Ashford to inspect Air Force Blue this week and is similarly excited by his arrival; “He has got an ideal profile for Australia. It is the Holy Grail for commercial breeders in Australia to produce a racehorse like Air Force Blue” said McGrath. “War Front is the most potent source of elite two year-old speed in the world and it’s going to be a great opportunity to have his best juvenile son available to breeders in Australia” added McGrath.

Air Force Blue will stand the 2017 season at Coolmore Australia at a fee of $16,500 (incl. GST).

Churchill heads the Guineas entries full story by Red

Churchill heads 69 entries revealed today for the Group 1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 6.

The champion two-year-old signed off last season by winning the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October and is one of 11 Aidan O’Brien-trained colts entered in the first Classic of the season and is no bigger than 6-4 in the ante-post betting.

Champion trainer Aidan is seeking a record-breaking eighth 2000 Guineas triumph.

The emphatic success of Gleneagles in 2015 provided the master of Ballydoyle with his seventh 2000 Guineas success and drew him level with John Scott, who achieved the same number of victories in the mile showpiece between 1842 and 1862.

All of Aidan’s previous winners - King Of Kings (1998), Rock Of Gibraltar (2002), Footsetpsinthesand (2005), George Washington (2006), Henrythenavigator (2008), Camelot (2012) and Gleneagles - had been making their seasonal reappearances and it seems likely that Churchill will also miss the traditional trials this spring and head straight to Headquarters for a feature which also signals the start of the 35-race QIPCO British Champions Series.

11 Ballydoyle Colts in 2000 Guineas 8 Ballydoyle Fillies in 1000 Guineas