Recognising breeders' achievements, the Mare of the Moment Is run in association with the Irish National Stud. The owner of the mare will receive a personalised headcollar. This month's prize goes to Alina (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the dam of Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}).
At just 10 years old, Alina has already paid her way and then some as a broodmare. From five registered foals she has produced three winners, including dual Group 1 winner Barney Roy, who was last seen winning the G1 Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday at Meydan. Her other winners include Thames River (GB) (Free Eagle {Ire}), who is in training with Joseph O'Brien and won as a 2-year-old last year, and Wisdom Mind (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who is also listed placed.
Alina is out of the Group 3 winner Cheyenne Star (Ire) and when she first entered a sale ring as a foal, she fetched €200,000. She only raced a couple of times at two in France but while her racing career was unremarkable, she certainly seems to have imparted ability to her progeny. She was bought by Sun
Bloodstock, formerly Eliza Park International, in 2013 with Barney Roy in utero for 65,000gns.
He has subsequently become her flag-bearer on the racecourse, winning the G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot as well as finishing second in the G1 2000 Guineas behind Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) when trained by Richard Hannon. An injury at the end of his 3-year-old career meant he got the call to join the Darley stallion roster. However, poor fertility meant that he rejoined the racing world, this time under Charlie Appleby's tutelage. Since returning to training, he has won the Listed Prix de Montretout at Longchamp and the G2 Al Rashidiya earlier this year before a near two-length victory in the Jebel Hatta.
In the sale ring in recent years, Alina's progeny have been in demand, especially given her first progeny's exploits. Qatar Queen (GB), a daughter of Kodiac (GB) owned by Qatar Racing, topped the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale bought for 400,000gns, and last year Alina's yearling colt by Dubawi (GB)
brought the top price of 3,600,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale when bought by Godolphin.
Alina currently boards with Adrian and Philippa O'Brien of Hazelwood Bloodstock near Newmarket and she has a return date to Dubawi (Ire) booked for her 2020 cover.
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