Al Shira'aa Farms

Reappearing for the first time since finishing eighth in the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown in September, Al Shira'aa Farms' Ocean Jewel (Ire) (Sioux Nation) showed she is a bright prospect for 2024 by taking Sunday's G2 Lanwades Stud S. at The Curragh. Held up halfway down the field early by Billy Lee, the Willie McCreery-trained 8-1 shot swooped on the front a furlong from home in this contest registered as the Ridgewood Pearl and readily asserted for a 1 1/4-length success from Goldana (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}). The even-money...

Al Shira'aa boss Kieran Lalor has admitted that it will be hard to top last season's achievements in winning the G1 Prix Saint-Alary with Jannah Rose (Ire) but nominated the Willie McCreery-trained Group 2 scorer Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) as being the operation's best chance of delivering big-race riches in 2024.  Meanwhile, the decision has been made to retire the powerful owner-breeder's flagship performer Jannah Rose, with a visit to superstar stallion Dubawi (Ire) pencilled in for the four-year-old this spring. Lalor explained how retiring the Group 1-winning...

Al Shira'aa Farms' homebred Atlantic Coast (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}--Liwa Palace {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) backed up a debut win over seven furlongs at the Curragh in August with a third going one mile for last month's G2 Golden Fleece S. at Leopardstown and stepped forward to notch a personal best in Saturday's G3 Killavullan S. back at the Foxrock track. The 2-1 second choice was settled back in the field and raced several lengths off the pace in fifth through the early fractions. Inching closer once past halfway, he...

Al Shira'aa Farms' bonanza weekend continued apace at Deauville on Sunday, with their star filly Jannah Rose (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) coming back from her midsummer break to win the 10-furlong G2 Sumbe Prix Alec Head which is the re-named Prix de la Nonette. Off since her anti-climactic sixth in the G1 Prix de Diane, the G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine was restrained to race in third by Christophe Soumillon off the moderate pace set by the G2 Ribblesdale S. runner-up and G1 Irish Oaks fourth Lumiere Rock (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn})....

Providing a boost to her G3 Silver Flash S. conqueror Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Al Shira'aa Farms' Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}--Prudente {Fr}, by Dansili {GB}) sprung forward to capture Saturday's seven-furlong G2 Alpha Centauri Debutante S. in style at The Curragh. Beaten 1 1/2 lengths when second to Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star in that important staging post at Leopardstown last month, the Willie McCreery-trained €320,000 Arqana Deauville August graduate was held up in last early by a confident Billy Lee content to let it all play out...

Underlining the strength of the speedier 3-year-olds this year, Al Shira'aa Farms' Ocean Jewel (Ire) (Sioux Nation) passed a stern test against the older brigade on Thursday as she captured Leopardstown's G3 TRI Equestrian Ballycorus S. Stretching out to seven furlongs, having finished third behind The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Ocean Quest (Ire) (Sioux Nation) in the G3 Lacken S. over six at Naas last month, the Willie McCreery-trained half-sister to the 1000 Guineas heroine Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) was able to use her sprinting prowess to...

There is something wonderfully refreshing about John Hayes. He stands at least 6'6'' tall with size 15 'lucky boots' and a towering personality to match. Prior to watching Jannah Rose (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), the filly he bred from his beloved mare Sophie Germain (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), win the G1 Coolmore St Mark's Basilica Prix Saint-Alary, he serenaded guests of her owner Al Shira'aa Farms with a ditty about a cross-dressing gold-digger. It's the kind of theme that could so easily see people cancelled these days, but there could be...

Sent off the 8-5 favourite for a competitive renewal of ParisLongchamp's G1 St Mark's Basilica Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary, Al Shira'aa Farms' Carlos Laffon-Parias-trained Jannah Rose (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Sophie Germain {Ire}, by Indian Ridge {Ire}) duly affirmed her abundant quality with a success that was as smooth as it gets in these demanding conditions. Switched off early by Christophe Soumillon, the unbeaten G3 Prix Vanteaux winner was coaxed to the front 300 metres from the line and asserted for a 3/4-of-a-length verdict over Elusive Princess (Fr) (Martinborough {Jpn}), who in turn...

Thank goodness for France. While Britain and Ireland mostly pause the serious Flat action in Grand National week, the French Classic trials rolled on with the return of racing at Longchamp on Sunday, which will be backed up by another strong card this coming Sunday. It was hard not to be impressed by the seasonal debut of Jannah Rose (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who has raced only twice for two wins, and looked a proper Classic prospect for Al Shira'aa Farms and Carlos Laffon-Parias when winning the G3 Prix Vanteaux. When...

As the only inexperienced member of the line-up for Sunday's G3 Prix Vanteaux, Al Shira'aa Farms' Jannah Rose (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Sophie Germain {Ire}, by Indian Ridge {Ire}) had her work cut out but after her command performance in ParisLongchamp's Classic pointer all were left pondering where her considerable talent will take her. Off the mark in professional if not flashy fashion over a mile at Chantilly in September, the Carlos Laffon-Parias-trained half-sister to the G2 Lanwades Stud S. winner Creggs Pipes (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) was nevertheless not missed...

On the wall of Kieran Lalor's office is the photo of the 1965 Irish Derby winner Meadow Court, his celebrity co-owner Bing Crosby in shot, presumably just before, as legend has it, the great crooner serenaded the crowds at the Curragh with a rendition of When Irish Eyes Are Smiling. The success of the colt, who was also runner-up to the great Sea-Bird in the Derby and went on to give Lester Piggott his first success in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., prompted his legendary trainer Paddy...

Al Shira'aa Farms' Mutamakina (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) returned to the site of her win in the GII Dance Smartly S. two months ago to capture the GI E.P. Taylor S. and secure the win in the Ladies of the Lawn series at Woodbine Sunday. The 8-1 shot, four wide into the first turn, tracked pacesetting Kalifornia Queen (Ger) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) who set a pedestrian pace over the rain-soaked turf course. Mutamakina eyeballed the pacesetter entering the stretch, while a host of rivals piled up to her outside and...