Ballyhane Stud

Following its successful inaugural running in 2020, the valuable Irish EBF Ballyhane S. has attracted an entry of 369 juveniles for its return on Aug. 2. With guaranteed prize-money of at least €200,000, the juvenile contest, which is run over six furlongs at Naas on the August Bank Holiday Monday, has understandably proved popular. It also offers a bonus of €50,000 if the winner is by a Ballyhane Stud stallion. "We are delighted to co-sponsor with the Irish EBF and have been thrilled with the response from a large variety...

Ballyhane Stud, home to five stallions, has released its fees for 2021, with newcomer Sands Of Mali (Fr) set to stand at €6,500. Established sires Dandy Man (Ire) and Elzaam (Aus) were both represented by Group 1 winners this year, and Dandy Man's fee will remain at €15,000, while Elzaam's has been set at €5,000. Ballyhane Sud owner Joe Foley said of his stalwart Dandy Man, "Our flagship stallion has had another stellar season with another Grade 1-winning colt in River Boyne (Ire) and four stakes-winning 2-year-olds including the explosive...

Coming off wins in the five-furlong Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury July 19 and York's Goffs UK Premier Yearling S. Aug 20, the McMurray Family's Happy Romance (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) put that experience to full use to garner a first black-type win in Thursday's G3 Shadwell Dick Poole Fillies' S. at Salisbury. Trapped wide initially before settling with two behind, the 11-4 favourite travelled strongly and when delivered by Sean Levey swooped on the lead passing the furlong pole. Despite the game effort of the once-raced Alcohol Free (Ire)...

Sands Of Mali (Fr) (Panis-Kadiania {Fr}, by Indian Rocket {GB}) has been purchased by Joe Foley's Ballyhane Stud, where he will join the stallion roster for 2021 alongside the likes of Dandy Man (Ire) and Prince Of Lir (Ire). The news was first reported by Racing Post. Owners Cool Silk Partnership announced earlier this week that the Group 1-winning sprinter had been retired from racing. Sands Of Mali won the G2 Gimcrack S. at two for trainer Richard Fahey and built on that promise at three. He won the G3...

Imperious when taking the G3 Albany S. by storm, Dandalla (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) made her syndicate members sweat in Friday's G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. at a rain-afflicted Newmarket but ultimately prevailed to complete the notable double. Reluctant to load and a touch tardy from the gates, the even-money favourite raced up the centre of the track in fourth early before being asked to close by Ben Curtis approaching the two-furlong marker. Working hard to gain the lead a furlong from home, she was unable to put the contest...

The inaugural Irish EBF Ballyhane S. at Naas Racecourse on Aug. 23 has had its purse upped to €320,000 from €200,000-making it the richest Irish 2-year-old race of the year--and a consolation race has been added due to high demand. The Irish EBF Ballyhane S., open to the progeny of sires with a median of no more than €75,000 at last year's yearling sales, attracted an initial 563 entries-an Irish record. The winner will receive €150,000 and prizemoney will be paid to all 20 runners, with the final five finishers...

Back in April, when major sporting events across the world were being cancelled left, right and centre, the management team at the Queen's racecourse took the decision that, if racing had resumed in time, Royal Ascot would go ahead behind closed doors. The announcement was met with incredulity in some quarters, particularly by those keen to blame the spread of coronavirus on the Cheltenham Festival, but thank goodness Ascot stuck to its resolve to go ahead, even in extraordinary circumstances. Of course the meeting lost some of its lustre, just...

Having broken the all-aged track record on debut at Yarmouth June 3, The Lir Jet (GB) was a temptation that Qatar Racing couldn't resist and the operation's acquisition proved on the money as he emulated the 2009 G2 Norfolk S. success of his first-season sire Prince of Lir (Ire) on Friday. Registering the breakthrough first win for that freshman on fast ground at the East Anglian venue, the 9-2 shot had easier conditions to deal with here and also a trailblazing Wesley Ward runner as Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) powered...

Off the mark over five furlongs at Newcastle June 2, Nick Bradley Racing and Elaine Burke's Dandalla (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) really turned it on in Friday's G3 Albany S. as she came home alone. Sent off at 13-2, the bay travelled with zest anchored in rear early by Ben Curtis as Flying Aletha (Tiznow) cut out the running. Moving between rivals with menace approaching the two pole, she was in front soon after and galloped resolutely to the line for an emphatic six-length success from the 11-4 favourite Setarhe...

Racing in the colours of trainer Michael Bell's son Nick, The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}) became the first winner for his Ballyhane Stud-based freshman sire (by Kodiac {GB}), posting a new track record at Great Yarmouth. 3rd-Great Yarmouth, £6,400, Nov, 6-3, 2yo, 5f 42yT, :59.00 (NTR), g/f. THE LIR JET (IRE) (c, 2, Prince of Lir {Ire}--Paper Dreams {Ire}, by Green Desert) was well supported at 9-2 for this extended five-furlong test and duly delivered to provide a first winner for his Ballyhane Stud-based freshman sire (by...

On a typically busy day last week at Ballyhane Stud, Joe Foley was asked by a visitor, "What do you actually do?" It's a good question, and one which it would be hard for the master of Ballyhane to answer definitively. That's not because he's idle, but because there are few facets of Irish breeding and racing in which Foley is not actively involved. On that particular day he had just delivered 100 questions—some of them fiendishly difficult—for the popular quiz named in memory of his friend Mark O'Hanlon and...

LEIGHLINBRIDGE, Ireland—It's all systems go at Ballyhane Stud with the breeding season underway and its new stallion Soldier's Call (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) already in demand, and on Tuesday the Co Carlow stud hosted the official launch of a valuable new race sponsorship. The Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes, to be run over six furlongs at Naas on Monday, Aug. 3, is open to juveniles by a sire registered with the European Breeders' Fund whose median sales price is no more than €75,000, with weights allocated on a sliding scale according to...