Ballyphilip Stud

Coolmore's G3 Naas Fillies Sprint victrix Fairy Godmother (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}--Scintilating {GB}, by Siyouni {Fr}) looked booked for the also-ran slots in Friday's G3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, but unleashed a spectacular burst inside the final furlong to double her pattern-race tally in impressive fashion. The 425,000gns October Book 1 yearling and well-backed 15-8 favourite raced off the pace, nestled in the pack, through halfway in this straight six-furlong dash. Bustled along passing the quarter-mile marker, she made an exaggerated manoeuvre to the stands' side approaching the...

Aidan O'Brien trainee Fairy Godmother (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}--Scintilating {GB}, by Siyouni {Fr}) was usurped by Sparkling Sea (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) on debut at Naas last month and returned over the same six-furlong strip to exact revenge on that reopposing rival in Sunday's G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint. Ryan Moore was keen to settle the 6-5 favourite into a smooth rhythm and anchored his mount at the tail of the six-runner field through the initial exchanges of this straight dash. Easing closer onto the heels of the...

Last year's G3 Prix de Cabourg victor The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Anna Law {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}) opened this term with a third in Navan's Listed Committed S. and led from pillar to post in Sunday's G3 Goffs Lacken S. at Naas. His eight-race juvenile campaign included three encounters with Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never), hitting the board behind that now-retired former stablemate in the G2 Prix Robert Papin, G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park. The Antarctic broke sharply and led along the far-side rail from flagfall. In...

Paul and Marie McCartan know a thing or two about Nando Parrado (GB), having bought him as a foal, raced him, and retained part-ownership of the son of Kodiac (GB) since his retirement to the Irish National Stud. They were, therefore, pleased to be able to welcome the G2 Coventry S. winner's first foal on Saturday at their Ballyphilip Stud.  The filly foal is a daughter of Cafetiere (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}), who was herself a winning juvenile over five furlongs and is a half-sister to G3 Prix du Bois winner...

NEWMARKET, UK--A marker in bloodstock history was plunged firmly into the ground at Tattersalls on Wednesday, when those present at Park Paddocks bore witness to the highest-grossing day of horse trade that has ever taken place in Europe. An eye-watering sum of 49,545,000gns was spent on 144 yearlings throughout the eight-hour session, including the most expensive yearling in the world this year--a colt by Frankel (GB) sold for 2.8 million gns. He was one of eight bought for seven-figure sums, bringing the number of million-plus youngsters from the first two...

It was late in the day, but the demand for quality bloodstock had not diminished at Tattersalls and Richard Knight made the winning bid of 1.8 million gns for lot 344, a Lope De Vega (Ire) half-sister to crack sprinter Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and the Group 2-placed The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Consigned by breeder Ballyphilip Stud, the bay is from the same family as dual group winner and smart, young sire Tasleet (GB) (Showcasing {GB}).   ' - . # This filly by Lope de Vega...

Coolmore, Westerberg & Brant's G2 Prix Robert Papin second The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Anna Law {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}), a 750,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 full-brother to Battaash (Ire), rebounded off that Chantilly defeat to secure a first stakes success in Tuesday's G3 Darley Prix de Cabourg at Deauville. The February-foaled grey had earlier backed up two early-season wins with a seventh in Royal Ascot's June 16 G2 Norfolk S. before hitting the board in June's Listed Tipperary S. in his last-but-one start. Missing a beat at the kick,...

Group winner Nando Parrado (GB) (Kodiac {GB}--Chibola {Arg}, by Roy), who placed twice at Group 1 level, will retire to the Irish National Stud in 2022. A fee for the G2 Coventry S. hero will be announced later. There will also be a limited number of shares available. Irish National Stud CEO, Cathal Beale said, "We are thrilled to be standing Nando Parrado, new for 2022. He was a precocious, high-class 2-year-old, by a sire of sires, from a great family and he is an exceptional physical. We are really...

It was 11 years ago that Xtension (Ire) (Xaar {GB}) became only the second group winner for his trainer Clive Cox when landing the G2 Veuve Clicquot Vintage S. under Adam Kirby. In the intervening years, Cox and Kirby have become a force to be reckoned with, particularly in the major sprint contests and often with horses bought relatively inexpensively by the trainer. Xtension was himself a €15,000 yearling purchase from his breeder Paul McCartan of Ballyphilip Stud, and he was later sold on as a 3-year-old to race in...

There was a piece of history made in the G2 Coventry S., as Clive Cox and Adam Kirby united to land the spoils with Nando Parrado (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) who at a stunning 150-1 is the longest-priced winner in the modern era at Royal Ascot. While his price was probably hugely inflated given that virtually every one of the 2-year-olds in this line-up was an unknown quantity in this irregular season, Marie McCartan's bay had not exactly shone when fifth on debut over this trip at Newmarket June 4. Always...

Twice cruelly denied by his nemesis Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) in the last two runnings of the G1 King's Stand S., Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was on Tuesday the undisputed ruler of Royal Ascot's five-furlong strip of verdant racing ground to provide the opener's undisputed highlight. Out of the first four for only the second time in his career when last seen trailing in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp, Shadwell's 6-year-old may have had a slight question mark over his head as he exited the stalls but...

To breed three world champions would be considered by many a major achievement. To do so in a six-year period, even more so. But it is far rarer still to accomplish such a feat from 12 or 13 mares at any one time. That is something Paul and Marie McCartan can lay claim to after Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) topped the sprinters' division in the 2019 Longines World Racehorse rankings, following in the footsteps of fellow Ballyphilip Stud champions Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel) and Tiggy Wiggy (Ire) (Kodiac...