BBA Ireland

Few stallions who stand in and around the €15,000 bracket can boast a book of mares quite like Lucky Vega (Ire). The Group 1-winning juvenile has been supported by his owner Yuesheng Zhang from the outset and, judging by the Chinese businessman's spending at the premier mare sales through BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe last year, that backing is set to continue.  While the majority of the prominent owner's European-based mares will visit Lucky Vega this year, a number will also be spread out between Frankel (GB), Baaeed (GB), Sea The...

Prominent owner Yuesheng Zhang has placed more emphasis than ever on his runners trained in Britain ahead of the new Flat season, with Karl Burke set to be the main beneficiary after receiving 20 horses to train for the Chinese businessman.  Jessica Harrington, who has provided Zhang with the majority of his big-race success, including a breakthrough Classic victory in last year's Irish Oaks with Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), remains the number one trainer for the hugely-successful international ownership vehicle. Harrington also trained Zhang's Group 1-winning stallion Lucky Vega...

   One of the finest turf trainers in America, Phil D'Amato has done exceptionally well with his European imports in recent years, highlighted by Grade I winner Going Global and more recently American Oaks scorer Rhea Moon.     In this week's Q&A with Brian Sheerin, D'Amato explained how, with the help of Niall Dalton, Craig Rounsefell and BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe, he has built one of the most competitive stables in America.      Read about his approach to finding 'diamonds in the rough' on a budget, his training methods and...

The stakes-producer Rasmiya (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), in foal to Tally-Ho Stud's Mehmas (Ire), topped the second and final session of the Arqana February Mixed Sale on Thursday. Offered by the sale's top vendor Haras de Bouquetot, lot 308 made €315,000 from the sale's leading buyer, BBA Ireland. Already the dam of the French listed winner Jouza (Ire) (Toronado {Ire}), the 10-year-old is a half-sister to group winners Above Average (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Sent From Heaven (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), as well as the listed winner Freyja (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire})...

The group heroine Air De Valse (Fr) (Mesnil Des Aigles {Fr}) took top honours during the first session of the Arqana February Mixed Sale on Tuesday. The Bridge Consignment shelled out €240,000 for the 7-year-old G3 Prix du Petit Couvert heroine from the Corine Barande-Barbe draft. Placed in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye in 2021, Air De Valse is a daughter of listed winner Air Bag (Fr) (Poliglote {GB}). Jérôme Glandais, the Director of Haras du Logis Saint-Germain said, "She's been bought for Mr. Benaroussi, who continues to invest in...

Baroda Stud finished as strong as it started at the Goffs February Sale by sending out the top three lots on Thursday, headed by Galileo (Ire) mare Red Azalea (Ire) (lot 482A), knocked down to Mick Donohoe of BBA Ireland for €340,000. Red Azalea was a supplementary entry to the sale. A winner in her own right when trained by Donnacha O'Brien, she is a daughter of the classy Music Box (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who scored at Group 3 level. Donohoe also signed for the unraced Frankel (GB) filly,...

Small-time breeder Kevin Molloy was provided with the best possible Christmas present late on Monday night when Rhea Moon (Ire), the first produce out of homebred Callisto Star (Ire), became Starspangledbanner's fourth top-flight winner of 2022 when battling to Grade I American Oaks glory at Santa Anita. Rhea Moon began her career for Ken Condon in Ireland, for whom she showed bundles of potential when placing in six-furlong maidens at Dundalk and the Curragh before being purchased privately by BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe and international bloodstock agent Niall Dalton to...

On a day where BBA Ireland tightened its grip on yet another sale by signing for the top lot for €175,000, Haras d'Etreham boss Nicolas de Chambure was breathing a sigh of relief as the progeny of two of the stud's newbies Persian King (Ire) and Hello Youmzain (Fr) took flight. Persian King enjoyed a particularly strong session. The G1 French 2000 Guineas winner, who stood for €30,000 in his debut season at stud, saw seven foals sell for €516,000, headed by a colt (lot 306) knocked down to Alex...

By Emma Berry and Brian Sheerin DEAUVILLE, France--A memorable anniversary year for Moyglare Stud was rounded off with some select purchases at Arqana's Breeding Stock Sale, including top lot, Malavath (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) (lot 199), at €3.2 million on a day when the the single session aggregate was more than the entire sale last year. The Co Meath-based farm owned by Eva-Maria Bucher-Haefner and established by her father Walter Haefner celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2022, and in quite some style on the track, courtesy of the Irish Classic winner...

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony has admitted to being blown away by the strength of the market at Park Paddocks, not only at this week's December Mares Sale where the introduction of the Sceptre Sessions played a huge role in the sky-rocketing trade, but throughout the year. Mahony has described 2022 as the year where every expectation was exceeded and, speaking at the end of the December Mares Sale where over 80 million gns went through the Tattersalls tills, headlined by 5.4 million gns purchase Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never),...

By Emma Berry and Brian Sheerin NEWMARKET, UK--Widely tipped for the top, Jeff Smith's Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) duly shone brightest in a galaxy of stars on display at Park Paddocks, bringing the second-highest price ever recorded at a European auction when the hammer fell at 5.4 million gns. Yuesheng Zhang of Yulong Investments, acting through BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe, has flexed some serious fiscal muscle at the breeding stock sales this season and that reached a new high at Tattersalls on Tuesday when Donohoe outlasted Coolmore's MV...

Four-time Group 1 winner Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) reeled in a cool 5.4million guineas final bid from BBA Ireland to highlight Tuesday's second session of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale in Newmarket. Out of the placed mare Plying (Hard Spun), she was consigned by Andrew Balding's Park House Stables on behalf of Littleton Stud. A half-sister to listed winner Alexander James (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), the 4-year-old is responsible for annexing the G1 Sussex S., G1 July Cup, G1 Cheveley Park S. and G1 Coronation S.   [tdn_video service="youtube"...