Sands of Mali (Fr)

Following his runner-up showing in Wednesday's Windsor Castle Stakes during the Royal Ascot meeting, Gabaldon (Gone Astray) has returned to the States and will now be pointed to a long-range goal of making it to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar. Having punched his ticket into the field at the Royal meeting via the Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes May 11, the grey almost pulled a shocker in the contest from his stands' side position. Blazing a trail as the frontrunner after the large field of 27...

Kevin Ryan trainee Ain't Nobody (Ire) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}--Burmese Waltz {GB}, by Showcasing {GB}) became his first-crop sire's fourth individual winner when notching a decisive debut victory over Carlisle's stiff five furlongs at the end of last month and registered a first black-type success for the Ballyhane Stud resident in Wednesday's Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot. Drawn alongside Stateside challenger Gabaldon (Gone Astray) and caught in the wash as that rival blazed a trail on the stands' side, the 5-1 third choice emerged as the most serious...

Richard Fahey annexed last year's 5 1/2-furlong Bristol Street Motors EBF Restricted Maiden S. at Wetherby and the trainer doubled up in the first division of this year's renewal with The Cool Silk Partnership's Yes I'm Mali (GB) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}--Yes Always {Ire}, by No Nay Never). The homebred 2-year-old colt, who overcame a slow start and trouble-in-running to prevail by a half-length, becomes the fifth winner for his Ballyhane Stud-based freshman sire (by Panis), who was nurtured by Fahey throughout his 18-race career. 1st-Wetherby, £9,000, Mdn, 6-11, 2yo,...

Ballyhane Stud resident Sands Of Mali (Fr) (Panis) became Europe's latest first-crop sire to get off the mark when his Florian Guyader-trained daughter Hide The Evidence (Ire) shed maiden status with a two-length debut win over five furlongs in Monday's Prix du Medoc at Bordeaux. Bred by Joe Foley's Ballyhane Stud, Hide The Evidence fetched €10,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale when knocked down to Con Marnane. Racing in the colours of Marnane's daughters Amy and Olivia, the filly could be Royal Ascot bound, according to connections. Con...

Everybody is searching for that flagbearer. Be it a jockey, trainer or an owner, the hunt for a horse capable of taking in big-race riches, that's the lure Breeze-up consignors are no different. Being associated with good horses is what sustains a business and keeps buyers coming back for more. That's what makes Sunday's Leopardstown maiden winner Ecureuil Secret (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) such an important horse in the career of Ryan Conran.  Having put down two big stints working for prominent breeze-up handlers Con Marnane and Thomond O'Mara, Conran...

On the back of the eagerly anticipated stallion fee announcements in Europe, Gary King spoke with a number of leading industry figures about value. Today we have the affable Michael Buckley of Harefield Cottage Stud. GK: Who have you identified as a first-year stallion at an appealing opening fee? MB: Far Above (Ire) (Farhh {GB}), Sands of Mali (Fr) (Panis) and Sergei Prokofiev (Scat Daddy) all seem quite appealing first-season stallion prospects. If I had to choose one, then maybe it would be Sergei Prokofiev at £6,500. A $1.1-million yearling...