Shale (Ire)

Shale (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who won the G1 Moyglare Stud S. at two, is in good form ahead of a start in the G1 Tattersalls 1000 Guineas on May 23. Trainer Donnacha O'Brien reported that the daughter of Guineas winner Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) had emerged from her fifth-place run in the G3 Ballylinch Stud "Priory Belle" 1000 Guineas Trial S. at Leopardstown in April in good order. Breaking her maiden at second asking in July last year, Shale defeated Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}) in the...

There is no doubt that the Flat is back on Sunday, with the action at Leopardstown and ParisLongchamp featuring several Classic contenders jostling for position. In the G3 Ballylinch Stud "Priory Belle" 1000 Guineas Trial at the Foxrock venue, Coolmore hold a strong hand with last year's G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Shale (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) saddled with just a three-pound penalty despite those exploits. Ryan Moore has picked her over Aidan O'Brien's promising maiden winners Empress Josephine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Joan of Arc  (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), with their...

Much has been made of the ability of the average Galileo (Ire) to endure more than a fair amount of engagement in battle, but there continues to be example after example as the weeks of the flat season roll on. There seems especially to be something in The Curragh's hallowed turf to bring out those mystical qualities from within his charges and on Sunday it was Shale (Ire) who was drawing on it to garner the G1 Moyglare Stud S. Having beaten Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}) in the G3...

   While York's Ebor Festival wraps up with its £250,000 feature handicap on Saturday, The Curragh stages the G2 Galileo Irish EBF Futurity S. and G2 A.R.M. Holding Debutante S. for the budding Classic contenders of 2021. Twelve months ago, Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was finishing fifth to Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) in the Debutante which underlines what these vital staging posts can play host to. While Aidan O'Brien was unable to extend his record tally of a dozen winners despite having that ammunition, the fillies' contest...

Donnacha O'Brien's instant momentum showed no sign of stopping on Thursday as the sole Galileo (Ire) in the G3 Frank Conroy Silver Flash S. line-up Shale (Ire) flew the flag for the newest of the family's prodigies at Leopardstown. Having won a mile maiden on slow ground at Gowran Park July 8, the daughter of the runaway G1 1000 Guineas heroine Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) was positioned in a clear second early by under up-and-coming riding star Gavin Ryan. Sent past the weakening race animator Finest (Ire)...