Shane Foley

It was as tight as it gets between the two Irish colts at the end of Saturday's G1 William Hill Futurity Trophy, with Silverton Hill's G2 Beresford Stakes and G3 Tyros Stakes winner Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}--Azenzar {GB}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) nosing out Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for the Doncaster feature. Positioned close to the early pace by Shane Foley, the 11-1 shot moved to Ballydoyle's 15-8 favourite passing two out and the two colts with the most pattern-race experience soon had it between them. There was...

Successful in the G3 Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown and second in The Curragh's G2 Futurity Stakes over seven furlongs, the Silverton Hill Partnership's Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}--Azenzar {GB}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) showed that a strongly-run mile holds no fears as he conquered Saturday's G2 Beresford Stakes back at the Kildare venue. Positioned off the pace set by Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Trinity College (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) by Shane Foley, the 2-1 joint-favourite wore down that rival a furlong from home before asserting to beat Tennessee Stud (Ire)...

Handed the unenviable task of taking on the might of Ballydoyle in Leopardstown's G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes on Saturday, Marc Chan's homebred Green Impact (Ire) (Wootton Bassett (GB}--Emerald Green {GB}, by Galileo {Ire}) proved up to the task to provide his owner-breeder with a red-letter day. The first horse bred by Chan, the Jessica Harrington-trained relative of Power (GB) and Footstepsinthesand (GB) was sent up by Shane Foley to track Aidan O'Brien's second-string Bernard Shaw (Into Mischief) throughout the early stages with the stable's 5-6 favourite Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi...

Over a decade on from Pathfork recording a memorable Group 1 triumph in the National Stakes at the Curragh, the American-based Bonnie and Tommy Hamilton of Silverton Hill Farm are dreaming of further big-race riches in Europe with Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}).  If it has been a while between drinks for the Hamiltons in Ireland, Hotazehll appears as though he was worth the wait. Like Pathfork, Hotazhell is trained by Jessica Harrington.  He announced himself as a pretty serious colt with genuine Classic aspirations when landing the G3...

Coming off a Curragh maiden success last month, the Silverton Hill Partnership's Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}--Azenzar {GB}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) was on top at the end of Leopardstown's G3 Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes to provide the Jessica Harrington stable with a double on Thursday. Settled in the wake of the Ballydoyle pace-setter Swagman (Ger) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) throughout the early stages, the 100-30 second favourite was sent upsides that rival by Shane Foley at the furlong pole and asserted to score by 1 1/2 lengths, with...

Tackling Leopardstown's often-informative Frank Conroy Irish EBF Maiden with vital experience, Marc Chan's homebred Green Impact (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Emerald Green {GB}, by Galileo {Ire}) made that edge count as he denied a pair of Ballydoyle bluebloods to open his account in the mile contest. Slowly away before rushed up to shadow the leader in second, the Jessica Harrington-trained 11-8 favourite was committed by Shane Foley approaching the furlong pole and stayed on strongly to account for Ryan Moore's pick of the Aidan O'Brien-trained duo Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) by...

Charles O'Brien trainee Wizard Of Odds (Ire) (Arizona {Ire}--Starlight Symphony {Ire}, by Oratorio {Ire}), who ran fifth in outings at the Curragh and Listowel earlier in the campaign, stepped forward to garner Friday evening's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Down Royal, becoming the first winner for his freshman sire (by No Nay Never). 3rd-Down Royal, €18,000, Mdn, 7-19, 2yo, 7f 25yT, 1:28.67, gd. WIZARD OF ODDS (IRE) (c, 2, Arizona {Ire}--Starlight Symphony {Ire}, by Oratorio {Ire}), who ran fifth in outings at the Curragh and Listowel earlier in the...

When you think of trainer Eric McNamara, winners at some of Ireland's major jumps meetings spring to mind.  However, there has been a notable diversification at the County Limerick yard in recent times, largely driven by the input of his children Conor and Kate. Recent Flat maiden winner Raw Ability (Ire) is a perfect example of that change.  The cleverly-named daughter of Belardo (Ire) made an impressive start to her career when winning at Gowran Park at odds of 40-1 and she features among some of the choice lots at...

There are few people in this industry that you'll never hear a bad word spoken about. Ross O'Sullivan is one of those people. That is just about the greatest compliment that you can give a man who competes as fiercely, and successfully, as the trainer does. But something tells you that O'Sullivan would trade winning popularity contests for taking out big race prizes all day long and Royal Ascot would be a good place to start. The trainer has Warrior Brave (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}) and Follow Me (Fr) (Shalaa...

Providing a timely boost to the G1 Poule d'Essai Pouliches prospects of Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), John Hennessy's Sea The Boss (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}--Shaella {Ire}, by Casamento {Ire}) captured Saturday's G3 Al Shira'aa Racing Irish EBF Jannah Rose S. at Naas to set her course towards the Irish Oaks. Only eighth behind that Ballydoyle peer in the G3 Staffordstown Stud S. at The Curragh when last seen in October, the Jessica Harrington trainee who was also behind Content when fourth in Leopardstown's Listed Ingabelle S. in September enjoyed...

Starfield Stud resident Far Above (Ire) (Farhh {GB}) became Europe's latest first-crop sire to get off the mark when his Jessica Harrington-trained son Rock N Roll Rocket (Ire) made a winning debut over five furlongs in Friday's €25,000 Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden at Cork. 1st-Cork, €25,000, Mdn, 5-10, 2yo, 5fT, 1:00.41, gd. ROCK N ROLL ROCKET (IRE) (c, 2, Far Above {Ire}--California Tee {GB}, by Kheleyf) was positioned in mid division after an alert getaway in this debut. Inching forward from halfway, the 16-1 chance came under pressure with a...

The Racing Academy and Centre of Education (RACE), which has produced luminaries of the saddle like Johnny Murtagh, Seamie Heffernan, Chris Hayes and Shane Foley, has been forced to cull two thirds of its workforce in order to save the institution's future. A massive 21 of the 31 staff have been told they are no longer needed at RACE and the decision is understood to have come as a major shock to the workforce. The 10-month residential trainee jockey course, which has also been completed by top-notch jump jockeys such...