Another pinhook triumph for Ballyvolane

THE National Stud’s Time Test has been enjoying a great first year with his runners, and a son of his, out of the Rainbow Quest mare Aurelia, was a major successful pinhook for John Foley’s Ballyvolane Stud when he was knocked down for 400,000gns to Alastair Donald of SackvilleDonald, following a prolonged bidding duel with trainer Richard Hughes.

Ballyvolane Stud has enjoyed plenty of pinhook success at Book 2 in recent years, selling colts by Lope De Vega and No Nay Never for 325,000gns in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

The top-priced foal by his sire in 2020 when purchased for 56,000gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale, the colt became the stallion’s highest-priced horse sold in the ring to date. He is a half-brother to Harlequeen who finished third in both the English and Irish Oaks.

A delighted John Foley said: “He has been very popular this week; he had 20 vets. He is an amazing horse, he has never missed a beat all week. Since we have had him he has been amazing. He is a special horse, the best we have ever had. His attitude, his presence, he is a ‘wow’ horse.

“He was a lovely, quality, straightforward foal and very well produced by the National Stud; there is a reason he was the dearest Time Test foal.

“There are some that are nice foals who come back as nice yearlings, but he has done better than we thought. He has developed and he has improved the whole way through.”

Three friends

Foley signed for the colt as Otilia last December and revealed: “Otilia is myself and three friends. It is the first one we have pinhooked together. We wanted to take a punt on the stallion, we knew that this lad as a foal would cost a few quid and, if he did not work out, we thought with three of us involved the pain wouldn’t be too much. It was a fair throw for him as a foal, we were taking a punt on the stallion, but sons of Dubawi have done well.

“Time Test has had a great year, he looks very good. His stats are good and I will definitely be using him next year! He will be very popular with breeders.”