Ballyhane sponsor at Fairyhouse

JOE and Jane Foley’s Ballyhane Stud will sponsor the €50,000 Listed Blenheim Stakes at Fairyhouse on Wednesday week, September 20th. The six-furlong race is for two-year-olds.

The raceday precedes the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sales taking place across the road from the track. Track manager Peter Roe said: “We are looking forward to developing this race given the timing of the meeting.”

Trainer Ger Lyons is aiming impressive Curragh winner Gobi Desert at the race.

The card will feature an additional six-furlong maiden for horses aged three and upwards, named the Dandy Man Maiden.

Geraghty injury

BARRY Geraghty is set for a further fortnight on the sidelines after it was discovered he had sustained a hairline fracture of his shoulder blade in a fall at Killarney last week.

The retained rider to owner J.P. McManus took a tumble when his mount Cook Islands was brought down by Wonderoftheworld at the final flight in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle.

An X-ray showed no breaks and it was originally hoped the top jump jockey just had soft tissue injuries that would keep him out of the saddle for about a week. However, further medical investigation revealed the true damage.

Ascot yearlings

THE new Tattersalls Ireland Ascot Yearling Sale takes place next Tuesday. Starting at 11.30am, a total of 126 yearlings are due to be offered and all are eligible to run in the £150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes in 2018. The yearlings will be available for inspection from 11am on Monday.

Imperial owner dies

DAVID C. Blackburn, owner of 1996 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Call, has died. The Englishman fought alongside trainer Fergie Sutherland in the Korean War. After Mr Blackburn established a highly successful car dealership business in Britain and Ireland, he renewed contact with Sutherland and placed some horses with him. In 1990 he bought the 600-acre Lisselan Farms property in Clonakilty.

Douvan recovery

DOUVAN could return to action in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham in November after making a full recovery from the stress fracture to his pelvis he sustained while in action in the Queen Mother Champion Chase back in March.

Tepin for sale

TEPIN, winner of six Group/Grade 1 races and who is carrying her first foal by leading sire Curlin, will be offered for sale by her owner Robert Masterson and consignor Elite Sales at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale on Monday, November 6th.