COPPER Beech is one of those yards that you always look forward to going back to.
It’s situated just a few minutes’ drive from the Curragh and Kildangan Stud and it’s a stunning, all-encompassing training establishment, which has everything.
It was a greenfield site not that long ago and it now houses over 70 horses. There are three walkers, a swimming pool, and turn-out paddocks, along with grass and all-weather gallops. It is a wonderful place to visit.
Michael Halford has enjoyed a fine season, with the mare Surrounding the standout performer, but he also has an excellent strike-rate with his two-year-olds, headed by Roman Turbo who was due to put his unbeaten record on the line in the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh last evening.
“We’ve had a good season and we have a lovely bunch of two-year-olds and I’d say they are the best bunch (of two-year-olds) that I’ve trained,” Halford stated.
“We have some wonderful clients and we have been sent some well-bred horses and our juveniles are shaping up to be well above average, which is very exciting.
“We have around 40 two-year-olds and most of them are bred to want seven furlongs to a mile this year.
“We have taken our time with them and we’ll start to get more of them going in the next few weeks and, obviously, it is very encouraging that the likes of Roman Turbo has done so well already.”
He added: “We have 70 to 75 in the yard and that is a nice number. We have great staff and it’s a big team effort here.”
Dundalk regular
Halford has been a regular at Dundalk over the last number of years and he boasts a fine strike-rate there, and while he wants to support the venue, he will only do so if he happy with the surface.
“I’ll support it if I am happy with the surface. I am disappointed that they didn’t get the track relaid and I hope the work that they will carry out will be satisfactory.
“The whole process could have been handled a lot better.”
“Hopefully the remedial work that they will do will tide them over for the winter. It has been a very lucky track for us and we have had a lot of success there. I would like to continue to support Dundalk, but I will only do so on the basis that I am happy with the remedial work.”
Arcanears
4yo b g Arcano - Ondeafears
Mrs C Roper
Form: 6-20280
He is a very solid horse which hasn’t enjoyed much luck this season. He is best with an ease in the ground, something he hasn’t had for a while. He won his maiden at the Curragh and is a reliable sprint handicapper. There is a nice race for him later this month at the Curragh.
Ahlan Bil Zain
5yo b g Elusive City - Fall View
R McNally & L Walsh & J M Collins & L Murrin
Form: -13091458
He ran below par last week at Gowran, but he has developed into a good servant for us, winning four, three at Dundalk and one on the grass. His mark has crept up as a result, but he is a good, solid horse and he likes a bit of nice ground and is best over seven furlongs.
Katiymann
7yo b g Shamardal - Katiyra
Paul Rooney
Form: 98-600155
He is another that has developed into a fine servant and there is a big day in him – he just needs things to fall right for him. He won well at Fairyhouse and he ran very well in the good seven-furlong handicap on the Sunday at the Galway Festival. He likes a bit of good ground and is effective over seven or eight furlongs. He is rock solid and the valuable seven furlong handicap at Leopardstown on Champion Stakes Day is an option for him, as is the Cambridgeshire.
Lady De Vesci
6yo ch m Approve - La Bandola
F Sommer
Form: 512131-489
She improved in the first half of the year and it was good to get her started last week at Leopardstown. She won three over the winter and she will go a mile and a half and she might even get a bit farther.
She is a very consistent mare, who appreciates a bit of nice ground and she will kept on the go at Dundalk over the winter. I’d like to think that there is more to come from her.
Massif Central
5yo b g Arcano - Melaaya
Paul Rooney
Form: 1-032425
He won two nice races for us at Dundalk but he has a high rating, which makes him a bit difficult to place. He ran a blinder when second to Downdraft in a listed race at Roscommon and he has won again since. Our horse was a bit outclassed in a better race at Leopardstown and we’ll lower his sights a bit with him. He’s a talented horse, and one of a few that I have here for Paul Rooney, who is a great man to have anything to do with.
Miss Snossyboots
5yo ch m Rip Van Winkle - Nick’s Nikita
Nick Hartery
Form: 2/3111080
She has met with a little setback and will be out for a while. She did very well for us in the first half of the year, winning three at Dundalk.
She is on a break and I hope to have her back hopefully later in the year. She is a very genuine filly – very much like her dam – and hopefully there are more races to be won with her.
Surrounding
6yo b m Lilbourne Lad - Roundabout Girl
P E I Newell
Form: -2313211
She has been a revelation this year. She has won eight in total for us, including four stakes races and she seems to excel on good ground. She is rated 106 now and is thriving on her racing and the plan is the Fairy Bridge at Tipperary next Thursday. She is also in the Boomerang Stakes at Leopardstown and we’ll see how she is a bit closer to the time. She owes us nothing and she has given the Newell family (who own and bred her) a lot of pleasure. There is a nice programme for a filly like her in Dubai – there is great prize money over there and she’d appreciate the conditions. I am sure that we’ll give that some consideration later on in the year.
Surrounding - is likely to be bound for Dubai where there is a nice programme for a filly like her \ Healy Racing
Terzetto
4yo ch f Iffraaj - Calando
Godolphin
Form: 3108-0744
We kept her in training with a view to trying to get blacktype. She came home well when we upped her in trip the last day at Killarney and she has been pleasing me in her work. We’ll find something for her in the next week or so and then look for a stakes race.
Terzetto will aim for blacktype in a stakes race \ Healy Racing
Tirmizi
6yo b g Sea The Stars - Timabiyra
Paul Rooney
Form: 8132664
He won his race for us at Clonmel earlier in the year and he has run well in defeat since.
He handles good ground well, but I am pretty sure that he’d be as effective with an ease as well. He gets two miles and he just needs things to fall right for him. I am sure that he is well up to winning again for us this season.
We have some nice horses that have yet to run that we like and they include Simsir and Malvolio. There is a lovely filly owned by Michael Enright that we like called Sendmylovetoyou, who we started at the Curragh yesterday evening.
Balefire
3yo b c Shamardal - Patent Joy
Godolphin
Form: 213215
He has done well for us, winning two and he has been placed three times. A mile looks a good trip for him and he has been running consistently well for us and he remains in good form. We’ll just wait for the ground to improve before he runs again.
Elizabeth Way
3yo ch f Frankel - Maids Causeway
Godolphin
Form: 7-26
She was placed behind Barbados at Navan in May and things didn’t go her way after that at Bellewstown. She likes a sound surface and she looks up to winning her maiden over 10 or 12 furlongs.
Hamariyna
3yo b f Sea The Moon - Hanakiyya
H H Aga Khan
Form: 3118
She is a smart filly. She won her maiden and followed that up with success in the Guineas Trial at Leopardstown. She was never going after that at Naas and we could find no reason for it. She likes an ease in the ground and the Blandford at the Curragh is her main aim on Irish Champions Weekend.
Terzetto will aim for blacktype in a stakes race \ Healy Racing
Hazran
3yo b c Lope De Vega - Hazaraba
H H Aga Khan
Form: 3-222
He has run well in maidens and I am sure that he’ll get his turn soon.
He has bumped into some good horses this season and he handles good ground, but I’d be confident that he’ll be effective with an ease as well.
Karakhan
3yo b g So You Think - Karawana
H H Aga Khan
Form: 6267
He was second in a maiden at Cork earlier in the year, but he just weakened off on me, so we gave him a break. He has been gelded and I’d like to think that he’ll win his maiden.
He’ll get a mile and a half and will handle an ease in the ground. He’s a horse that we like and has loads of size and scope.
Piano Solo
3yo b g Planteur - Pianiste
Huang Kai Wen
Form: 7-245
He is a horse that we bought from Ken Condon. We have had him gelded and he has settled in well. We’ll start him off in a maiden in the next few weeks. He already has a high rating and his future lies in Hong Kong.
Spelga
3yo b g Sir Percy - Emma’s Gift
Paul Rooney
Form: 70-90600
He has just taken his time to get the hang of things. He works better than what he has shown on the track and he is well capable of winning of his mark.
Rayounpour
3yo b c Cape Cross - Rayna
H H Aga Khan
Form: 443
He has been running consistently well and the form of his last run at the Curragh has worked out well.
He is another that should win his maiden. He is a very straightforward horse with a great temperament and he will handle an ease in the round.
Shamiyan
3yo b c Lope De Vega - Shamooda
H H Aga Khan
Form: 6
He is a very big horse which we have taken our time with. We gave him a chance to mature during the summer.
He is working this week and there is a maiden for him in early September at Cork that I am looking at for him. I think he is well up to winning his maiden.
Sky Seven
3yo ch c Sir Helmet - Ready When You Are
Nasir Askar
Form: -219235
He is a fine, consistent type of horse and we had a great winter with him. He was a shade disappointing the last day at Roscommon and we have freshened him up since and he takes his chance in a rated race at Killarney today (1:55) - he is weighted to be competitive in that.
Sonaiyla
3yo gr f Dark Angel - Sinaniya
H H Aga Khan
Form: -2446139
She won her maiden at the Curragh and followed that up with a fine effort when third in the premier fillies’ handicap on Derby weekend. She likes a little ease in the ground and she was a shade disappointing at Cork at the weekend, but she is capable of better than that.
Zaamar
3yo b c Tamayuz - Tawteen
Zaamar Partnership
Form: 36
He’s a horse that we like and we think that he’s well up to winning his maiden. He ran well on his debut when third at Leopardstown back in June and I’d be hopeful that he’ll win his maiden and progress from there.
Two-year-olds
We have some lovely two year olds for His Highness (the Aga Khan) and most of them will want seven furlongs or a mile. The likes of Alatar, Balmari, Harakann, Kalapour, Karbasann, Kerandi and Zanahiyr, are all showing promise. They are horses for the back-end and will make into smashing three-year-olds. They are showing us plenty.
Comradery
2yo b c Camacho - Shamardyh
C B R Syndicate
He is a nice colt that will start off soon enough that goes well. We like him and he has been doing things right at home.
Deise Delight
2yo b f Brazen Beau - Odyssee
Thomas Radley
Form: 3
I was delighted with her first run at Leopardstown when she finished third to a smart filly of Jessica Harrington’s. The runner-up has advertised the form by winning well at Naas.
She will improve for that experience and seven furlongs looks a good trip for her and she likes good ground. On the basis of her first run, she will hopefully win her maiden.
Feminism
2yo ch f Shamardal - Modern Ideals
Godolphin
She is a lovely filly that we like that goes well. We let her off for the May grass and she shows us plenty and we’ll get her going in the back-end of the season. Hopefully she will make into a nice three-year-old.
Finans Bay
2yo b c Kodaic - Wrood
N Hartery
He looks a smart horse and will start off in the next month or so. He has a good attitude and he goes well.
Kasmiyra
2yo b f Free Eagle - Kastania
H H Aga Khan
She goes well and she has a great temperament and is a very well balanced filly. We are in no rush with her and hopefully we’ll get her going in the second half of the year.
Kalayena
2yo gr f Mastercraftsman - Kalabaya
H H Aga Khan
She is another filly that we like. She has been pleasing us in her work and hopefully we’ll get her started in the second half of the year.
She should develop into a very nice filly for next year.
Hieroglyphic
2yo ch f Exceed And Excel - Philae
Godolphin
She is a lovely filly with a good attitude. She goes well and we’ll get her started in the next few weeks.
Mecklenburg
2yo b c Power - Temecula
N Hartery
Form: 7
He went well in a barrier trail at Naas and I was very happy with his first run at Cork. Like all of ours, he will improve for his first start and there is a race for him at Navan next month that he could go for.
Memphis
2yo ch f Dubawi - Suez
Godolphin
She is not over big, but she has a big heart and has a great attitude. She has been pleasing us in her work and hopefully we’ll get her started soon.
Overtake
2yo gr c Outstrip - Winterbourne
Mrs G McDonald
Form: 0
He started off at the Curragh last weekend and found the ground too soft that day. I can see him being competitive in median auction maidens.
Ridenza
2yo br f Sea The Stars - Raydara
H H Aga Khan
Form: 1
She is a very well-bred filly out of Raydara, who won the Debutante for us. She won well at Leopardstown but unfortunately she fractured her pastern and won’t run again this season. She should make a full recovery and we are really looking forward to next year with her. We think she is well above average.
Roman Turbo
2yo b c Holy Roman Emperor - Swish
Sammy Hon Kit Ma
Form: 11
I have been delighted with him. He’s two from two for us this season and he has been training really well. The plan was to run in the Futurity Stakes last night and if all goes well there, he’ll take his chance in the National Stakes.
He is a smashing horse to have anything to do with. He has a great attitude and he’s a horse with a great mind. He is a good mover and he appreciates nice ground.
His owner is based in Hong Kong and I’d imagine that he’ll end up there at some stage.
Sienna Lady
2yo b f Lope De Vega Paimpolaise
Michael Enright
She is a homebred filly owned by Michael Enright. She has plenty of size and scope and will make into a very nice three-year-old. Hopefully we’ll get her started later in the year.
Sinawann
2yo b c Kingman - Simawa
H H Aga Khan
Form: 5
He is a horse that we like. He ran a very nice race on his debut at the Curragh where he showed plenty of promise. He is by a fantastic sire in Kingman. We’ll step him up in trip and you’d like to think that he’ll win his maiden. (Due to run at the Curragh last night).
Sindhia
2yo b f Mastercraftsman - Sinaniya
H H Aga Khan
She is a smashing filly that we like and she showed us plenty in the spring.
We gave her a break for the May grass and she has come back a stronger filly. We’ll get her going before the year is out.
Slieve Bearnagh
2yo b c Zoffany - Angels Story
Paul Rooney
He goes well and is a horse that I like. He has a very good attitude and is a well-balanced colt by Zoffany and he will be ready to start off soon.
Strip Light
2yo ch c Outstrip - Quinine
C B R Syndicate
Form: 0
He’s a lovely horse that we like. He started off at the Curragh last weekend and I expect him to leave that form behind. He will improve for the experience and he looks up to winning his maiden.
Zarzyni
2yo b c Siyouni - Zunera
H H Aga Khan
Form: 13
He was very impressive when he won his maiden at Gowran and we ran him back in a stakes race at Leopardstown but he ran a bit keen, so we are going to drop him back in trip and go for the Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh.
He is out of a fast mare that we trained and he seems to have sharpened up over the course of the season.
Shane Foley explains after Balefore had won at Leopardstown \ Healy Racing