BACARDYS

4yo b/br g (F1)

Coastal Path - Oasice (Robin Des Champs)

P.M.J Doyle

An early faller at Rathmorrissey on his debut he hardly put a foot wrong when winning next time. While he won the maiden previously won by Champagne Fever at Quakerstown, this fellow was at this stage of his career even more impressive. He oozes class and everything seems to come very easily to him. He is out of a six-time winning Robin Des Champs mare and is almost impossible to fault at this stage in his career.

BELLE EMPRESS

4yo b m (1)

Black Sam Bellamy - Empress Of Light (Emperor Jones)

Colin Bowe

A fine individual who won her maiden in good style at Curraheen last weekend for her in form Wexford handler. A €9,000 yearling purchase from Tattersalls November sale, she is a half-sister to the high class Fistral Beach who won four for Paul Nicholls and Graham Roach. Her dam is a half-sister to no less than eight winners including Wahiba Sands and Medaille Militaire and this mare looks one who could fit very neatly into such an established pedigree. She has size and scope and plenty of finishing speed and is impossible to fault at this stage in her career.

BORN SURVIVOR

4yo b g (1)

King’s Theatre - Bob’s Flame (Bob Back)

W.F. Codd

The Ballymena maiden looked top class on the day. This winner topped the Brightwells Sales making £220,000 while the second and third were sold for a combined £152,000 as both had previous form. Two winners have already emerged from this maiden in Chef D’Oeuvre and Definitly Grey. He is beautifully bred and showed an exceptional turn of foot on his debut against some very talented opposition. He could well be high class and is one of the standout performers of the season. He was purchased by Richard Kelvin Hughes and will now go to Dan Skelton next season.

CHEF D’OEUVRE

4yo b g (41)

Martaline - Kostroma (Lost World)

Colin Bowe

A €29,000 purchase at last year’s Derby Sale by Colin Bowe and Tom Keating. This fellow did not enjoy much luck in running when a very promising fourth on his debut at Ballymena. From that race, Born Survivor, Some Are Lucky and Fionn Mac Cul realised a combined total of £372,000 at Brightwells so this maiden was well regarded to say the least. This fellow was the second horse to run from it as Definitly Grey had won at Taylorstown 24 hours earlier. At Laurencetown he was ridden closer to the pace and ground out a very notable victory and looks a very exciting youngster.

CRESSWELL LEGEND

4yo b g (1)

Midnight Legend - Cresswell Willow (Witness Box)

P.M.J Doyle

Just as the Belclare maiden is known for producing Best Mate is seems likely every Ballysteen winner will be reminded that Faugheen once won this contest. This year’s renewal looked above average and this son of Midnight Legend ran on strongly and looks one with a bright future. His dam was a four-time winner and won over extended trips so this fellow is likely to be a stayer as his career progresses.

GREY STORM

4yo gr g (1)

September Storm - Lady Blayney (Mazaad)

Donnchadh Doyle

A fine stamp of a chaser who impressed last Monday in winning at Dawstown in good style. The biggest field of four-year-olds this season lined out for this contest and it was run in a decent time but there was something about the manner of his success which impressed. He showed a notable turn of foot and his dam was a two-year-old winner. She is an own-sister to Crowded House and Grand Applause while his sire September Storm was also responsible for a winner on the track last Sunday in Crack Of Thunder. This fellow has progressed well having cost €20,000 from the Tattersalls August Sale 2014.

HE’S A GENT

4yo b g (F)

Mahler - Cooladurragh (Topanoora)

Gary Aherne

Although a last fence faller this fellow had done enough to showcase his undoubted ability. In a similar mould to Imperial Commander or Road To Riches, he still looked a big raw type who was learning as the race progressed but pure talent was getting him through. He has endless improvement to come and this race was well and truly decided before he came down at the last and he is a very exciting youngster. Such was the confidence in this maiden that he left the way clear for Minella Aris to take the race and he was sold for £200,000 at Brightwells.

INSPIRED POET

4yo b g (31)

Yeats - Petralona (Alleged)

Andy Slattery

A very exciting youngster. Things did not go his way when placed at Horse & Jockey on his debut behind the Gigginstown House charge Polymath. He looked a winner for much of that race but didn’t quite manage to secure the success. On his second start however, he showed the benefit of that run and looks something a bit special. He travelled well throughout his Templemore assignment but once he began to lengthen he responded admirably and was always finding too much before being left clear. He is a tough and talented sort by a sire that is making a big impression this season so this fellow could have the profile of a top class performer down the line. He has the standout pedigree of the season being by Yeats and out of Petralona who is blacktype and a winner as a three-year-old. Furthermore she is an own-sister to Eva Luna and has already bred Big Moment. He is also from the family of Brian Boru, Workforce and Cinders And Ashes. This fellow cost 23,000gns as a yearling in the Tattersalls November Sales 2012 before the Slattery team gave €48,000 for him at the Land Rover Sale last year. At Brightwells last month Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins secured him for £155,000.