COMANCHE Country was runner-up, beaten a neck, in a Naas maiden on her two-year-old debut back in April.

Such was the promise of this run for the John Kinsella-trained daughter of Coolmore’s Highland Reel (Galileo) that she was then pitched straight into group company, back at Naas, but was last of the seven runners in the Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes, won by Meditate.

However, her potential had been spotted by Michael Donohoe and Niall Dalton, and they purchased her privately to race in the USA from Ray O’Brian Racing Syndicates. Ray had purchased Comanche Country as a yearling at Goffs for just €7,500 from Castletown Stud. Joe Hernon consigned her on behalf of the Honey Hunter Syndicate, based at Grange Stud.

What a transformation in the filly since she went to the USA. Comanche Country has now won all her three starts for Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables and Marsha Naify, and trainer Philip D’Amato is now pointing his rising star at the Breeders’ Cup.

Stepped up to a mile, Comanche Country won a maiden special and a listed race at Del Mar, and last weekend she rose to the challenge in the Grade 3 Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita. She has already won more than $230,000.

Cathy Grassick

Comanche Country is the best of three winners from the first three foals produced by Honey Hunter (Shamardal). All three are winners in 2022.

Honey Hunter was purchased by Cathy Grassick for €36,000 at Arqana in December 2016 after winning on her third and final start in the colours of Godolphin. She was trained by André Fabre. A full-sister to four-time Japanese winner Primordial (Shamardal), Honey Hunter is one of four winners from Ancient Art (Monsun).

This is a female line that is packed with Group and Grade 1 winners. Ancient Art’s stakes-winning half-sister Lake Toya (Darshaan) is the dam of the Prix Saint-Alary winner Sobetsu (Dubawi), while their winning sibling Snow Pine (Dalakhani) bred Tower Of London (Raven’s Pass), successful in the Sprinters Stakes in Japan. Yet another sibling, the unraced Hermes Tiara (Brian’s Time), produced Dee Majesty (Deep Impact), winner of the Satsuki Sho (2000 Guineas) in Japan.