FEW breeders have enjoyed the levels of success that Paul and Marie McCartan have in recent years. Their Ballyphilip Stud is a byword for quality, and the latest ‘star’ performer from their Bruree, Co Limerick nursery is Fairy Godmother.

When M.V. Magnier and his team went shopping last year in Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Lot 83 had obvious appeal. With no inbreeding for five generations, the filly was a daughter of Night Of Thunder (Dubawi), and out of a two-year-old winner by Siyouni (Pivotal). A great match in time for any of their sons of Galileo, she was from a solid female line, though its only Group 1 winner in four generations was the John Dunlop-trained Hello (Lycius), and he earned that honour as a two-year-old in Italy in 1996.