BALLYLINCH Stud has had great success with stallions who won French classics, and continues to do so.

Make Believe (Makfi), won his only two juvenile starts by clear-cut margins, was pipped by Ride Like The Wind in the Group 3 Prix Djebel on his reappearance, but then demonstrated star potential with a three-length defeat of his now stud companion New Bay in the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains-French 2000 Guineas. That rival would go on to gain compensation in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club-French Derby before joining his old foe on the Ballylinch roster, and New Bay’s success at stud has been outstanding, with three Group 1 winners already.

Make Believe, on the other hand, went on to beat Limato in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret, a race that popular gelding would win the following year along with the July Cup. By then, Make Believe had covered his first book of mares, a list that included Contradict (Raven’s Pass). The colt from that mating won more than €13.5 million and is belatedly embarking on his first season at stud this year.

Mishriff, a Nawara Stud-homebred, gave his sire a first classic winner when landing the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club-French Derby in 2020. He then beat Japanese standout Chrono Genesis in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan, thrashed his rivals by six lengths and more when winning the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York and won the ultra-valuable Saudi Cup.

Make Believe’s five pattern winners include the wonderfully tough Rose Of Kildare, a dual juvenile Group 3-scorer who went on to land the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at three and run third in the Group 2 German 1000 Guineas among other performances of note. Another filly of note is Believe In Love. She won Group 3 contests in Ireland, France and Britain, was third in the Group 2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster, and failed by only a short neck to win the Group 1 Prix de Royallieu at ParisLongchamp.

Make Believe has a number of exciting prospects this season, Porters Place being already considered an Oaks hope by her trainer Paddy Twomey.

Another is the French stakes-winning juvenile Sajir. Trained by André Fabre for Prince AA Faisal who raced her sire, she rounded off her first season with victory in the seven-furlong Listed Prix Saraca at Chantilly.

Race record

MAKE BELIEVE (GB), Bay horse, 2012. Top rated 3yr old miler in France in 2015. Won 4 races, value £462,856, at 2 and 3, from 7 furlongs to 1 mile, Poule d’Essai des Poulains, ParisLongchamp, Gr.1, Prix de la Forêt, ParisLongchamp, Gr.1, also placed second in Prix Djebel, Maisons-Laffitte, Gr.3.

At stud

Retired to stud in 2016, and sire of 123 winners, of 310 races, and £16,077,600, including MISHRIFF (IRE), SELF BELIEF (IRE), BELIEVE IN LOVE (IRE), NOTICEABLE GRACE (IRE), ROSE OF KILDARE (IRE), OCEAN FANTASY (FR), MAKRAM (IRE), SAJIR (IRE), TAMMANI (GB), Sweet Believer (IRE), Hotter Than Hades (IRE), Fiscal Rules (IRE), and Quarantine Dreams (IRE).

Information

Stands at: Ballylinch Stud, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, R95 DK51, Ireland.

Contact: John O’Connor, Eoin Fives (nominations)

Telephone: +353 56 7724217

Email: info@ballylinchstud.ie or eoin@ballylinchstud.ie

Web: www.ballylinchstud.ie

Fee: €10,000