By Sean Cronin
Ballylinch Stud resident Bayside Boy (New Bay) became Europe's latest first-crop sire to get off the mark when his Ralph Beckett-trained son Blessed Voyager shed maiden status at the first time of asking in Friday's Dubai Duty Free EBF Maiden Stakes at Newbury.
The 11-1 chance, his sire's second representative to hit the track, was positioned within range of the leaders racing fifth through the initial fractions. Making smooth headway once past halfway, he launched his challenge on the stands' side entering the final furlong and was pushed out to hold the late rush of Harry Knows (Mehmas) by a head.
“It's a terrific start with the juveniles,” said Ralph Beckett after securing the second €50,000 bonus of the 2026 Goffs Two Million Series. “We haven't got too many forward ones, so it's nice to get off the mark and it hopefully bodes well for the season ahead. He behaved much better in the race than he did beforehand, but he did it nicely and six furlongs looks about right for him at the moment. He'll appreciate a bit of ease in the ground as well.”
Blessed Voyager, who was knocked down to Alex Elliott for €80,000 as a Goffs Orby Book 1 yearling, is the second of three foals and first winner out of G3 Weld Park Stakes victrix Elysium (Belardo).
His dam is a half-sister to Listed King George V Cup third Keeper's Heart (Saxon Warrior) out of Listed Chesham Stakes runner-up Sonning Rose (Hawk Wing).
The Valmont and Michael Blencowe-owned winner, kin to a yearling filly by New Bay, hails from the family of multiple Group 1-winning Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Gold River (Riverman).
🇬🇧Dubai Duty Free EBF Maiden Stakes @NewburyRacing @BritishEBF
Newbury – Classe 4 – 2 ans – 1037m – 10 Pts – 11 805 £🏆Blessed Voyager (I) (m2) (Ire) 🏇H Crouch
📖(Bayside Boy (Ire) @BallylinchStud – Elysium (Ire) par Belardo (Ire))🕶️R M Beckett… pic.twitter.com/lIF2hZE0fY
— French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) April 17, 2026
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
