By Sean Cronin
Britain had not had a prior runner in the first two editions of Monday's €200,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Gowran Classic, which is part of the Smullen Series, and Richard Hannon trainee Bunyola Bay (Ghaiyyath) broke new ground to become the first and took a €100,000 prize back across the Irish Sea after making virtually all in the 9 1/2-furlong feature.
“He's relatively inexperienced and it was his first time going around a bend today, but it was impressive and he had to be,” said rider Sean Levey. “We've always liked him, but he's unexposed. Looking at him in the ring, he stood out quite a lot and he's won a very nice race on a track that seems to have suited him very well. You'd have to upgrade him for how well he handled the track. We'll let some water go under the bridge and see how he comes out of the race. He's definitely a nice horse, how nice we don't know.”
Bustled forward from the inside stall to enjoy an uncontested lead for the most part, the 11-2 chance was last off the bridle in the straight and maintained a high tempo in the latter stages to easily outclass Mo Mhuirin (Magna Grecia) by an impressive 3 1/4 lengths. The second's Andy Slattery stablemate Cherry Hill Girl (Belardo) was three lengths adrift and picked up a €20,000 cheque for finishing third.
Bunyola Bay was a debut third going 6 1/2 furlongs in October and came back this term to shed maiden status when upped to seven furlongs at Doncaster on sophomore return in April.
He is the 13th of 14 foals and one of 10 scorers thrown by G3 Premio Carlo Chiesa winner Kykuit (Green Desert), who is a half-sister to stakes-winning G3 Premio Parioli (Italian 2000 Guineas) third General Sherman (Teofilo) and G1 Derby Italiano third Rockmaster (Galileo).
The winner is kin to Listed Premio Nogara victrix Wannacry (Footstepsinthesand), G3 Premio Parioli (Italian 2000 Guineas) third Lodovico Il Moro (Shamardal), the dual stakes-placed Winklemann (Rip Van Winkle) and the unraced two-year-old colt Tramores (Phoenix Of Spain).
Prize for EXPORT 🟦🟨@rhannonracing plunders the €200,000 @IrishEBF_ Gowran Classic with Bunyola Bay, who had matters sewn up a long way out!
💶💶💶 | @LeveySean pic.twitter.com/6iCW0n6ulm
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 1, 2026
5th-Gowran, €200,000, Cond, 6-1, 3yo, 9f 120yT, 2:01.46, yl.
BUNYOLA BAY (IRE) (c, 3, Ghaiyyath {Ire}–Kykuit {Ire} {GSW-Ity}, by Green Desert) Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $137,532.
O-Michael Geoghegan; B-Kildaragh Stud; T-Richard Hannon. *€25,000 Wlg '23 TATSPH; €80,000 Ylg '24 ARAUG.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
