Ballyhimikin Stud

Cheveley Park Stud's Estrange (Night Of Thunder) remained on course for bigger targets down the line and justified short-priced favouritism with a hard-fought victory in a tactical renewal of Saturday's G2 bet365 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock. "Danny [Tudhope] said she normally falls asleep, but today she didn't quite drop the bit and ended up in front a long time," explained trainer David O'Meara. "That's not how we'd like to play her, but it was a means to an end. She has a very good action and wasn't as relaxed as...

Jaber Abdullah's America Queen (Havana Grey), a €180,000 graduate of May's Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-Up sale, made a start on recouping that investment with an impressive debut performance in Thursday's Selecta Systems EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes over six furlongs at Haydock. The Richard Hughes trainee, who was originally knocked down for €48,000 as Goffs November foal, went postward as the 11-8 favourite and tracked the leaders from a midfield berth through the early fractions. Making smooth headway from halfway to assume control passing the quarter-mile marker, she quickened clear and was...

ASCOT, UK -- From a maiden on May 9 to a Group 2 winner at Royal Ascot less than 40 days later is some going but, as ever with bloodstock, the story reaches back much further than these few glorious weeks.  In the case of the Queen's Vase winner Carmers (Wootton Bassett), his owner-breeder Fiona Carmichael bought his dam Signe (Sea The Stars) as a yearling more than a decade ago and, as a half-sister to Group 1 winner Lord Shanakill, she carried the pretty hefty price tag of €1.1...

Al Shaqab Racing and Trevor Stewart's 2-year-old colt Andab (Saxon Warrior), a full-brother to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Victoria Road, made a winning debut in Monday's Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden over six furlong at the Curragh. Let go at odds of 8-1, he pulled clear in the closing stages to register an impressive 4 3/4-length success.   👀 Andab (Saxon Warrior) is a brother to @BreedersCup Juvenile winner Victoria Road and makes a very likeable start in the @AlShaqabRacing silks for the @JosephOBrien2 team @curraghrace |...

Kensea (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), the dam of G1 Criterium International-winning Galiway (GB) full-brothers Sealiway (Fr) and Sunway (Fr), has been added to the Tattersalls December Mares Sale as a wildcard, the sales company announced on Wednesday. Offered by James Hanly's Ballyhimikin Stud during the second day of the Sceptre Sessions on Tuesday, Dec. 5 as lot 1825, the 13-year-old mare is owned and bred by Guy Pariente. She is in foal to rising French sire Zarak (Fr). A listed winner herself, Kensea's four foals to make the racecourse have all...

A grey son of Ghaiyyath (Ire) (lot 151) took the lead during Book 1 at Tattersalls after making 1.05 million gns on the bid of Godolphin. That operation had earlier picked up a son of Ghaiyyath's sire Dubawi (Ire) and the mare Shastye (Ire) (Danehill) for 1 million gns earlier on Tuesday. Consigned by Ballyhimikin Stud, the colt is out of Tickled Pink (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), herself a daughter of G2 King's Stand S. heroine and top producer Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}). The colt is a half-brother...

By Brian Sheerin and Emma Berry NEWMARKET, UK--Irish owner-breeder Trevor Stewart was once again basking in the glow of his golden goose Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) as the great mare's grandson by Ghaiyyath (Ire) led the way at 1.05 million gns on the opening day of Book 1 at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. It was Godolphin, the leading buyer on the day, who landed the colt from the first crop of Ghaiyyath, consigned by Ballyhimikin Stud, to provide Stewart with yet another memorable result with the family...

What you want to hear from a major owner-breeder like Trevor Stewart, the man who has set up a mini-empire off the back of buying wondermare Cassandra Go back in 1997, is that there is a nuanced approach to breeding and, with the right blend of skill and hard work, you too can make this game pay. The trouble is, Stewart does not believe that is the case. Not only does he put buying top-class racemare-turned-blue hen Cassandra Go down to good luck, but he also points to fortune favouring...

Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}-Rahaam, by Secreto), the winner of the G2 King's Stand S. and an influential producer, has died aged 25 at Ballyhimikin Stud. Bred by John McKay, Cassandra Go was purchased by Trevor Stewart for 82,000gns as a foal through the BBA at the Tattersalls December Sale of 1996. Stewart sent her through the ring as a yearling at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, but opted to retain her at 200,000gns. Sent into training with Geoff Wragg, Cassandra Go was soundly beaten in her lone start...