Ballylinch Stud

Victorious Racing's €1-million Arqana August graduate Warriors Whisper (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) repaid some of that investment with a narrow debut victory in Saturday's Prix du Nice Havrais at Deauville. Under wraps off the tempo in eighth through halfway, the 9-10 favourite made smooth headway into contention with 350 metres remaining and was ridden out in the closing stages to deny Shelzawa (Zelzal) by a short-neck. Warriors Whisper is the third of five foals and second scorer produced by G3 Park Express Stakes victrix Normandel (Le Havre), who is...

Iberian, a group-winning son of Lope De Vega, has been retired and will stand at Haras du Mazet in France, according to published reports. The G2 Champagne Stakes hero's opening fee is €3,000. Bred by Ballylinch Stud, the five-year-old won the 2023 edition of the Champagne, and was also placed in that year's G2 Vintage Stakes. A winner of three of 13 lifetime starts, the Ballylinch and Teme Valley-campaigned Iberian was also second in last year's Listed Cammidge Trophy Stakes. Out of the stakes-winning High Chaparral mare Bella Estrella, the...

Godolphin and Charlie Appleby have made Kempton's Unibet Supports Safer Gambling Maiden Stakes their own in recent years, landing recent renewals with high-class winners such as Opera Ballo, Notable Speech and Measured Time. That dominance continued on Wednesday evening, when Palladas (Lope de Vega) made a striking debut in the one-mile contest. The €750,000 Tattersalls Book 1 yearling produced a power-packed performance that earned him TDN Rising Star status, presented by Hagyard. "He feels like a vert smart horse, he's got a nice turn of foot and he did it...

Whether you're a racing fan enjoying another glimpse of champions of yesteryear, or a breeder assessing the new intake to the sire ranks, the ITM Irish Stallion Trail is unmissable. From toddlers up, the throng of visitors to the 37 studs who opened their doors across the country on Friday and Saturday stand as testament to the draw of the annual showcase. Many readers of this publication will be in the fortunate position of being able to visit stallion studs at their leisure and to be welcomed with open arms....

The term 'blue hen' may have emanated from the game birds of the American state of Delaware, but its appropriation by the Thoroughbred breeding industry bears similarities to its origins in that it remains a badge of honour. There are few true blue hens across the world but one who has certainly earned that title is Vimal and Gillian Khosla's Green Room, who died in December at Ballylinch Stud at the age of 23. Bred in Kentucky by Juddmonte Farms, the daughter of Theatrical never made it to the racecourse...

Ballylinch Stud has released the 2026 fees for its five stallions, with Lope De Vega receiving an increase in price to €200,000 following another successful year with Group 1 performers such as Carl Spackler, Almaqam and Jonquil. "Lope De Vega reaffirmed his position as the world's leading stallion in 2025, once again topping the global tables for the number of worldwide stakes horses, a title he also achieved in 2024," said Ballylinch managing director John O'Connor. "His remarkable consistency and versatility across continents continue to inspire confidence in breeders and...

Victorious Forever's Bay City Roller (New Bay) went unbeaten in a three-race juvenile campaign, but was winless in six starts this term, and last year's G2 Champagne Stakes victor powered clear off the front end in Saturday's G1 Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern at Munich to cap a banner season for Newmarket-based conditioner George Scott. "It couldn't have gone any better," proclaimed Adrie de Vries, whose previous win in the contest came aboard Campanologist (Kingmambo) in 2010. "The trainer was extremely confident in the horse beforehand and that is why...

Next April will bring with it the 30-year anniversary of a notable birth at Iverk House Stud, that of the bay colt by Fairy King who would later deliver the holy grail for a breeder by winning the Derby at Epsom under the name of Oath. To pull it off from a small farm in Piltown, County Kilkenny, which has rarely been home to more than eight active mares at any one time, was quite the feat by Max Morris and his late wife Isabel. Certainly, Max has never been...

Owen Burrows trainee and G1 Fillies' Mile entry Touleen (Lope De Vega) caught the eye when making a winning debut tackling seven furlongs at Newbury last month and, racing under a seven-pound penalty, delivered a stunning performance to collect a TDN Rising Star rosette in Tuesday's Gascare Services EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes over the same trip at Leicester. "She's got a great mind on her, which is a big plus, she did everything right at Newbury and she's done everything right again today," commented Burrows. "William [Buick] was very impressed...

George Connolly is set to join Four Star Sales as a Bloodstock Sales Associate, the company announced Wednesday. From County Carlow, Ireland, Connolly grew up on his family's Burgage Stud, a successful National Hunt stallion farm that has produced multiple Grade 1 winners. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University College Dublin and was selected for the Godolphin Flying Start program - graduating with distinction in June 2025 as the leading student of his class. Connolly's early career has spanned top trainers, sales companies and stud farms around...

The three-day A Good Life Well Lived - Equine Summit ran from Monday, August 11-Wednesday, August 13 in Co Kilkenny. It was presented by the Irish Equine Veterinary Association (IEVA), in partnership with Connolly's Red Mills and featured attendees from numerous Irish industry bodies. During the first day, attendees visited Ballylinch Stud for lunch and a tour of the farm, as well as a stallion parade. Later in the day, guests attended a tour of the manufacturing facilities of Connolly's Red Mills in Goresbridge, and the day concluded with a...

Tom Lacy, the renowned breeder of Persian Force who is famed for providing Pat Smullen with his start in racing during his time as a trainer, has died. He was 89.  Lacy rode 50 winners as a jockey and found only Arkle and Flyingbolt too good aboard Height Of Fashion in two Irish Grand Nationals.  As a trainer, he sent out hundreds of winners from his yard in Rhode, County Offaly, spearheaded by Ingabelle, who went on to become a hugely important foundation mare at Ballylinch Stud. But it was...