Kieran Lalor

Joseph O'Brien trainee Rebel Moon (Lope De Vega), a 500,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling, was kept under wraps for most of Thursday evening's Irish Injured Jockeys Fillies Maiden at Gowran Park and needed every yard of the extended nine-furlong trip to secure an ultimately impressive debut win. "She's obviously a well-bred filly and, first time out, we were keen that she relaxed well," explained O'Brien. "We liked what we were seeing from her at home, but I thought she'd be a bit green for here first time. When Joey...

Al Shira'aa Racing have been announced as the new sponsors of the race previously known as the Cornelscourt S., won in 2023 by the classy Zarinsk (GB) (Kodiac {GB}). The G3 Al Shira'aa Racing 'Mutamakina' S., run over a mile for three-year-old fillies, will be held at Leopardstown Racecourse on Sunday, May 12. The race will be named after Al Shira'aa's high-class racemare Mutamakina (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). A Listed winner and Group 2-placed when trained in France by Carlos Laffon-Parias, Mutamakina later moved across the Atlantic to Christophe Clement for...

Al Shira'aa boss Kieran Lalor has admitted that it will be hard to top last season's achievements in winning the G1 Prix Saint-Alary with Jannah Rose (Ire) but nominated the Willie McCreery-trained Group 2 scorer Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) as being the operation's best chance of delivering big-race riches in 2024.  Meanwhile, the decision has been made to retire the powerful owner-breeder's flagship performer Jannah Rose, with a visit to superstar stallion Dubawi (Ire) pencilled in for the four-year-old this spring. Lalor explained how retiring the Group 1-winning...

(more…)

Al Shira'aa's Kieran Lalor has nominated Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) as the operation's best chance of a winner at the Irish Champions Festival where the rapidly-progressive filly lines out in Sunday's G1 Moyglare S. at the Curragh.  Vespertilio forms part of a three-pronged attack on Ireland's flagship Flat festival that features homebred Atlantic Coast (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in Saturday's G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile S. at Leopardstown and Ocean Jewel (Ire) (Sioux Nation) in the Matron S. on the same card.  "We've six horses in training in Ireland and...

There is something wonderfully refreshing about John Hayes. He stands at least 6'6'' tall with size 15 'lucky boots' and a towering personality to match. Prior to watching Jannah Rose (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), the filly he bred from his beloved mare Sophie Germain (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), win the G1 Coolmore St Mark's Basilica Prix Saint-Alary, he serenaded guests of her owner Al Shira'aa Farms with a ditty about a cross-dressing gold-digger. It's the kind of theme that could so easily see people cancelled these days, but there could be...

Al Shira'aa Racing will be the feature sponsor with their co-sponsorship of the G3 Al Shira'aa Racing Irish EBF Blue Wind S. on May 6, Naas Racecourse and Al Shira'aa Racing announced on Thursday. The Kildare-based operation will also continue to support the Listed Al Shira'aa Racing Irish EBF Naas Oaks Trial on June 28. A stepping stone to the Oaks at Epsom, the Blue Wind has thrown high-class winners in recent years, including multiple Group 1 winner Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal). Al Shira'aa Racing is headed by Sheikha Fatima bint...

On the wall of Kieran Lalor's office is the photo of the 1965 Irish Derby winner Meadow Court, his celebrity co-owner Bing Crosby in shot, presumably just before, as legend has it, the great crooner serenaded the crowds at the Curragh with a rendition of When Irish Eyes Are Smiling. The success of the colt, who was also runner-up to the great Sea-Bird in the Derby and went on to give Lester Piggott his first success in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., prompted his legendary trainer Paddy...