MICHAEL HICKEY, Sunnyhill Stud

Road To Riches (Ire), 2007 g. by Gamut out of Bellora, by Over The River

In a light racing career to-date, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned Road To Riches has been successful once in a point-to-point from two starts and six times under rules from twice that number of starts. His 50% win-rate includes successes in the Grade A thetote.com Galway Plate and the Grade 3 Cork Stayers Novice Hurdle. His earnings now stand at £167,000 and are some reward for the £155,000 he cost when sold by Martin Cullinane at Brightwells in May, 2012.

Bred by Michael and Sheelagh Hickey at their Sunnyhill Stud in Kilcullen, Road To Riches was sold as a yearling for €8,000 to Simon Walford. He is the best winner from his unraced dam Bellora, and she was a daughter of Over The River who stud with Michael Hickey’s late father, also Michael, at Garryrichard Stud.

Bellora visited Michael’s own stallion Gamut and Road To Riches is the best offspring by that stallion. Bellora is a full-sister to Sullane Rover, a top-class racemare who won nine times and these included the Leopardstown Chase (run at Fairyhouse). Bellora is also a half-sister to the unraced Society Belle and her best winner has been Davenport Milenium, a son of Insan bred by Michael Hickey’s brother Denis.

SABENA POWER

Slade Power (Ire), 2009 c. by Dutch Art out of Girl Power, by Key Of Luck

When Eddie Lynam paid €52,000 for a yearling filly by Key Of Luck at the Goffs Yearling Sale, hopes were high for a stellar racing career. That phase of Girl Power’s career resulted in a maiden win at three years from seven starts. However, the investment was still to prove a sound one and Girl Power is the dam of Slade Power, winner of the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

That victory earned breeder Sabena Power and her husband David a nomination for the Breeder of the Month for June and they are again nominated following the horse’s stunning victory in the Group 1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket in July. Slade Power will join the Darley stallion roster for 2015.

The son of Dutch Art has won 10 of his 19 career starts and been placed five times, making him a racing millionaire in the process. He is the better of two winners out of Girl Power who was bred up the road from Eddie Lynam’s training establishment by Limestone and Tara Studs.

Girl Power’s year older full-sister was a stakes-placed two-year-old and their half-sister Soft Power is also a winner this year. Their dam Rumuz never managed to win but she was a daughter of Balqis, a group winner at two years in Italy.

PAUL SHANAHAN & TIMMY HYDE, Lynch-Bages and Camas Park Stud

Gallante (Ire), 2011 c. by Montjeu out of Crazy Volume, by Machiavellian

Last month Paul Shanahan was nominated here for Leading Light, but this time he is listed in partnership with Timmy Hyde’s Camas Park Stud for Gallante. The three-year-old was making only his fifth career start when he lined up for the Group 1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris and he prevailed by a short neck. His earnings now stand at more than £330,000. He won his only outing as a juvenile and then was placed twice at the start of this year in group races.

Gallante is the third winner for his dam Crazy Volume who raced in the colours of her breeder Moyglare Stud Farm. She won as a three-year-old in the USA and she is one of many winners from the listed two-year-old winner Desert Ease, by Green Desert. Three of her offspring have earned black type. Desert Ease’s grandam Talking Picture has been a mainstay of the Moyglare breeding operation and this Grade 1 Matron Stakes winner is the dam of Trusted Partner (dam of Dress To Thrill and grandam of Sapphire) and Easy To Copy.

The latter is the dam of Desert Ease and also of stakes winners Two-Twenty-Two and Easy Definition.

TOM GAFFNEY, Churchtown, Lane and Orpendale Bloodstock