WHAT a turnaround in fortunes for the connections of Lady Kaya. Rejected by buyers at the Tattersalls Ireland September Sale two years ago when she was brought home after being led out unsold at €12,000, this €15,000 Goffs foal purchase from breeder John O’Connor of Ballylinch Stud is now a leading classic hope for owner Joanne Lavery and her aunt, trainer Sheila.
The Lavery touch when it comes to training horses has resulted in continued success for her Co Meath yard and Lady Kaya is the latest star to emerge.
The daughter of Dandy Man (Mozart) announced her arrival last year when she was second to Skitter Scatter in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes and connections kept her, despite repeated efforts to buy her. They were rewarded when she started her second season with a victory in the Group 3 Ballylinch Stud (appropriately sponsored) Priory Belle 1000 Guineas Trial Stakes at Leopardstown.
One of seven winners from her dam Kayak, a listed-placed winner of two races in Italy and daughter of Singspiel (In The Wings), Lady Kaya is the best of them.
She follows in the hoof prints of Shaka Sign (Shantou), Midterm Break (Intense Focus), Illegally Blonde (Lawman), Memory Angelo (Traditionally), Goodwood Atlantis (Elusive City) and Secret Surprise (Bachelor Duke).
The progeny of Kayak have spread their wings and been successful in Ireland, Britain, Italy, Hong Kong, Japan and Switzerland.
Lady Kaya is the ninth foal and runner for her dam and she is followed by a now two-year-old son of Excelebration (Exceed And Excel) who sold to Joe Foley for €120,000 as a yearling at Tattersalls Ireland last September, and a yearling colt by Camacho (Danehill).
Kayak is one of three stakes performers from the once-raced Kelang (Kris) and comes from a female line that would take more than a couple of pages here to do full justice to.
Back in the fourth remove of Lady Kaya’s family are such standouts as Oh So Sharp (Kris) who was bred on a similar line to Lady Kaya’s grandam.
Lady Kaya is the 10th stakes winner for the leading sprinter Dandy Man, the mainstay of Joe Foley’s stallion roster at Ballyhane Stud. His Group/Grade 1 winners are La Pelosa in Canada and Peniaphobia in Hong Kong, while his global appeal is enhanced with group or graded winners in the USA, Ireland, France, Italy and England.
Breeders, stallion masters and readers are invited to contact Leo Powell at leopowell@theirishfield.ie with news and updates, and to visit our website theirishfield.ie for daily news.