EVERYTHING about New Bay (Dubawi) says that we can expect to see the best from his runners as they get older. With that in mind, he has made a sensational start at stud and his first crop numbers seven individual winners at the time of writing.

The most recent of these was Amber Kite and this Ger Lyons-trained winner over seven furlongs at Gowran Park last weekend was, at the time of her victory, one of just nine runners for New Bay. What a strike-rate for a stallion who only raced once himself at two, making a belated debut, finishing second, in late November 2014 for André Fabre and in the colours of Prince Khalid Abdullah.

The trainer’s patience paid dividends at three when the colt ran second to Make Believe in the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains-French 2000 Guineas, went one better and won the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club-French Derby from Highland Reel, and rounded off that season with a fine third to Golden Horn in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

As a son of the great Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) and from the family of outstanding sires Oasis Dream (Green Desert) and Kingman (Invincible Spirit), New Bay was certain to find a spot at stud and he was a natural for Ballylinch Stud as they had previously housed his close relation, the multiple Group/Grade 1 winner Beat Hollow (Sadler’s Wells).

New Bay is well represented with 77 individuals in his first crop, and a measure of the respect in which his produce are held is best exemplified by the fact that his first winners and placed horses are trained by such as Roger Varian, Charlie Fellowes, Marcus Tregoning, Joseph O’Brien, William Haggas and Ralph Beckett. What are the odds on a first crop classic winner in 2021?

Buckley Bloodstock

Amber Kite was bred by Michael Buckley, known to most as Mick, and this Flying Start graduate has gained experience abroad, notably in Japan, before returning to Ireland and establishing his own pinhooking and consigning business. Amber Kite was some bargain at last year’s Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, sold from Buckley Bloodstock for only €15,000 to Gaelic Bloodstock. Given the season being enjoyed by Ger Lyons, it would be no surprise were Amber Kite to progress successfully to stakes company.

Arctic Cottage, a winning daughter of Rail Link (Dansili) trained by John Hammond, was sold to Harefield Cottage Stud for 6,000gns, carrying Amber Kite. The recent Gowran heroine is the first winner for Arctic Cottage who in turn is one of a trio of winners, from only five foals, out of All In All (Halling). The latter is a half-sister to the Group 2 Sun Chariot Stakes winner Kissogram (Caerleon).

This is a female line that has provided great success for many years now for Meon Valley Stud. Amber Kite’s fourth dam Milligram (Mill Reef) won the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the Coronation Stakes when it was a Group 2 race. She is third dam of last year’s Group 1 Oaks winner Anapurna (Frankel) and dual Group 1 winner Speedy Boarding (Shamardal).