ITBA Awards going online

THE Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association’s annual National Breeding and Racing Awards will be presented online from 7.30pm on Saturday, January 30th.

ITBA chairman John McEnery said “Despite all the many challenges facing the industry in 2020, Irish breeders and Irish-bred horses continued to excel on both the national and international stage. We are indebted to our loyal sponsors without whom we would be unable to stage these awards.

“I would encourage you all to be part of this innovative celebration by joining via all social media platforms to acknowledge the wonderful people and horses who made 2020 such a memorable year for the Irish breeding industry.”

Romanised owner sponsors Curragh Group 2

ROBERT Ng has agreed to sponsor the Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh to acknowledge the racing career of Romanised. The Hong Kong based owner, whose colours were carried to classic and Group 1 success by the Ken Condon-trained son of Holy Roman Emperor, has agreed a three-year deal to sponsor the Romanised Minstrel Stakes, which will be run on Sunday, July 18th this year.

Son Of Rest to Meelin Stud

AYR Gold Cup winner Son Of Rest will stand at Paddy McCarthy’s Meelin Stud in Bandon, west Cork this year. McCarthy is well-known in the industry as sales manager for Derek Veitch’s Ringfort Stud. By Pivotal, Son Of Rest was placed in the Group 1 National Stakes as a two-year-old and was a consistent performer in top sprints throughout his career. He is best remembered for carrying 10st to victory in the 2018 Ayr Gold Cup. His stud fee is €3,000 and he will stand alongside the Kodiac horse Flash Gordon.

New sponsor for Irish Champion Hurdle

CHANELLE Pharma, Ireland’s largest indigenous manufacturer of generic medical and veterinary pharmaceuticals, is the new sponsor of the Irish Champion Hurdle. The Loughrea, Co Galway headquartered company will back the race in a four-year deal, which will run until 2024, beginning next month when the Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle will be one of the highlights on the opening day of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown on Saturday, February 6th.

Dalakhani dies in retirement

RETIRED stallion Dalakhani died in France yesterday. The 21-year-old was champion three-year-old in 2003, the year he won the Prix du Jockey Club and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for his owner-breeder the Aga Khan. He was trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre and ridden to his big wins by Christophe Soumillon.

Dalakhani stood at Gilltown Stud and sired 10 Group 1 winners, including dual Breeders’ Cup winner Conduit and Coronation Cup winner Defoe. He is the broodmare sire of 2019 champion two-year-old Pinatubo.