MICHAEL Halford’s horses have hit a real purple patch recently and following on from his success in the Kingdom Gold Cup at Killarney last week with Princess Pearlita, Raydara looked a very smart filly with a smooth victory in the Group 3 Debutante Stakes at the Curragh.
“We have had a great 12 months and winning the Gold Cup on World Cup night in Dubai was the highlight,” Halford explained. “Our horses have started to hit form and I’d like to think that we’ll finish the season out strongly.”
OLDER HORSES
ASBURY BOSS
3yo gr c (82)
Dalakhani - Nick’s Nikita
Nicky Hartery
He is a fine horse and I was delighted with him when he finished second at Ballinrobe on Tuesday. He stays well and I’d like to think that he can win his maiden and progress. He is out of a very good mare that we trained.
CALLISTAN
3yo gr f (441)
Galileo - Alabastrine
Michael Enright
She won her maiden at Tramore. She is sound and genuine and she likes a little ease in the ground. We will take small steps with her and she stays a mile and a half.
CAMASKAI
3yo b g (00534-339)
Camacho - Innocence
Terry McDonald
He is rated 76 and I think he can win off that. He is versatile ground-wise and I have gelded him. He is coming along nicely and he could be a horse for Dundalk for the winter.
CASTLE GUEST
5yo b g NH: (6-0) F: (4311511-33259)
Rock of Gibraltar - Castelletto
Paul Rooney
He won four last year when his rating went from 64 to 100. He is paying the price for that now but he was a good second in a listed race at the Curragh and he might be able to win a stakes race with a little ease in the ground. His best trip is 10 furlongs and he jumps well. He will mix it away under both codes.
CERTERACH
6yo b g (32850-1331267)
Halling - Chartres
Paul Rooney
He has been a great servant and he won four races and over €600,000 in prize money and the highlight was his success in the Dubai Gold Cup on World Cup Night last March. He also won a valuable handicap at Meydan. He ran very well when second on his first run back in the Curragh Cup, but he has disappointed twice since so he won’t now go for the Melbourne Cup. He will take his chance in the Irish St Leger and then he’ll go back to Dubai.
DABADIYAN
4yo b g (1112-5456455)
Zamindar - Dabista
HH Aga Khan
He had a great season last year he ran well in Dubai without winning. He was gelded earlier this year but he has been a little disappointing. If he did come back to his best form, there is a big day in him. He loves fast ground and he stays well.
DIYLAWA
3yo b f (333)
Mastercraftsman - Dibiya
HH Aga Khan
She has yet to run a bad race and she looks up to winning her maiden. She is rated 81 and she will get a mile and a half and is best with a little ease in the ground.
EBADANI
4yo b g (-22224212)
Halling - Ebatana
Force Eight Syndicate
He won his maiden well at Killarney and he bumped into a smart horse of Dermot Weld’s in a handicap at Gowran. He has been consistent and proved that at Bellewstown on Wednesday. Good/good to yielding ground suits him well and he might run over hurdles.
EASTERN RULES
6yo b g (114-3110923)
Golden Snake - Eastern Ember
Simon Hales
What a great servant he has been - he has won seven races including two good races in Meydan. He loves fast ground and with his rating, he will contest listed and group races. Seven is his best trip. He has had a setback but we hope to have him back for the Carnival in Dubai next January. I haven’t trained a tougher horse and he started off rated 50 and he is now up to 108 now.
GLASSATURA
3yo b f (14623-57400)
Verglas - Dunbrody
Michael Enright
She seems to be coming back to herself and I think she has a mark that she is well capable of winning off. We will try her back over seven furlongs with a little ease in the ground. She has lots of talent.
HASANOUR
4yo b g (07955711)
Giant’s Causeway - Hasanka
Richard McNally
He has improved this year and he has won his last two. He won well last weekend and the likelihood is that he’ll take his chance in the Cambridgeshire tomorrow. He gave his owners a great day out at Galway and he has a nice weight tomorrow so it will be interesting to see how he gets on. We might stretch him out a bit in time and he loves a sound surface.
KERNOFF
3yo b c (-173199)
Excellent Art - Daganya
Jonathan Clague
He is a dual winner over five this season and he is from a family that we know well. He is rated 98 and he’s a horse that appreciates good ground. I think he’ll get better in time and six is probably his trip. He will get an entry in the big six-furlong handicap on Champions Weekend. I think he will develop into a decent sprinter in time.
KINGS RYKER
3yo b g (4-5158)
Bushranger - Mia Mambo
Eric Koh
He won his maiden well at Roscommon and he is now rated 87. I think he can win off that and he has been gelded since his last run. He is a month off a run and a mile is a good trip for him. He likes good ground.
MIZZAVA
4yo b f (13555824-474)
Cape Cross - Flamanda
Mrs Wendy O’Leary
She was fifth in the Irish 1000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes last year. She was slow to come to hand this year and she is back after a nice break. She seems to be in good form and I was pleased with her run at Killarney last week when the things didn’t go to plan. A mile to 10 furlongs suits her well and she is best with an ease in the ground. She will take her chance in the Dance Design Stakes.
PADDY THE CELEB
8yo b g NH: (69/1-8720) F: (27190400-44)
Peintre Celebre - On The Razz
Paul J. McMahon
He has been a great servant and he has won four for us. He is rated 89 and the handicapper might have him now. Having said that he ran well last weekend and he might go back over hurdles. He will probably mix it away until the ground deteriorates.
PIT STOP
3yo b c (1-4176)
Iffraaj - Journey’s End
Sheikh Mohammed
He is a lovely, big scopey horse that has won twice for us. We took him to York last week where the slow pace over there didn’t suit him. He will improve with racing and a mile on nice ground suits him well. He should be able to win again.
POLITICAL POLICY
3yo b g (-32122103690)
Bushranger- Alexander Empress
Frank Lynch
He had a good winter in Dundalk, winning twice, but he has struggled a bit on the grass. We will freshen him up now and prepare him for the winter programme in Dundalk.
PRETTY ANGEL
3yo b f (78761-45354)
Dark Angel - Colleville
Tay Hu Chor
She won a nursery last year and she is very consistent. I think she can win again over a mile and a quarter. She is honest and she tries hard and she does stay well. She could be one for Dundalk later.
PRINCESS PEARLITA
3yo b f (3221-521)
Mandura - Pearlitas Passion
Michael Enright
She won a lovely pot at Killarney last week and she has yet to run a bad race around there. She is very tough and genuine. I fancied her big time last week and it was a very good performance against the older horses. If she gets in, she will take her chance in the big mile and a half handicap on Champions Weekend.
RED LASER
5yo br g (460-83970242)
Red Clubs - Prancing
Mark Phelan
He loves the surface in Dundalk and he has won three times up there. I would love to win a race on the grass with him.
RUMMAGING
8yo ch g (431171-2510)
Chineur - Roundabout Girl
Evan Newell
He loves Dundalk and he won six up there. He is very genuine and straightforward. Six or seven seems to suit and he is high enough in the ratings now, but if he managed to creep up another few pounds, he could well head to Dubai for the winter. He ran a good race the last day. He might go for one of the big six-furlong handicaps on Champions Weekend.
RUSSIAN SOUL
6yo b g (25131-2167236)
Invincible Spirit - Russian Hill
Mrs Antoinette Kavanagh
He has been a wonderful servant and has won six races and €320,000 in prize money. His victory in a Group 3 in Dubai was special as he has had so many near misses over there. He was second in the Belgrave Stakes on his first run back and he has run well since. He will be campaigned over five and six furlongs at listed and group level. He is now rated 111 and he could well end up in Dubai for The Carnival. He loves the routine and the sun on his back in Dubai.
SEA COAST
3yo b f (-2321512)
Rock Of Gibraltar - Varna
Mrs Antoinette Kavanagh
She is a lovely honest filly and she won her maiden at Naas and followed that by winning a handicap at Cork. She is an improving filly and we will try and get some blacktype for her later.
SEA THE LION
3yo b c (414)
Sea The Stars - Ramona
John Connaughton
He is a lovely, big scopey horse that has just taken a bit of time. He won his maiden at the Curragh and I thought he ran very well in his first handicap at the Curragh and I can see him getting a mile and a half. He is a horse that we like a lot and he will get an entry in the mile and a half handicap on Champions Weekend.
SLIPPER ORCHID
5yo ro m (11235-102174)
Verglas - Lahiba
Mrs Caroline Roper
She has won five races for us and has been stakes placed. She started off rated 69 and is now rated 100. She likes a little ease in the ground and she will continue to be campaigned at listed/Group 3 level. A fast run seven suits her well.
SHADAGANN
4yo b g (/556-586)
Invincible Spirit - Shamadara
Paul Rooney
We bought him last year and he showed bits of form without winning. He ran well at Killarney last week and 10 to 12 furlongs on nice ground suits him well.
WARBIRD
3yo b c (5214-103)
Royal Applause - Air Biscuit
Sheikh Mohammed
He has done well for us. He is a dual winner and is rated 97 and is just back after a little break. He likes good/good to yielding ground and he might take his chance on Sunday in the Cambridgeshire. There should be more to come from him.
WON DAMOND
4yo b g (31/32090-30)
Mount Nelson - Read Federica
Paul Rooney
He is a nice horse that we think plenty of. He can do well in time and hopefully he might make into a Dubai horse one day. He is in the Cambridgeshire at the weekend and he might go there.
ZARIB
3yo b g (831-536)
Azamour - Zariziyna
HH Aga Khan
He won at two in Dundalk over a mile but he disappointed on soft ground at Tipperary. He took on his elders the last day at Dundalk but he was drawn out wide and we may have made too much use of him. He is a fine, big, scopey horse and will make into a lovely hurdler for someone.
YOU’VE GOT IT
3yo b f (535)
Sea The Stars - Song
Mrs Moto Yagura
She is a beautifully-bred filly and is rated 68. I think she can win off her mark with a little ease in the ground over 10 or 12 furlongs.
TWO-YEAR-OLDS
COLTS
DALEWARI
B c (63)
Desert Style - Dalataya
HH Aga Khan
He has had two runs. He was green first time out and was third the last day at Killarney. He loves good ground and gets a mile well. I think he can win a median auction maiden this year and his last run has crowned him.
DRAGON GATE
B c Naaqoos - Laqataat
Tan Kai Chah
He is a lovely big colt and is one of three sent us by his owner. His work has been good and he might start off at Gowran. He has shown enough to suggest that he can win a race this year. We like him a lot.
GREAT DANCER
B c (34)
Lord Shanakill - Enchanted Empress
Mohmed El Circy
He finished fourth at Bellewstown on Wednesday.
PORTAGE
B c (2)
Teofilo - Galley
Godolphin
He is a beautiful scopey horse and he had a lovely run the first day. He will be a much better three-year-old and he will get a mile well. He might run at the weekend. He likes good ground and seven or eight furlongs should be fine for him. He could be very smart.
PROLOGUE
B c (74323)
Cape Cross - Snippets
Sheikh Mohammed
He is versatile ground-wise and he will go for a nursery or a maiden. He is a good tough, solid type of horse.
SHANNON SOUL
B c Shamardal - Paimpolaise
Michael Enright
He is a nice colt and is a full-brother to Shakespearean and is a beautiful mover. He was bred by his owner and he has a great temperament. We have taken our time with him but he goes really well.
TOSCANINI
B c (32221)
Shamardal - Tuzla
Godolphin
He is the first horse that we have had for Godolphin. He has been placed against top horses at Royal Ascot and the Curragh. He is rated 104 and he won his maiden at Dundalk. He loves fast ground and six to seven furlongs suits him well. We might just leave it at that for the season and he has already proved that he is well above average.
TAILTEAN GAMES
Ch c Hard Spun - Fine Jade
Mrs Louise Halford
He is a nice colt that goes really well that I think he can win a maiden this year. Any ground bar extremes will be fine for him and he will improve with time. He has a great attitude.
VILMAN
B c (5)
Mastercraftsman - Velandia
HH Aga Khan
He ran a promising race first time at Gowran. He will come on a good bit for that and he will appreciate an ease in the ground. He should get a mile and I can see him winning for us this year.
WYCHWOOD WARRIOR
B c Lope De Vega - Pearlitas Passion
Michael Enright
He is nearly ready to run. He is tough and genuine and will get a mile. What he does this year will be a bonus as I think he will be a much better three-year-old.
TWO YEAR
OLD FILLIES
BELEZZA OSCURA
Br f Pastoral Pursuits - Flashing Blade
Tay Hu Chor
She is a filly that we bought at the breeze-up sales. She should run shortly, but we have taken our time with her. She could be good and works like a filly with a bright future.
CELESTIAL LOVE
B f Galileo - Piste Noire
Michael Enright
She is more a three-year-old and we will try and get a run into her before the end of the year. She is a lovely filly with a great temperament.
DABIYLA
B f Azamour - Dabista
HH Aga Khan
She is a half-sister to Dabadiyan. She has pleased us in what she has done to date.
DUCHESSOFFLORENCE
B f Pivotal - Portal
Michael Enright
She is a beautiful filly that I would have expected to have run before now, but she has grown a lot. We like her and she does everything well.
EBAYYA
B f Azamour - Ebalista
HH Aga Khan
She is another scopey filly. She goes well and I hope to get a run into her this year and she will make up into a lovely three-year-old filly.
IN THE DARK
B f Fast Company - Grand Oir
Mrs Caroline Roper
We bought her at the breeze-up sales and she is a very sweet filly with a good attitude. She isn’t far off a run and she is a filly that might be suited to Dundalk.
LINET
B f Oasis Dream - Molomo
Barouche Stud (Ireland) Ltd
She is a homebred filly that is doing half speeds. I hope to get a run into her before the end of the season and we like her.
MAIRA
B f (7)
Zamindar - Masiyma
HH Aga Khan
She ran very green on her first start at Dundalk. She is a nice filly with a good attitude and I think she will improve enough to win a maiden over a mile on a sound surface.
MORNING JEWEL
Gr f Dalakhani - Morning Welcome
Mrs Anne Marie Cullen
She is a racy type. She will take a bit of time. She should run before the end of the year and is more a three-year-old type.
ORCIA
B f Shamardal - Amathia
Mrs Antoinette Kavanagh
We like her and we have upped her work recently and will start off in the next month or so.
RAYDARA
B f (2141)
Rock Of Gibraltar - Raydiya
HH Aga Khan
She is a very useful filly and going to the Curragh last week, I thought she might be placed in the Debutante, but she came home well to beat what looked a very strong field. She looks well above average. We got the tactics wrong in the Silver Flash at Leopardstown as we made too much use of her. She has the scope to improve and she might not run again this season. Her dam won over a mile and a half, but she showed a lot of pace at the Curragh. I would be happy to race her over a mile and a quarter next year.
ZUNERA
B f Invincible Spirit - Zalaiyma
HH Aga Khan
She is a lovely filly and is ready to run. She is a sharp type and goes well. She may need her first run, but she looks up to winning this year.