Looking back to The Irish Field from August 2005

Nick Mordin had a good and bad week. He said he didn’t understand all the fuss about George Washington, while identifying Horatio Nelson as a greater talent. The latter son of Danehill went on to win a Group 1 in France and run second to Sir Percy in the Dewhurst Stakes. He also suggested that readers watch out for the late developing Godolphin runner Echo Of Light, a son of Dubai Millennium. The colt had just won a maiden at Yarmouth and he went on to add six more victories, five at group level.

The property column reported on the start of the new season of sales, noting some phenomenal results. These included a parcel of 33 acres of agricultural lands two miles from Dunboyne which realised €57,000 an acre. The columnist added, “With prices like these, the indications look very good for anyone considering selling land in the autumn.”

It was baby boom time with Claire Barry reporting on the recent birth of Barry and Paula Geraghty’s daughter Siofra, while Michael and Louise Halford’s son Joshua was welcomed into the world. Both recently turned 10.

Ryan McElligott opened his report from Tralee as follows: ‘Vintage Tipple and Desert King both used the Tralee festival as a launching pad to success at the highest level and Aidan O’Brien’s Alexandrova looks another destined to make her mark against some of the leading lights of her generation following a most impressive victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.’ We now know that she was to become a champion following her three Oaks wins, landing the English, Irish and Yorkshire versions. She is also the dam of last weekend’s Group 2 winner Alex My Boy.

Great celebrations in Tralee as The Irish Field’s Mark Costello leads in Common World, in the colours of his wife Teresa, following the six-year-old’s win in the Listed Carlsberg Ruby Stakes with Seamie Heffernan in the saddle. The American-bred son of Spinning World was purchased out of Noel Meade’s yard for €25,000 at the Goffs Horses In Training Sale and, trained by Tom Hogan, went on to win at group level for the Costellos in Germany and at the Curragh. He retired to stud with earning approaching £250,000 from eight career successes.