MICHAEL Halford has made a fine start to the season and his 70 odd string are housed in what can only be described as a stunning yard which is just a 10 minute drive from the Curragh.
It is worth logging onto Halford’s website and checking out his video which gives one a flavour of the fantastic facilities that he has at his disposal.
“We’d be down a bit numbers wise, but in terms of quality, I’d say they are as nice a bunch that we’ve had, but racing is so competitive over here that you need good horses to be able to compete,” he stated.
The filly Rehana is likely to take her chance in the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh and he added: “It was great to get Rehana get back to winning ways when she made all in Athasi Stakes at Naas last Monday.
“Shane was very good on her and she beat a couple of older fillies and assuming the ground remains good, she’ll take her chance in the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh.
“She has come out of that race in very good form and that will have done her confidence the power of good.
“We have some wonderful owners and it’s great to have nice horses here for Godolphin and His Highness The Aga Khan.
“But, in saying that, the likes of Paul Rooney, Carol Roper, Nicky Hartery, Wendy and Eddie O’Leary and Michael Enright have been with me for a long time and between them, they would have around 20 horses here and owners like them are very hard to come by.”
OLDER HORSES
CASTLE GUEST
8yo b g (65331580-9)
Rock Of Gibraltar – Castelleto
Paul Rooney
He is a wonderful old horse and has been around for a while. He has been a great servant and has won seven for us. He likes the Curragh and anywhere from a mile to a mile and a quarter will be fine for him. He goes well for a claimer and hopefully he’ll pay his way this season.
HASANOUR
7yo b g (40-80847)
Giant’s Causeway – Hasanka
Richard Kelly
He ran well in Dubai and was at one stage rated as high as 105 but he is down to 92 now and that gives him a chance. Nice ground is what he likes and he might get a mile and a quarter and he’ll more than likely head to the Curragh for a handicap on Guineas weekend.
KATIYMANN
5yo b g (219062-1)
Shamardal – Katiyra
Paul Kelly
He is a nice horse with very low mileage. He won well on his comeback run at Leopardstown. Shane was very good on him and a mile looks a good trip for him. He’ll handle any ground bar extremes and I’d like to think that there is more to come from him. He is a well-bred horse and you’d hope that he is open to more improvement.
PORTAGE
5yo b h (21/00125/112-)
Teofilo – Galley
Godolphin
He gave us a wonderful day last year when he won the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot. He is back in good shape and he will find life a bit tougher this year as he is now rated 110. He is lightly-raced and we’ll find a race for him before he heads back to Ascot and we’ll aim him at the Wolferton Handicap. He was good at a mile last year but he might improve for the step up in trip. He has been a great horse for us and he looks great and his work has been very solid.
RUMMAGING
9yp ch g (422886067-6)
Chineur – Roundabout Girl
P E I Newell
He is another that has been here for a while and he got a bit held up with a splint over the winter. I was very happy with his comeback run at Limerick and he should and he able to pay his way this year and give his owners more fun.
SHANNON SOUL
5yo b g (40354-7111)
Shamardal – Paimpolaise
M J Enright
He has done well and is on a roll at the minute. He is slow into his races, but he comes home well and he came from last to first to win the last day at Limerick. A mile is his minimum and I am not certain he’ll get a mile and a quarter. Anything bar very fast or heavy ground should be fine for him. He deserves a crack at a good race now.
DUCHESSOFFLORENCE
5yo b m (4070168-51122)
Pivotal – Portal
M J Enright
She did well for us over the winter and she was covered by Acclamation. We’ll keep her going now in mile and a half handicaps and we’ll give her a shot at a blacktype race before she retires.
GOLDEN PEARL
4yo b f (1/272-60)
Oasis Dream – Pearl Banks
M J Enright
She is a lightly-raced filly and I was happy with her comeback run off a mark of 80. I’d say she is capable of winning a handicap. She is fast filly and I’d imagine that she will be covered and then we’ll race away with her.
SURROUNDING
4yo b f (21)
Lilbourne Lad – Roundabout Girl
P E I Newell
Her first run at Dundalk was very encouraging and she followed up by winning at Limerick. She got struck into that day and that has held her up a bit. She is a half-sister to Rummaging and she’s rated 80, so she’ll go for a fillies’ handicap somewhere. She has plenty of size and scope and there should be more to come from her.
THREE-YEAR-OLDS
ALLOGRAPHY
3yo ch c (655-214)
Iffraaj – Anamarka
Godolphin
He has done well for us. He won his maiden at Dundalk and ran well when fourth in what looked a good handicap at Cork. We’ll drop him back in trip now.
He is a good moving horse that appreciates good ground – he didn’t quite get home the last day at Dundalk and anywhere from a mile to a mile and a quarter will be fine for him.
AMBASSADORIAL
3yo b c (11-3)
Elusive Quality – Tactfully
Godolphin
He was a very good two-year-old for us and I was happy enough with his comeback run in a listed race at Dundalk. He might just have needed it and he will be a better horse for that outing and we’ll get him started on the grass now and see where that takes us. He is a horse that we’ve always liked and his form would tell us that he is a group horse.
Something like the Jersey Stakes could be a target for him and he is a very good moving horse, so I’d imagine he’d want good ground. He did well over the winter – he has put on weight and that run at Dundalk has brought him.
CALLENDER
3yo b c (321517-)
Exceed And Excel – Much Faster
Zhang Yuesheng
He is a sharp horse and he won his nursery at Dundalk. I was pleased with his run against the older sprinters at Dundalk, but he bolted on the way to the start at Navan a couple of weeks ago which was unfortunate as there aren’t many opportunities coming up for him.
He has been fine since and he’ll be a horse for those good sprints at home – those good handicaps at the Curragh and those listed/group races over five and six.
CAESAR’S COMET
3yo b g (4)
Acclamation – Star Now
Forenaghts Racing
He had a good first run at Dundalk. He has done well since and he is a nice straight forward horse that looks up to winning his maiden. I’d say six would be a good trip for him and he wouldn’t want extremes of ground.
INVINCIBLE RYKER
3yo b c (35-4)
Invincible Spirit – Cabaret
Eric Koh
He had a couple of lovely runs and he looks sure to win his maiden over seven furlongs. He is a fine big horse and we’ll get him going in a maiden when a suitable race comes up and there is more to come from him.
IRISHCORRESPONDENT
3yo b c (1)
Teofilo – Contrary
Ballygallon Stud Limited
He is a nice horse and he looked smart when he won his maiden at Leopardstown. He is great actioned horse with a super temperament. He wouldn’t show you much at home, but that is a great sign and we think he could be a stakes horse.
I put him in at the second entry stage for the Guineas and we’ll see what the next day tells us, but he is a horse for the future. The plan is that he’ll go for a winners of one at the Curragh next weekend and he would be up there with our better three-year-olds. He is a big horse so he wouldn’t want the ground too quick.
MORITZBURG
3yo ch c (3385-)
Dutch Art – Providencia
Godolphin
He has some good form and is rated 84. He should have no bother winning his maiden and he is ready to run soon.
SALTONSTALL
3yo ch c (216-9)
Pivotal – Macleya
Godolphin
He had some good form last season, but he was a bit disappointing the last day and William Buick felt that he might not have gotten home that day over 10 furlongs. He is a horse that I like a lot and we’ll drop him back to a mile.
VINCY
3yo (21)
Elzaam – Instant Memories
Paul Rooney
He has had just the two runs and the form of his run (when he won) at Dundalk is working out well. Paul Rooney bought him after his first run and he could be a nice horse for the grass. He is rated 88 and is open to improvement. We’ll find a race for him and I’d say he’ll handle any ground bar extremes. We like him and he should continue to do well.
YULONG XIONGHU
3yo ch c (2)
Raven’s Pass – Mowazana
Zhang Yuesheng
He is a big, scopey horse and he ran a fine race at Limerick when second to True Valour at Limerick. That form got a nice boost when the winner ran well in the Tetrarch at Naas on Monday. I like this horse and he could potentially be a stakes horse.
He is entered over the weekend and I would like to get his maiden out of the way and step him up in class in due course. He has plenty of pace so seven or a mile should be fine for him.
YULONG XIONGYIN
3yo ch c (1-2)
Footstepsinthesand – Cloudy Bay
Zhang Yeusheng
He won his maiden well over seven at the first time of asking. We gave him a break after that and he showing us a lot more pace in his work so we dropped him back to five and he was just touched off at Dundalk. We’ll find a race for him somewhere over six and there are more races to be won with him.
CLOUDY MISS
3yo ch f (8388-)
Shamardal – Airline Hostess
J Connaughton
She is rated 66 and off her mark, she looks up to winning a handicap. She would like a bit of nice ground.
DAYEREH
3yo f
Rip Van Winkle - Dawera
HH Aga Khan
She was a bit backward last year, but she has done well and we will find a mile maiden for her over the next few weeks. She goes nicely and I’d expect her to win her maiden in due course.
FINGALLIAN
3yo b f (4-)
Street Cry – Northern Meolody
Godolphin
She had a good run at Dundalk and she looks like a filly that will win her maiden over seven furlongs.
HEAT OF THE DAY
3yo ch f (621-)
Raven’s Pass – Porto Roca
Godolphin
She won her maiden and she has done well over the winter. She has a mark of 78 and she will take her chance in a three-year-old handicap at Roscommon on Monday. She is open to plenty of improvement and she will I hope be competitive off her mark.
HIGH LAUGH
3yo b f (3-)
High Chaparral – Last Laugh
Vartan Vartanov
She had just the one run for Marco Botti and she was sent to me. She has settled in well and she goes well. I’d say 10 furlongs will be her trip and we’ll get going in a maiden and we like her.
HUNAINA
3yo b f (722221-7)
Tamayuz – Hanakiyya
HH Aga Khan
She has done well. She is tough and she has trained on. She ran well against the older horses at Navan and I think she’ll get an easy seven and she should continue to pay her way.
KIRK’S DANCER
3yo ch f (3-)
Dunkirk – Mycatcandance
Eric Koh
She had a lovely first run last August but she has a little hold up after that. She is back in good form again and her work is good and is another that I’d expect to win a maiden. She is a filly that we like and there should be more to come from her and she isn’t too far off a run.
PETTICOAT
3yo b f (82-)
Cape Cross – Minidress
Godolphin
She ran two nice races last season but she has been a little slow to come to hand this year. I think she is a nice filly and she looks well up to winning her maiden and in time, she could make into a smart filly.
REHANA
3yo b f (3144-31)
Dark Angel – Rayka
H H Aga Khan
I was delighted with her when she won the Athasi Stakes at Naas last Monday. There wasn’t much pace on, so Shane let her bowl along and it worked out great. She has come out of that very well and assuming we get some nice ground, the plan is that she’ll go to the Curragh for the 1,000 Guineas. She mixed it with the best of them last year and rounded off last season rated 107.
She likes the good ground and what impressed me at Naas was the way she won. She got the trip well and I think on better ground, she has every chance of seeing out a mile.
It was a true run race and at this stage of the year, it is never that easy to beat the older fillies. I think she will come on again for Naas and we’ll monitor the ground at the Curragh, but there is only one Guineas, so we are very keen to go there with her. She is the star of the fillies.
VIENNA CIRCLE
3yo f
Teofilo - Hikma
Godolphin
She has loads of size and scope and she is ready to start off in the next month or so. She looks up to winning her maiden and like most of them, she wouldn’t want extremes of ground.
YULONG BAOBEI
3yo ch f (12713-9)
Choisir – Bless You
Zhang Yuesheng
She was a good two-year-old and finished last season rated 102. She ran a blinder at Royal Ascot and she is a very fast filly.
It’s not easy to find opportunities for her and there isn’t much of a programme – she is a five furlong filly and I couldn’t see her getting six.
UNRACED
SHIMMLL
3yo ch c
Casamento – Tempete
Godolphin
He is a very big, unraced horse that isn’t far off a run. We like him a lot and we’ll get him going over a mile. I’d expect him to win his maiden and progress form there.
KHANISARI
3yo c
Dark Angel - Kadayna
H H Aga Khan
He grew a lot last year and would appreciate an ease in the ground. He goes well and is a laid back horse at home. We’ll start him off at a mile and it’s hard to get a line on him at home so he might get 10 furlongs. I think he’ll win a maiden and we’ll learn more about him as a three-year-old.
BOWDEN
3yo ch c
Street Cry – Betwixt
Godolphin
He is an unraced horse with a good pedigree. He is ready to start off over seven or a mile and he works well enough to win his maiden. He has plenty of size about him to suggest that he’ll be progressive.
CASUIST
3yo f
Casamento – Erreur
Rivers Syndicate
She goes nicely and is ready to start off. She is leased to the River Syndicate and she will give them plenty of fun during the summer.
SPANISH DAWN
3yo f
Helmet - Bright Morning
Godolphin
She didn’t run last year, but she is a lovely filly that would appreciate fast ground. We like her and she goes well. She isn’t that far off a run and her works suggests that she is up to winning a maiden.
GIBRALTAR ROCK
3yo c
Rock Of Gibraltar - Lila
Forenaghts Racing
He is a huge, big horse, with great scope. We like him, but we are just going to have to be patient with him.
He goes well and is up to winning his maiden in the middle of the season.
SPIRIT OF SCOTLAND
3yo c
Girloamo - Forty Gretta
Godolphin
He looks a horse that will go 10 furlongs. He goes well and he isn’t far off a run.
He is a lovely horse and he grew a lot. He is ready to start off and he has a great temperament. He will get a mile and he looks well up to winning his maiden. He wouldn’t want extremes of ground.
HOPE LAKE
3yo f
Shamardal - Nadia
Godolphin
She is a nice filly that didn’t make the track last year, but she is coming to hand now and isn’t that far off a run. I think she’ll win a maiden and we’ll get her going in the next few weeks.
AMULETUM
3yo f
New Approach - Anamato
Godolphin
She has started to come hand, but is still a few weeks off a run. I’d expect her to win her maiden and we might start her off over a mile and in time, she might get 10 furlongs.
TWO-YEAR-OLDS
We have some lovely two-year-olds, but we are no rush with them. Of the early ones, both Yulong Warrior (Street Cry / Mahkama) and Port Lyons (Kodiac / Cold Cold Woman) are early types and have shown plenty in their work.
They look like being our first juveniles to run and they will start off over six furlongs. I’d like to think they are both up to winning their maidens and we’ll see how they progress after that.
The likes of Platinum Warrior (Galileo / Laugh Out Loud), Cloak Of Darkness (Iffraaj / Cape Of Night), an unnamed colt by Iffraaj out of Riyaba and Andesh (Medicean / Afelfia) are mid-season types who will start off over seven around July time. They go well, but we are in no rush with them.
Alashtar and Andesh will start off in median auction maidens later on in the season and Arcanears (Arcano / Ondeafears) is from a slow-maturing family that tend not to win at two, but he is by far the most precocious of them. He goes well and he will be a nice horse for the backend.
The fillies are not as forward as the colts, but there is a nice filly by Footsepsinthesand (ex Adjaliya) that goes well that we like and she will be the first filly to run. Black Gold Fairy (More Than Ready – London Bid) looks an early type that goes well.
There is a lovely filly by Rock Of Gibraltar (ex Kaladena) that we like. She is gone out for the May grass and she will be a nice filly for the back end. There is also a nice filly by Holy Roman Emperor (ex Gali Gal) that we like.
I have let a few of them off for the May grass and with the weather as good as it is, that break will really stand to them later on in the year.
FACTFILE
Copper Beech Stables, Doneaney, Kildangan RD, Kildare Town,
Tel: 353 45526119 | Mob: 353 87257920
Web: www.michaelhalford.com
Numbers - 75
Jockeys – Shane Foley, Conor Hoban, Conor McGovern, Robbie Smithers and Niall McCullagh comes in and rides work twice a week for us.
Staff – Damien Burke is the assistant trainer. Leonardo looks after the travelling. Darren Fitzharris, Jamie Heavy and Robbie Gallagher are great men around the place and they are the backbone of the place. John Bowes looks after the feeding and Anne O’Connor is the racing secretary and the place runs well because everyone knows their job and I have great staff and we have some very good riders here as well.