MICHAEL Halford has a promising string of horses and most are ready to run, when racing resumes. There is of course a bigger picture here and racing has had to be patient and wait for guidance from the Government as to when it is safe to resume.
“It’s a strange time that we are living in, but I’m optimistic that we can resume racing reasonably soon. The good weather has been a big help to the horses and staff over the last few weeks. The fillies have really thrived and come to hand and the horses all look great,” Halford stated.
“Having no racing on, has obviously disrupted their routine and we haven’t seen what the revised programme will be, for when we do get back racing. We are fortunate in that we have all the facilities that we need here at home, but I do like to get the horses to the Curragh as it does them good to get away,” he added.
“We are ready to go here when we are given the green light by the various government agencies and it should be said that we had 10 days of racing behind closed doors and they all went off without a hitch. That is clearly the way to go and there is a template there which can be tweaked as needs be, so here is hoping that we will get going reasonably soon.
Strong team
“We have a strong team horses and our owners have all kept their horses in full training. My staff have been fantastic and they have all operated within the government guidelines and protocols. They have become the norm now and I’d imagine they will have to be implemented for the foreseeable future,” he continued.
“We have around 40 two-year-olds and they will come into their own from June on. One of the early ones should be Turbo Spirit. As a bunch I like them and while they have yet to get away, I am getting encouraging feedback from my riders and we are looking forward to getting them started.”
“Jockeys wise, Ronan Whelan will have first call on everything. Niall McCullagh is a huge help to me as is Ross Coakley. Sean Davis is here with us at the minute and we also have Adam Farragher, Eamon Fitzpatrick and Liam Browne, so we are well catered for jockey’s wise.”
Airlift
3yo b g (0-)
(Clodovil - Hattie Jacques)
C.B.R. Syndicate
I was a little disappointed with his first run but he is a horse that we like and he has been gelded since. I think he is a horse with a future. He is adaptable ground wise and is one that we are looking forward to.
Alatar
3yo b g (725-)
(Ruler Of The World - Aliyfa)
HH Aga Khan
He is rated 81 and loves soft ground. He should get a mile and a half and he has been gelded over the winter. He is a smashing horse and one that I’d imagine that the jumping men will be looking for later in the year.
Arcanears
5yo b g (3152-214)
Arcano - Ondeafears
Mrs Caroline Roper
He had a great run the first day of the season at Naas. He is a versatile horse and handles Dundalk and likes an ease in the ground. He got a big rise for winning in Dundalk over the winter but he ran a very solid race at Naas and he will run away in sprint handicaps on the grass.
He should give his owner/breeder Carol Roper a lot of fun on the grass.
Ardla
5yo b g unraced
Delegator - Tamaletta
Ms Fiona Wentges
He is a five-year-old unraced horse. He is showing us plenty of pace in his work and he is a fine big horse that we hope to get started in the coming weeks.
Arletta Star
4yo b f (712314-0)
Bated Breath - Winifred Jo
Monaghan/Kelly Pship
She came to us from England where she was a two-time winner. A lovely, straightforward filly who has pleased us in her work, she should be capable of giving her owners plenty of fun during the year.
Balmari
3yo ch c (0322-)
Mukhadam - Baliyana
HH Aga Khan
He has been placed on his last three starts at Dundalk and is rated 81. He is a good maiden and it says a lot for the standard of racing at Dundalk that this horse remains a maiden. He has had a nice break and he appreciates a bit of nice ground and seven furlongs to a mile looks a good trip for him.
Blue Wood
4yo b c (540-)
Requinto - Talkin Kate
CVK Syndicate
He came to us over the winter and he ran some nice races for John Feane last year. We are still learning about him but we like what we have seen from him to date.
Dicebox
3yo b c unraced
Teofilo - Scatter Dice
Godolphin
He is a nice horse that has just taken a bit of time and I’d imagine that we’ll start him off over a trip, but he is a horse that we like and bar extremes, he should be adaptable enough ground wise.
Diliymi
3yo b c unraced
Footstepsinthesand - Diylawa
HH Aga Khan
He has yet to run but he has been showing promise in his work at home and we’ll get him started over seven furlongs or a mile.
Eagles Flight
3yo b c unraced
Gleneagles – Excelling
John Connaughton
He is a little bit off a run and he joined us after Christmas. He hadn’t much done last year and he has plenty of size and scope and he has a good attitude. I like what I have seen to date.
Equitant
5yo ch g (0420097-)
Equiano - Intrusion
Highland Bloodstock
He joined us from Joseph O’Brien’s over the winter. He has had plenty of racing but he looks a straightforward horse and seven furlongs or a mile appears to be a good trip for him. Hopefully the change of scenery will do him good and he is ready to start off when we get the all clear to get back racing.
Feminism
3yo b f unraced
Shamardal - Modern Ideals
Godolphin
She is a lovely daughter of the recently deceased Shamardal. She has yet to run but her homework suggests that she is well up to winning her maiden and she looks a filly with a future.
Finans Bay
3yo b c (8-)
Kodiac - Wrood
Nicky Hartery
He had just the one run last year at Naas and he just weakened off a bit after that so we gave him some time. He is ready to start back and he looks up to winning his maiden. He’s a horse that we like.
Gougane Barra
6yo b/br g (00530-25V)
First Defence - Beiramar
Paul Rooney
He has been a great servant and did well for us over the winter at Dundalk, but as the season was curtailed up there, we’ll keep him going for the grass. He seems to get a bit further nowadays and he should give Paul Rooney some fun during the summer/autumn.
Hamariyna
4yo b f (3118-2)
Sea The Moon - Hanakiyya
HH Aga Khan
She had a very good first run back under a big weight when second to what looks a smart filly of Ger Lyons’ in the Park Express Stakes at Naas. She carried 10st 2lbs that day and had to give the winner 19lbs, so there was a lot to take out of that performance.
She looked a classy filly last year, winning her maiden and a Guineas Trial at Leopardstown. In time, she will go up in trip in time, but we might stick to a mile with her for the moment.
Hamariyna and Ronan Whelan /Healy Racing.
Harakann
3yo b c unraced
Australia - Hanakiyya
HH Aga Khan
He has yet to run but he has been doing things right at home. We might try and get him away before we get him started. He looks like one of those horses which will save his best for the track. He is a lovely, straightforward horse with a great temperament. We like him and he isn’t far off a run.
Hieroglyphic
3yo ch f (221-)
Exceed And Excel - Philae
Godolphin
She was second twice, has won her maiden at Dundalk and she has a rating of 75. I’d expect her to be competitive off that, we’ll start her off in handicaps and she should progress with racing.
Illusory
3yo b f unraced
Make Believe – Ezeli
Ballylinch Stud
She goes well and we like her. She is the first filly that we have trained for Ballylinch Stud. She has done all that has been asked of her to date and we are looking forward to getting her started.
Kalapour
3yo b c (-4)
War Command - Kaladena
HH Aga Khan
He is a colt that we like a lot. He had a promising first run when fourth at Dundalk. He has done well over the winter and we will probably start him back over a mile, but I can see him getting a mile and a quarter. He is one of our nicer horses and is one that we are looking forward to.
Kalayena
3yo b f unraced
Mastercraftsman - Kalabaya
HH Aga Khan
She is a lovely big filly that has yet to run but she goes well. She has a beautiful temperament and we might start her off over a mile and a quarter but I can see her getting a mile and a half. She looks up to winning her maiden and she’s a filly that we like a lot.
Karbasann
3yo ch c (522-)
Siyouni - Karawana
HH Aga Khan
He is a fine big horse who ran some solid races at Dundalk. He has done well over the winter and has a rating of 81 and I’d say we’ll try and win a maiden with him first. A mile and a good surface suits him well and he looks a horse which will progress with racing.
Kasmiyra
3yo b f unraced
Free Eagle - Kastania
HH Aga Khan
She didn’t run last year but we like her and she is a filly with a good temperament. We’ll get her started in a maiden. She will progress with racing.
Katiymann
8yo b g (5025276-)
Shamardal - Katiyra
Paul Rooney
He has been a great servant and has been with us since we bought him as a three-year-old. He should pay his way for the year and seven or an easy mile suits him well. He is ready to start back.
Kerandi
3yo ch c (-1)
Champs Elysees - Kerisa
HH Aga Khan
He won well on his only start at Dundalk. He is a laid-back horse at home but he came alive on the night and won well. He raced a bit behind the bridle at Dundalk but he came home well and he has done very well physically since he ran. There should be plenty more to come from him.
Leabaland
3yo b c unraced
Cappella Sansevero - Adatara
Trevor Myles
He is a lovely, big, well-balanced horse with a wonderful attitude. He is a tall horse that has needed time, but we like him.
Leylak
3yo b c unraced
Born To Sea - Lidaya
HH Aga Khan
He has yet to run and his work has improved recently. We’ll get him started over a mile and a quarter but I can see him getting 12 furlongs.
Long Wood
8yo b m (6966/00-)
Alfred Nobel - Talkin Kate
Peader Kelly
She is a new recruit to the yard and we are still finding our way with her but she has a low handicap mark and I think she’ll be competitive off that.
Lord Park
3yo b c unraced
Tamayuz - Hammmiya
Garrett Freyne
He is the first horse that we have trained for Garret Freyne. He was with Mark Johnson last year, is horse with a lovely temperament and I’d be disappointed if we couldn’t win a maiden with him.
Massif Central
6yo b g (5042-2650)
Arcano – Melaaya
Paul Rooney
A real stable favourite and he had a good time of things in Dubai and he paid his way over there. He stays further now and that will be a big advantage and we’ll plan his year with Dubai in mind for him again next year. It is hard to believe that he has yet to win on grass for us, but hopefully he can rectify that this year.
Massif Central and Colin Keane winning in Dundalk/ Healy Racing.
Orchid Gardens
3yo b f (-223)
Muhaarar - Lidanski
Mrs Wendy O’Leary
She is a smart filly, was placed in maidens and was third in a listed race since. She has done well physically since and she is a filly that will have no trouble winning her maiden. She has a lovely pedigree and a temperament to match.
Overtake
3yo gr g (0009-)
Outstrip - Winterbourne
Mrs Ger McDonald
He has grown a lot since we bought him at the breeze-up sales last year. He may just have fallen into a good handicap mark and he’s a horse that will appreciate good ground.
Rayounpour
4yo b g (4432-)
Cape Cross - Rayna
Richard McNally
He came back to us after he was sold at the sales last year. He has placed in his four runs to date, he has the option of starting back in an older horses’ maiden or we could go the handicap route with him. He has filled out and done well over the winter and is ready to start off. He should give his new owners plenty of fun during the year.
Ridenza
3yo br f (1-)
Sea The Stars - Raydara
HH Aga Khan
I think the world of her. She won her only start last year but she fractured her pastern and had to miss the remainder of last season. She has made a wonderful recovery and the plan is that she will start back in the Irish 1000 Guineas.
Her work at home has been very good and in an ideal world you’d love to have gotten one more run into her from an experience point of view, before a Guineas. We’ll see what way the programme will look and make a call at that stage. She is a beautiful-moving filly and has plenty of pace for a mile, but being by Sea The Stars, she may get further in time.
Ridenza should be a high-class filly/ Healy Racing
Royal Casamento
3yo b g (6P)
Casamento - Royal Blue
David O’Connell
He joined us from Sneezy Foster’s. He had a promising first run at the Curragh and he looks a straightforward horse. Based on his homework, he looks well up to winning.
Sendmylovetoyou
4yo b f (140-5)
Invincible Spirit - SendMyLoveToRose
Cregg Castle Stud
She won first time out at the Curragh and I thought she ran very well on her first run of the season at Naas – there is more to come from her. The tacky ground at Naas was against her, but she should progress with racing.
Shamiyan
4yo b g (63)
Lope De Vega - Shamooda
Richard McNally
He had the two runs last year, went to the sales after that and his new owners sent him back to us. He had a good run at Gowran and he is a horse with plenty of size and scope. He looks up to winning his maiden and he should give his new owners plenty of fun.
Sienna Lady
3yo b f (08)
Lope De Vega - Paimpolaise
Cregg Castle Stud
She was pleasing us in her work and I would expect her to leave that form behind when we get her back to the racecourse. She is a nice filly and physically, she has done very well over the winter. I am looking forward to getting her back started.
Simsir
4yo b g (112-251)
Zoffany - Simawa
HH Aga Khan
He had a great time of things in Dubai and he rounded off a good winter over there when he won a valuable handicap on his final start at the Carnival. He has grown and strengthened up a lot. He is rated 104 so we’ll step him up into pattern company. I can see him getting further than 10 furlongs and he is in full training and we’ll see what the revised programme looks like. He’ll be ready to go as soon as we resume racing.
Sinawann
3yo b c (512-)
Kingman - Simawa
HH Aga Khan
He has a wonderful temperament and he is probably our best three-year-old colt. He won his maiden and was then second to Mogul in a Group 2 on Champions Day at Leopardstown. He has done very well over the winter and his work is very good at the moment. The plan is to start him back in the Irish 2000 Guineas. I don’t think the ground will make too much difference to him – as long as we don’t get extremes, it should be fine for him.
Sinawann is probably the best three-year-old colt in the Halford yard/.Healy Racing
Sindhia
3yo b f (40-)
Mastercraftsman - Sinaniya
HH Aga Khan
She had a very good first run at Naas. She had a bad draw the next day at Leopardstown and we let her roll along thinking that she would relax up front, but that didn’t work and she paid the price for that in the straight. I think she is better than her last run would suggest and once she learns to settle in her races, I think she could be a smart filly.
Sky Seven
4yo ch g (3844220-)
Helmet - Ready When You Are
Highland Bloodstock
He won twice for us in Dundalk the winter before last. He lost his way a bit last year and he was gelded over the winter. He will be ready to start off when racing resumes. His is working really good at the moment and a mile to 10 furlongs is a good trip for him.
Slieve Bearnagh
3yo b g (0900-)
Zoffany - Angels Story
Paul Rooney
He is now rated 56 and he has been a bit disappointing, but he has done well over the winter and I think he’ll pay his way over the summer.
Sorella D’Angelo
3yo b f unraced
Dark Angel - Silca’s Sister
Godolphin
She is working well, has a good temperament and is strengthening up all the time. We are just being patient with her but she is a filly that we like.
Spelga
4yo b g (041114-)
Sir Percy - Emma’s Gift
Paul Rooney
He has done very well for us at Dundalk and hopefully he can progress again for the grass. He won for us in Dundalk over the winter and I was delighted for Paul Rooney, who has shown a lot of patience with this horse. I am looking forward to running him on the grass when racing resumes.
Strip Light
3yo ch g (0-4)
Outstrip - Quinine
C.B.R. Syndicate
I was delighted with his last run at Dundalk. He is a big, good looking horse and he shows us plenty of ability at home. He is only getting the hang of things and he is a horse that we like.
Surrounding
7yo b m (151-7446)
Lilbourne Lad - Roundabout Girl
Peter Newell
She has been a remarkable filly and I have never known a filly to improve as much at her age (six) last year. She was a revelation and was remarkably consistent and she is a pleasure to train. She paid her way in Dubai over the winter and seven or a mile is a good trip for her trip.
She has had a break since Dubai and she is a credit to the Newell family who have been great owners to have in the yard.
Surrounding ridden by Ronan Whelan being led in by Linda Newell and Nico Janjic after winning in Galway /Carolinenorris.ie
Tashim
3yo b c unraced
Footstepsinthesand - Tarziyna
HH Aga Khan
He only came to us this year and he is working well. We like him and the more he seems to do, the more he improves. We’ll get him going in a maiden when racing resumes.
Tirmizi
7yo b g (480887-)
Sea The Stars - Timabiyra
Paul Rooney
He has dropped down to 70 this year and while he needs things to go right for him, his work at home has been very solid and he should pay his way in staying handicaps on the flat. We are doing a bit of schooling with him at home and that may also be an option for him during the summer.
War Diary
5yo b g (32/114-)
Declaration Of War - Titivation
Paul Rooney
He is a horse that we paid plenty of money for at the Champions Sale at Leopardstown last year. We gave him a break after that and have started afresh with him this year. What I have seen at home, I love him and his owner Paul Rooney would be hoping that he might be a horse for Dubai next year. He had some very good form for John Murphy last year and he looks a rock solid premier handicap horse.
War Diary is expected to be a good buy for Paul Rooney/ Healy Racing
Wherewithal
4yo b g (66-600)
Lope De Vega - Banks Hill
Fathi Egziama
He is a very well-bred horse and we gelded him after his last run. We’ll get him going in handicaps on the turf and we should have a bit of fun with him.
Withbatedbreath
3yo b c unraced
Bated Breath - Starlight Symphony
Withbatedbreath Pship
He didn’t run last year but has been working well. We like him a lot and we’ll get him started in a maiden over seven or a mile.
Wufud
5yo b h (17/2550-0)
Dubawi - Tahrir
Union Racing
He came to us from England and he has a wonderful pedigree. He didn’t appear to enjoy the surface in Dundalk, but I am looking forward to getting him started on the turf and he looks up to winning off his mark.
Zanahiyr
3yo ch c (6-)
Nathaniel - Zariyna
HH Aga Khan
He is a gorgeous big, scopey horse. He only had the one run last year and he ran respectably that day at the Curragh. He has improved over the winter and he’s a colt that I like a lot. He is one of our nicer colts and I expect that he will improve throughout the season.
Zarzyni
3yo b g (1343-)
Siyouni - Zunera
HH Aga Khan
He was impressive when he won his maiden at Gowran and looks a speedy horse. He was gelded over the winter and I think six will be a good trip for him. He won’t be the easiest to place with a rating of 101, but he has been pleasing me at home and I am looking forward to getting him back started.
Zarzyni impressed in his maidne/ Healy Racing