FACTFILE
Trainer: Paul Deegan
Address: Clifton Lodge, The Curragh, Co Kildare
Telephone: 045 442652/086 3866542
Website: deeganracing.com
Jockeys: Chris Hayes and Philip Donovan
Numbers: 45
Paul Deegan has made a fine start to the campaign and with a good mix of horses to run over the coming weeks and months he should enjoy a good season.
“Things have gone well and while it was unfortunate that Prince Of All had to miss the 2000 Guineas, I thought Avenue Gabriel ran a fantastic race to finish fourth in the 1000 Guineas and I’d like to think that they will, along with Shining Emerald and Sruthan, be our flag bearers this season,” he reported.
He has a number of talented two-year-olds to run, many of whom he expects to be competitive in maidens. His horses have over the first couple of months of the season won the best part of €200,000 and he looks a trainer to follow.
OLDER HORSES
CAPRELLA
5yo b m (22597/49040-3499)
Kheleyf - Angie And Liz
Evelyn Yates
She is a grand filly that has won for us and has also picked up some blacktype. This year we’ll drop her back into realistic company and she is starting to find her own level. She might need to be dropped a few more pounds but on her day she is a very capable filly and I’d like to think that we can place her to win a couple of races this year. If she got going again, then we’ll try and get a bit more blacktype for her.
ENGLISH DEER
4yo b c (6/357121-50)
Shamardal - Ya Hajar
Jaber Abdullah
He is a good horse but has had his issues. We thought that he’d win first time out this year at Dundalk but he disappointed and his wind has been at him. We are getting that looked at again and I’d be optimistic that if he can overcome that, he is a capable horse who should be able to win a decent race or two for us this year.
IS FEIDER LEIS
4yo b g (78848/3-08207)
Moss Vale - Boundary
Is Feider Leis Partnership
We have persevered with him and he has been a bit disappointing but he ran a very good race and was only just touched off at Naas. He ran poorly again since, but he has always shown us enough ability to suggest that he can win a couple of races for us and is likely to run at Leopardstown on Friday.
MELANIPPE
4yo b f (/04113305325-71)
Shirocco - Roshanak
J.V. Ledwith
She is only small but is as tough as they come. She is progressive but I never thought that she’d improve to her current mark of 82. She ran at Leopardstown on Friday but I felt that tight small tracks would suit her. I just hope the handicapper is right as he put her up a lot for winning at Dundalk. She is a lovely filly though and has a great appetite for the game.
PAPAS WAY
4yo b g (87-114)
Rakti - Clew Bay Coral
Rosha Lyttle
He is a grand solid dual-purpose horse that jumps like a buck. He has struggled a bit off his new mark and a bad cut has held him up. He will do both jobs later on this year and we are looking forward to having him back. He jumps like a stag and he does stay well and there should be another day on the flat in him but he will make into a lovely jumper as well.
SRUCAHAN
5yo b g (905000-22170)
Kheleyf - Giveupyerauldsins
P.N. Hyland
He has done very well again for us this season. He loves to come off a fast pace and he seems to save his best for the Curragh. He is best on soft ground but he has been placed on quicker ground as well. He ran very well in a listed race the last day and he is a home-bred and his owners would love to get a bit more blacktype for the family. I think there is a big race to be won with him and we might try him in a stakes race later on this year. He is a bit of a legend about the place.
SRUTHAN
4yo b g (115641-17)
Arakan - Giveupyerauldsins
Robert Ng
He has done very little wrong and his only disappointing run was when I stretched him out to 10 furlongs. He came back sore after the Lockinge and he hated the fast ground over there. I always thought he’d handle good ground but now we know where we are going with him and there are a lot of positives to be taken out of Newbury. I had thought about a winter campaign for him but that won’t happen now and we’ll aim him possibly at the Solonaway and maybe the Foret at Longchamp - that might be a target for him. We still feel that he is a very good horse and there is more to come from him for sure. Seven or a mile on slow ground is what he wants.
TALITHA KUM
4yo b f (/1635357-6291)
Chineur - Belle Of The Blues
Manuella Martinelli
On her day she is a smart filly but she fell out of the stalls at Listowel on Sunday but she still won well. Chris [Hayes] was very good on her in that he gave her a chance and committed at the right point. She is up to 92 now and she is a winner at two, three and four. There is probably another one in her but her owners are breeders and she is going to be a fine broodmare. She is not done with by any means but the plan would be to try and get a bit of blacktype close up for her. She will run at Limerick and she loves slow ground.
WHIMSICAL
5yo b m (10/7422131/65-00)
Strategic Prince - Sweet Namibia
Whimsical Partnership
She is in great form and she ran a nice enough race at Naas on Monday and she is a fine big scopey filly and we’ll drop her back into handicap company now. We are still finding our way with her and hopefully there is a handicap to be won with her and then we’ll try and get a bit of blacktype for her as well.
THREE-YEAR-OLDS
ACHNAHA
3yo b f (022-3528)
Haatef - Sanna Bay
P.J. Hyland
She has developed very well this year and she has gotten stronger and sharper. Slow ground and a mile is her thing. She has been knocked for still being a maiden, but she has loads of blacktype and she was in season so she had to miss Listowel on Sunday. She should win her maiden and then she’ll compete in stakes races for the rest of the season.
ATLANTIC SEA
3yo b c (6224-523
Medicean - Hooplah
Jaber Abdullah
On his day he is a smart horse and I thought he’d get away with five at Down Royal, but we’ll up him again to six or seven and in fairness to him, he has been beaten by some very good horses. His wind was done over the winter and he should pick up his maiden. There is a good race to be won with him, but it would do his confidence the power of good if he managed to win his maiden.
AUSSIE VALENTINE
3yo b g (51-187)
Aussie Rules - Love Valentine
Robert Ng
He is a big, massive, progressive horse that won well at Tipperary, but he didn’t let himself down on the fast ground at Newbury. Things didn’t work out for him at Naas but we’ll up him to 10 furlongs now and he wants slow ground. We’ll give him a chance now and we’ll look for another handicap in a month or so and take it from there.
AVENUE GABRIEL
3yo b f (13315-34)
Champs Elysees - Vas Y Carla
Lady O’Reilly
I was delighted with her run at the Curragh in the Guineas. She stepped forward massively from the Guineas Trial but the ground just went against her at the Curragh. The first two are top class and we were only run out of it close home for third. I think if the ground was better, she may have held on for third. She will go for the Pretty Polly and we will learn a lot more about her there. She has sharpened up over the winter and the Kilboy Stakes on Oaks Day is the plan but in saying that, she may develop in an Oaks filly yet. She has improved a lot this year and I think she will make into a better filly next year. She is not that far off being a proper Group 1 filly and I have no doubt that she will be better again next year.
BINT DANDY
3yo b f (317)
Dandy Man - Ceol Loch Aoidh
Jaber Abdullah
She is small but is a progressive little filly that won her maiden well up at Dundalk. She was clueless when she ran in a handicap up there the last day. She is a hardy filly though and I think we can put a line through that run and there should be more to come from her. She has won over a mile and I think her trip is seven and as she develops, she might prefer six. She needs it proper fast ground - like the road.
COLDSTREAM
3yo b g (448-34875)
Footstepsinthesand - Puzzle Book
Mrs Paul Deegan
He has been placed in maidens and there were signs at Down Royal last Friday that he was on the way back. We might let him stride on the next day and I think he should be able to win a handicap over seven or a mile off his mark.
FAST IN THE WIND
3yo b g (145-)
Footstepsinthesand - Close Regards
Paolo Zambelli
He is a very fast horse and was a very good two-year-old. He has had a couple of issues and was injured coming out of the gates last year in the Marble Hill. He was in great form this year but then he developed a bit of heat in a leg, so we have gelded him and we hope to have him back towards the end of this year. He has loads of pace and he could still make into a very good sprinter next year.
LAW EQUITY
3yo b g
Lawman - Basse Besogne
Robert Ng
He is a lovely, big, staying type of horse and we will get him started this week. He is a big baby and he loves the game. But a run will bring him on a lot and we’ll get him going over a mile and a quarter. He is a long way off the finished article.
MISTINESS
3yo b c (-0)
Astronomer Royal - Misty Daylight
Robert Ng
He had his issues before he came to us and he was clueless when he ran at Fairyhouse last week and we will only really know what he is capable of when he runs again.
PRINCE OF ALL
3yo ch c (3-11)
Iffraaj - Ya Hajar
Jaber Abdullah
He is a gorgeous, big, imposing horse that we like a lot. He won his maiden and then he won his listed race well at Dundalk. We wanted to run him in the Guineas but we are adamant that he wants proper good ground. He has the option of the Jersey and the St James’s Palace. He worked well at Dundalk and Ascot is the plan and we’ll see what race he’ll go for a bit closer to the time. He won’t run unless he gets his conditions and in time I can see him getting 10 furlongs. He has a big future and he has a huge stride and cruising speed.
SHINING EMERALD
3yo b c (23113-253)
Clodovil - Janayen
Jaber Abdullah
He has just taken a bit of time this year. He ran well in the Guineas Trial at Leopardstown but he didn’t run as well after that at the Curragh. We dropped him back in trip at Naas on Monday and with a clear run, he may have finished second to Due Diligence. He is on the way back and he likes an ease in the ground and six or seven furlongs suits him well. We can now put a line through his run at the Curragh and he is a horse with a lot of pace. He seems to be back to the horse that he was last year. He is a genuine stakes horse over six and seven furlongs.
YES I AM
3yo b g (-1)
Arakan - Aspired
P.N. Hyland
He came to us from Goresbridge and he always showed us plenty but he was never right last year. He was hardly in when we found a race for him to win well. It was an ordinary race but he won it well. We gave him a chance after that. He is back now in great form and I’d say he is a fair horse.
TWO-YEAR-OLDS COLTS
DANCING ZAFEEN
2yo ch c (81)
Zafeen - Crimson Lass
Jaber Abdullah
He is a proper little two-year-old. He just can’t walk on soft ground and we let him run the first day at the Curragh but he couldn’t pick up at all. We brought him to Dundalk where he won and he should win a winners of one somewhere and he might be a horse for the Birdcatcher later on. He is a good sort.
DREAM ACHIEVER
Champs Elysees - Achieve
Jaber Abdullah
He is growing all the time and we like him. He is more a horse for later on this year and for next year.
DUKE OF MEDINA
Rock Of Gibraltar - Daruliyya
Rrr Syndicate
He is a nice sort of horse and is more a three-year-old type. Everything he is doing, he is doing fine and we’ll know more about him in a month.
MASTER RULE
Mastercraftsman - Anthyllis
Scuderia P.M.Z.
He was a blocky two-year-old, but of late he has really grown a lot. We have done a couple of bits with him and he isn’t that far off a run. He is coming together well.
PASS THE TROPHY
Iffraaj - Two Pass
Jaber Abdullah
He has always shown loads of pace but is still a bit immature mentally. He was always a bit nervy but once you put a set of tack on him he is a legend. He is coming together well and we’ll get him going over seven around somewhere like Leopardstown.
ROYAL DISTINCTION
Royal Applause - With Distinction
Scuderia P.M.Z.
He is a fine horse that we just kept ticking over early on but he has really pulled himself together over the last month. He will get an entry next week.
SHINING DIAMOND
Echo Of Light - Innclassic
Jaber Abdullah
He is a nice colt that goes nicely and he has developed really well. He is more a three-year-old type but in saying that, he has progressed well.
UNNAMED
Cockney Rebel - Silicon Star
Mrs A.M. Kavanagh
He stands over a lot of ground and was doing well but then he started to grow. Chris likes him and he looks like a horse that could win a maiden and will make into a lovely mile and a quarter horse for next year.
TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLIES
AKEED MISK
2yo b f (57)
Azamour - Secret Question
Jaber Abdullah
She has always shown a nice bit and is very forward in her coat. Things haven’t gone right for her as she clipped heels the first day and was in season the last day. She has been to the track twice but has yet to have a run. She should run a good race at Limerick on Saturday.
CORAIL
Lope De Vega - Croisiere
Lady O’Reilly
She is a lovely filly and has done well. She is still developing but she goes well and we like her. She worked nicely at Dundalk on Tuesday.
FULL OF BEAUTY
Motivator - Reaching Ahead
Jaber Abdullah
She is a very strong, well-made filly. We are kicking on now with her and she is tough. Seven or a mile on slow ground would be her thing.
FULL ROSE
Aqlaam - Tasjeel
Jaber Abdullah
She is a big filly that has grown a lot. She showed us plenty but then she grew so we have backed off her. She worked well at Dundalk last week.
HERITAGE ISLAND
Verglas - Dreamaway
Jaber Abdullah
She is very quick and I thought she’d go very close in the first maiden at the Curragh, but a week beforehand she met with a little setback. She is back in good shape again now and we still think she is a very good filly.
LILY WHITE SOCKS
Arakan - Giveupyerauldsins
P.N. Hyland
She is from a family I know as she is a full-sister to Sruthan and a half-sister to Srucahan. She has been a bit backward so we sent her home, but the lads tell me she has grown a lot. She could be smart.
MISS TEMPLE
Acclamation - Movie Queen
Robert Byrne
We like her and she looks a very nice filly. She goes well and she isn’t too far off a run. She stands over a good bit of ground.
RED HAIRED MARY
Muwatheeq - Daffodil Walk
P.J. Hyland
She is a very straightforward type and six or seven will suit her well. She could be one for nurseries later on.
RED IVY
2yo b f (36)
Clodovil - Hedera
David Walker
She had a lovely first run at the Curragh and she only got going late on. She got a bit boxed in in a listed race at Naas on Monday but she still ran a nice race. I’d like to think that she can win her maiden and progress from there.
UNNAMED
Echo Of Light - Nandys Cavern
A Partnership
She is a lovely filly that we like. I sent her home for a bit of a break and Chris likes her. She is two months off a run but everything she has done has been good.
UNNAMED
Halling - Regents Park
Lootah Partnerhip
She is a lovely tall filly that goes well. We have been doing very little with her and we are still learning about her.
UNNAMED
Nayef - Al Ihtithar
Mrs Colette Fusco
She looks great and her pedigree suggests that she is more a three-year-old type, but I do like her.
UNNAMED
Big Bad Bob - High Vintage
Mrs Paul Deegan
She isn’t much to look at and we’ll know more about her in a month, but typical of her sire she is tough and hardy and goes well.
UNNAMED
Arcano - Sonachan
P.J. Hyland
Another month will tell us more. She progresses with each bit that she does.