IN the game of buying and selling young point-to-point horses, being able to recommend young talent that will crucially progress for their new connections after proving themselves in the pointing fields is vital.
At Baltimore Stables, the brother and sister team of James and Ellen Doyle have mastered this.
Since sending out their first winner at Cragmore just three years ago, the client base for their horses has continued to grow in tandem with the eye-catching number of their graduates who have gone on to achieve track successes for new connections.
Dromahane winner Maria’s Benefit won five on the bounce for Stuart Edmunds last season in a streak which saw her handicap mark improve by no less than 35lbs, before finishing a far from disgraced fourth behind Laurina at last year’s Cheltenham Festival.
Whilst she is on the side lines following an injury sustained in a Grade 2 at Kempton over Christmas, the Baltimore team will have Eden Du Houx flying the flag for their exports at next week’s Festival.
Since winning his four-year-old maiden at Monksgrange last year, he has remained unbeaten for David Pipe, with his latest listed success at Ascot ensuring he enters the race as one of the leading hopes for the home team in the Grade 1 Champion Bumper.
That French-bred was one of their three four-year-old maiden winners last spring, and continuing the pattern of their horses winning for new connections, each of that trio has already tasted success on the track, with Run Wild Fred landing a bumper at Fairyhouse for Gordon Elliott, while Howling Milan won his novice hurdle at Newbury by no less than 26 lengths.
Last autumn, only former champion handlers Donnchadh Doyle and Colin Bowe saddled more winners within the ultra-competitive four-year-old division than them.
Building on that, they will be looking to continue that good form with a strong team of four-year-olds currently being readied for the spring campaign at their parents’ farm in Outlart.
A Close Encounter
4yo b g
Califet – Lady Of The Mill (Woods Of Windsor)
Baltimore Stables Syndicate
He is a lovely horse that came out of the August Sale.
He would appreciate a bit of better ground so he will probably be running in about seven to eight weeks. He has a great attitude and is a sharp horse that we like.
Aki Bomaye
4yo gr g
Stowaway – Line Grey (Le Nain Jaune)
Baltimore Stables Syndicate
He cost £52,000 from Doncaster last year. He has a nice bit of size about him so we will give him a bit of time and won’t be rushing him.
He has a very nice pedigree and is a half-brother to Granit Jack and he has the model to back up his page.
Stowaways are winning plenty at the minute and we think a good bit of this horse to be fair.
A Silent Player
4yo b g (5)
Getaway – Clonsingle Native (Be My Native)
Baltimore Stables Syndicate
He is a grand horse that finished fifth at Kirkistown last month.
He is probably a bit ground dependent. The ground in the back straight turned out to be a good bit softer than we would have wanted.
After walking the track, in hindsight it is great thinking about it now, but we probably should have put him back in the box and drove home.
He had a lovely run and we’re more than happy with how he went considering that.
We will hold off running him again until we get a bit of nicer ground, as he has plenty of speed and could be a smart hurdler in the making.
Do The Floss
4yo b g
Shantou – Hannah Rose (Un Desperado)
Baltimore Stables Syndicate
He is a lovely sharp horse that we bought for €21,000 at the August sale.
He had a good run in a schooling bumper at Monksgrange last Friday and showed us plenty.
Everything has gone well with him so far, we are just waiting for some nicer ground with him, so it will probably be seven or eight weeks until he comes out.
At the moment he is going the right way and ticking a lot of boxes.
He is a full brother to Zero Ten who was impressive when he won his third race on the bounce at Leopardstown on Monday for Emmet Mullins.
French Light (FR)
4yo b g (4)
Muhtathir – First Light (Big Shuffle)
Baltimore Stables Syndicate
We went down to Knockanard very hopeful of a good run as he is a very nice horse.
I know everyone wants to win first time out, but we came home very happy with the run.
The ground went a bit against him on the day, but he jumped very well.
He will probably appear again in about four weeks on some nicer ground.
He is a lovely two-and-a-half-mile hurdler in the making.
Fuego De L’Abbaye (FR)
4yo b g
Kap Rock – Marsavrile (April Night)
Baltimore Stables Syndicate
He is a lovely big bay horse that came out of the Doncaster store sale and has a couple of entries this weekend.
We ran him in a schooling hurdle at Punchestown two weeks ago and he won that and we think plenty of him, so we will be going into the weekend quite confident of a big run from him.
He will probably want a bit of nicer ground, so it will just depend on what the ground comes up like and jockey bookings as to where he goes in the end.
You don’t know what you are going to come up against, but we love him.
He worked very well on Tuesday morning and he has ticked all of the boxes so far.
Garde Rouge (FR)
4yo b f
Kapgarde – Lulu Rouge (Astarabad)
Jason Higgins
She is a lovely big Kapgarde filly that cost plenty of money. We got her for €52,000 at the Derby Sale as she was a very nice model at the sale and has a nice page.
Jason (Higgins) has had horses with us for the last few horses and I think nearly everything that has run in his colours has won.
There is plenty of size about her. If she needs a bit of time we will give her that.
She is just hacking away there at the minute nice and easy and we haven’t really tested her yet.
Hand In My Pocket
4yo b f
Mahler – Galzig (King’s Theatre)
Baltimore Stables Syndicate
She is a lovely Mahler filly that goes very well. We got her from the August sale and she will probably be running in about five or six weeks. We do think plenty of her and she would be highly regarded in the yard.
Hidden Commander
4yo b g
Shirocco – Gift Of Freedom (Presenting)
Baltimore Stables Syndicate
He cost €34,000 out of the Derby Sale and is a half-brother to Gordon Elliott’s Roaring Bull.
We think a lot of him. Everything has been very easy for him so far and he looks to be a very smart horse.
With his action, he probably wants some nicer ground, so he is probably about four or five weeks away from a run.
Israel Champ
4yo b g
Milan – La Dariska (Take Risks)
Baltimore Stables Syndicate
He is a nice Milan that cost €32,000 at the Derby Sale. He is a fine big staying chase type that is quite highly regarded.
He would like soft ground so it is probably going his way now and he might be aimed at Monksgrange at the end of the month for the race that we won with Eden Du Houx.
It is Colin Bowe’s home turf so it is always nice to go up there and try win again if we could. All the boys in the locality have been trying to do that for the last couple of years, but it is hard won as Colin always seems to keep one of his best back for it.
We think a lot of this lad though and he is proper staying chaser for the future.
Loose As A Goose
4yo b g
Milan – Babygotback (Amilynx)
Baltimore Stables Syndicate
This is another Milan gelding and he is a fine big staying chaser that came from the August Sale.
He jumps and gallops well but he will probably need a bit of time but he is going the right way. He will be nice for the autumn.
Methodtothemagic
4yo b f
Sans Frontieres – Cindy’s Fancy (Shernazar)
Baltimore Stables Syndicate
She is a straightforward Sans Frontieres filly that came from the August sale.
She would probably appreciate a bit of soft ground so we will likely aim her at Durrow later in the month.
She is a favourite in the yard for everyone to go and ride out in the morning as she is so straightforward.
Skatman
4yo br g
Mustameet – Maid For Action (Alderbrook)
Baltimore Stables Syndicate
He was a lovely fine big store that we got for £34,000 from Doncaster in May.
He is probably a soft ground horse and is a staying chaser that jumps and gallops well.
He should be out within the next six weeks and is going well.
Talk Derby To Me (GB)
4yo b f
Black Sam Bellamy – Cormorant Cove (Fair Mix)
Jason Higgins
She is a very well related filly that came from Doncaster. She is a full-sister to Faustinovick who finished second to Andy Dufresne at Borris last year and was second on his debut for the Tizzards at Newbury last weekend.
She is a lovely big staying type that has plenty of scope and has been jumping well. We think plenty of her but she is big so we will progress along slowly with her.
Any horses by Black Sam Bellamy that we have ever had always just need a bit of time so she might be one for the autumn.
The Silent Trainer
4yo ch g
Shantou – Touched By Angels (Saffron Walden)
Baltimore Stables Syndicate
We bought him from Walter Connors for €62,000 at the Derby Sale. He is a very big horse and we think a lot of him.
If he needs a bit of time because of his size, he might be one that we carry over to the autumn but we love him at the moment.
Who’s The Boss
4yo b/br f
Oscar – Final Episode (Definite Article)
Baltimore Stables Syndicate
She came from Michael Cullen at the Derby Sale. She is a straightforward Oscar filly that we would probably be looking to run on a bit of nicer ground. We could go to Inch with her next month as she is going in the right direction.