FERMOY, Co Cork breeder Denis McDonnell has an enviable record of breeding winners, many of them at the highest levels, but he will have every reason to be pleased with the result of a six-furlong maiden auction race at Ascot recently.

The winner was the Michael Bell-trained Taurean Star and he found the trip to his liking when dropped back a furlong from two placed runs over seven. The win was very significant as Taurean Star is the first foal of his dam Marhaba, a once-raced daughter of Nayef. She was seventh in a large field on her only outing in the colours of Hamdan Al Maktoum who bought her as a yearling for 160,000gns. She was sent to the December Sales at Tattersalls as part of the Shadwell consignment and snapped up for just 5,000gns and sent to Elnadim by Denis for her first covering.