IN the same week that he won the coveted Connolly’s Red Mills/The Irish Field Flat Breeder of the Year Award, James Hanly enjoyed yet another Group 1 success as a breeder, though in this case he did so with two long-time partners, Trevor Stewart and Anthony Stroud.

The success came courtesy of the five-year-old Estrange, her first at the highest level, but this was no fluke, rather a thoroughly deserved victory. The daughter of 2025 champion sire Night Of Thunder (Dubawi), on course currently to retain that crown, was originally trained by John and Thady Gosden – not a lot of people know that – and moved to David O’Meara while still unraced. She won on her debut as a three-year-old at Goodwood, was mid-division next time out in listed company, but won at that level as the flat season came to an end.