New stallion at Whytemount

RONNIE O’Neill has a new National Hunt stallion at Whytemount Stud in Kells, Co Kilkenny. Behesht, a son of Sea The Stars from a top Aga Khan family, arrived at Whytemount last Saturday from the USA. A listed winner in France, he proved unpopular at stud at Calumet Farm in Kentucky but O’Neill believes he is ideal for the Irish National Hunt market.

Behesht has already started covering mares at Whytemount, where he stands alongside another son of Sea The Stars in Affinisea. The stud is also home to Feel Like Dancing, Manatee and Valirann. Behesht’s stud fee has been set at €1,500 and €500 for a filly foal.

Craven Sale catalogue out

THERE are 163 lots in the catalogue for the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale, which takes place from Monday to Wednesday, April 11th to 13th. Last year’s sale produced champion juvenile Native Trail and Group 2 winners Asymmetric and Go Bears Go. This year’s catalogue includes a Mehmas half-sister to Group 1 winner Ebro River and a No Nay Never half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Harlem.

Death of Kilbeggan official

KILBEGGAN Racecourse lost a lifelong supporter this week with the passing of Sean Daly. He served as president of the racecourse and his son Paul, a senator, is a former chairman of the track.

Doncaster breezers online

AN own-brother to last year’s Queen Mary Stakes winner Quick Suzy and a half-brother to Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome are two of the eyecatching lots in the catalogue for the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale.

The sale takes place in Doncaster on Thursday, April 21st, two days after the breeze.

This sale has produced three of the last six winners of the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes, including Perfect Power, who went on to win the Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes last year.

Threat to northern tracks

THE Association of Irish Racecourses has lent its support to a campaign aimed at protecting the funding for Down Royal and Downpatrick Racecourses. Racing in Northern Ireland could be threatened by proposed new betting legislation.

A draft code of practice includes a requirement for bookmakers - both on and off-course - to carry out affordability checks on any person placing a bet of £100 or more.

The full story is on page 7.

ITBA NH seminar date det

THE Hotel Minella in Clonmel will host a National Hunt seminar on Monday, April 4th. The event is being organised by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association.

Admission is free and those who wish to attend should register now by calling 045-877543 or email utormey@itba.ie.

Passing of Eileen Hassett

JUST weeks after the death of trainer John Hassett, his wife Eileen passed away peacefully last Sunday. Predeceased by their son Paddy, she is survived by five children, including prominent breeze-up consignor Johnny.

Boscaccio mares in foal

KNOCKHOUSE Stud’s new stallion Boscaccio has had his first mares scanned in foal. A Group 2 winner in Germany, Boscaccio is by Mount Nelson, who was a very promising stallion when he died in 2019.