ROBERT Storey and Siobhán English were over the moon to see the safe arrival of a colt foal out of their Orbis mare Ballinabarney Mandolin last weekend. By John Varley’s hugely popular thoroughbred stallion Centennial, he was due on June 5th and arrived two weeks late, just after midnight on Sunday last. It was the perfect Father’s Day present for Robert who had been on tenterhooks waiting for the special arrival.

Ballinabarney Mandolin is from a wonderful family and her dam Ballinabarney Mandy (Minstrel Bouncer/Political Merger) had spent several years with Robert at Decoy Farm outside Dunlavin up to 2015 when she sadly died of colic at the age of 18. She had already retired from breeding, but not before she had produced no fewer than 13 foals. These include Loughmogue Miracle Star, reserve working hunter champion at the RDS in 2017, and Ballinabarney Highlight, who is dam to several three-star eventers including Cooley Mr Murphy and Monbeg Ebony.