BALLYLINCH Stud has had great success with stallions who won French classics.

Make Believe (Makfi), who won his only two juvenile starts by clear-cut margins, was surprisingly pipped by Ride Like The Wind in the Group 3 Prix Djebel on his reappearance but then demonstrated star potential with a three-length defeat of New Bay in the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains-French 2000 Guineas.

That rival would go on to gain compensation in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club-French Derby before joining his old foe on the Ballylinch roster, and New Bay’s first crop includes the classic-placed mile Group 1-star Saffron Beach.

Make Believe, on the other hand, went on to beat Limato in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret, a race that popular gelding would win the following year along with the July Cup. By that time, however, Make Believe had already covered his first book of mares, a list that included Contradict (Raven’s Pass). The colt from that mating is one of the best-known horses in the world and one of the highest earners ever seen.

Mishriff, a Nawara Stud-homebred, gave his sire a first classic winner when landing the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club-French Derby in 2020. He beat Japanese standout Chrono Genesis in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March, thrashed his rivals by six lengths and more when winning the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York and may bid for a repeat success in the ultra-valuable Saudi Cup next month.

Make Believe’s pattern winners also include the wonderfully tough Rose Of Kildare, a dual juvenile Group 3-scorer who went on to land the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at three and run third in the Group 2 German 1000 Guineas among other performances of note. Ocean Fantasy got her Group 3 success in Germany where she was a leading juvenile, Noticeable Grace won both the Group 3 Prix Chloe and Listed Prix Bagatelle at Chantilly, and then there’s Believe In Love.

The latter is another filly of note. She won the Group 3 Stanerra Stakes at Leopardstown and Group 3 Prix Belle de Nuit at Saint-Cloud, was third in the Group 2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster, and failed by only a short neck to win the Group 1 Prix de Royallieu at ParisLongchamp in October after a battle with Loving Dream.

Make Believe, a grandson of Dubawi (Dubai Millennium), had a €120,000 foal in Goffs in November and a €110,000 yearling in Deauville in August.

Contradict was just one of the eye-catching names among his 157-strong book of mares last year and it probably won’t be long before we know the identity of his next Group 1 horse.

MAKE BELIEVE (GB), Bay 2012. Top rated 3yr old miler in France in 2015. Won four races, £462,856, from 7 furlongs to 1 mile, at 2 and 3 years including, Poule d’Essai des Poulains P.le Parisien, Longchamp, Gr.1, Qatar Prix de la Foret, Longchamp, Gr.1, also placed second in Prix Djebel, Maisons-Laffitte, Gr.3.

Retired to Stud in 2016, and sire of the winners of 137 races, and £12,893,648, including MISHRIFF (IRE), BELIEVE IN LOVE (IRE), NOTICEABLE GRACE (IRE), ROSE OF KILDARE (IRE), OCEAN FANTASY (FR), TAMMANI (GB), Fiscal Rules (IRE), Quarantine Dreams (IRE) and Sweet Believer (IRE)

Stands at: Ballylinch Stud, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, R95 DK51, Ireland.

Contact: John O’Connor, Eoin Fives (nominations)

Telephone: +353 (0)56 7724217

Email: info@ballylinchstud.ie or eoin@ballylinchstud.ie

Web: www.ballylinchstud.ie

Fee: €17,500