THE irrepressible rise up the racing ranks of Airlie Beach is one of the most heart-warming tales in racing. The six-year-old daughter of Shantou is now unbeaten in seven starts, but her racing career had to be put on hold when an encounter with a then two-year-old colt resulted in an unexpected pregnancy!

This happened when Airlie Beach herself was just two and the colt with which she enjoyed the liaison, a son of Enrique that had been purchased as a yearling by Harold Kirk to join Willie Mullins, was subsequently gelded and named Miguel Angel. He made his own racecourse debut this year and in five starts has accounted for a maiden hurdle at Tramore and a placed effort at Ballinrobe.