Autumn Campaign & The Sales Ring
Paddy Twomey at Goffs Orby Sale
As the mornings turn dark and the frost begins to appear, the flat season winds down and focus already turns to next year.
Over the past few weeks new ammunition has been front of mind as the yearling sales came into full swing, but closer to home performances of some of our existing inhabitants have built excitement for next year.
Beechwood has been a fantastic addition to the yard and it was excellent to see her build upon her initial promise when bolting up in the Oyster Stakes at Galway for owners Glyn & Jane Davies.
After being just touched off in the Connacht Oaks a month prior, the daughter of Le Havre put in a career best to land her first Stakes success in some fashion under Billy Lee.
Tracking the leaders most of the way, she travelled like a dream and when Billy said go, she sprinted clear, with four and a quarter lengths to spare at the line.
Since transferring to the yard mid-season she has been built up slowly, starting out over a mile first time and stretching her out with each run, which has helped her grow in confidence
Such an impressive win at Listed company looked a career best at the end of her four-year-old season so you would hope she has more to give for the Davies’.
Read More: Beechwood bolts up in the Oyster Stakes
Beechwood wins the Listed Oyster Stakes | Healy Racing
Purple Lily rounded off her three-year-old season with another big performance on Champions Weekend at the Curragh.
Despite getting bumped two-furlong’s from home, she saw out her race with great credit to finish third in the Group 2 Blandford Stakes.
Since beginning her campaign in April, when just touched off in the Salsabill Stakes by subsuquent runaway Epsom Oaks winner Ezeliya, she has proven herself to be a solid Group 1 performer. It was no mean feat to be in the frame in two Irish Classics, perhaps her best performance coming when only beaten 2 lengths in the Irish Oaks.
She’s an exciting filly to have in the yard and we look forward to her four-year-old campaign.
Purple Lily before finishing third in the Irish Oaks | Healy Racing
After a frustrating start to the year One Look rounded out her campaign with another big performance to be placed at Group level in Gowran Park.
12 months on from her Goffs Millions rout on racecourse debut, it is rewarding to see her developing into the filly she had promised to be.
Already a listed winner, she can hopefully make her mark at Group level again next year for the Connolly Racing Syndicate.
One Look on the gallops under Ambrose McCurtain | Healy Racing
Once the initial disappointment settled after Super Sox’ defeat in the Renaissance Stakes at the Curragh, you could only be proud of the performance she put in.
After fly leaping from the stalls she lost significant ground which was always going to make life difficult over 6f in such a high quality field.
Despite that, it was quite a remarkable run to finish less than two lengths off the winner in fourth.
A tall-leggy filly, we will give her time to fill her frame now and that performance would fill you with confidence for the four-year-old career.
Super Sox | Healy Racing
Away from the racetrack, the yearling sales circuit has come into full swing over the past few weeks and we have been active in the market.
The Tattersalls September Yearling Sale has been a lucky sale for us in the past with Group performers Purple Lily, A Lilac Rolla & Super Sox all having come through that ring.
Among this year’s purchases was a Space Blues colt from the family of Red Galileo, a horse who passed through Athassel House Stud as a breezer many moons ago.
This colt has been bought on spec and looks a real athlete. I like the sire Space Blues, he beat us in the Foret and I’ve followed him ever since. It is his first crop, he is was a very good racehorse and is by Dubawi, whose sons have been going very well at stud.
The colt is out of the Charm Spirit mare Ivory Charm. She is dam of two winners from two runners, both who have won at two.
More info: 2023 Bay Colt (IRE) - Space Blues (IRE) / Ivory Charm (GB)
Lot 78 Tattersalls September Yearling Sales
After Tattersalls we headed to the Goffs Orby sale to find next year’s Goffs Million winner to follow in One Look’s footsteps.
Among them was an eye-catching Acclamation filly, the first produce of a first-time out maiden winning mare. Her winning dam is a daughter of Royal Ascot Queen Mary Stakes winner Gilded.
She qualifies for the Goffs 2 million series which includes Europe’s Richest 2YO Race, Goffs Million worth €1,000,000 (won by the yard in 2023 with One Look).
On top of that she is also eligible for a €50k bonus when she wins her maiden, which is a fantastic incentive from Goffs.
More info: 2023 Bay Filly (IRE) - Acclamation (IRE) / Gyldan (GB)
Lot 769 Goffs Orby Sale
As the sales season roars on in coming weeks we will be active and hope to continue building upon what is already a very exciting team of young horses for the coming season.