The Irish Flat season opened at The Curragh on Sunday last the 16th of March but our first winner of the new season won far away, on that day, in Japan. We have got off to a good start with a winner both on March 16th and 17th and we look forward to an exciting year ahead particularly with our two year olds. Four sold at the Orby 1 and the Book 1 Sales for in excess of €500,000. Our foaling and breeding season has got off to a good start with eighteen foals on the ground by early March and with seven mares scanned for a January foal in 2026.
January - July
Big Leader
We must congratulate the trainer Geoff Oldroyd and owner Bond Thoroughbred Limited for their patience in not running as a 2YO and making up for lost time in gaining two fast wins. We should again see him in the winners enclosure shortly.
17th June 2025
Big Leader made it two out of two when reappearing at Southwell in the Golf Novice Stakes on June 17th. With his win three weeks earlier he gave weight all around, went to post a short priced favourite, and made light of the task. His two facile wins, one on turf and one on all weather have not gone unnoticed with an official rating of 91 being given to him. Obviously he is versatile on both surfaces so it will be interesting to see where he runs next.We must congratulate the trainer Geoff Oldroyd and owner Bond Thoroughbred Limited for their patience in not running as a 2YO and making up for lost time in gaining two fast wins. We should again see him in the winners enclosure shortly.
Rising Power
In his two races Rising Power has shown each time that he will be even more effective over a longer trip so we can expect a step up to 6f or even 7f when he next appears. His connections say his next appearance will be in a conditions or black type race.
13th June 2025
Rising Power went to Sandown on Friday to contest the British EBF Novice Stakes and although carrying a penalty for his 4th of May win he went to post the 1/2 favourite. Carrying a 6 lb winners penalty against all the field and giving away 11 lbs to the horse that finished second, she being a filly he made light of the task pulling away in the final 100 yds with the third horse a full 5½ lengths behind.In his two races Rising Power has shown each time that he will be even more effective over a longer trip so we can expect a step up to 6f or even 7f when he next appears. His connections say his next appearance will be in a conditions or black type race.
Dynamic Pricing
Dynamic Pricing was an astute purchase by Mike Ryan for Klaravich Stables at Tattersalls Book One in 2022. She has now won in excess of three quarters of a million dollars and we can be certain there is more to come. Her trainer suggested it will be back to Saratoga for another GR1 next month.
7th June 2025
When Dynamic Pricing won the Beaugay GR3 on May 4th the word was that this was the start of her four year old career with GR1’s being the target. When her regular jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr. elected to ride another filly in the race it left us wondering if the GR1’s were going to happen. There was nothing to worry about with jockey Dylan Davis riding the perfect race. He settled Dynamic Pricing one from the tail and making most of the inside draw kept the filly close to the rail. Three furlongs out he asked Dynamic Pricing for her effort and she quickly moved into contention. Taking the lead with 100 yds to go she passed the post a one length winner and drawing away from her rivals.Dynamic Pricing was an astute purchase by Mike Ryan for Klaravich Stables at Tattersalls Book One in 2022. She has now won in excess of three quarters of a million dollars and we can be certain there is more to come. Her trainer suggested it will be back to Saratoga for another GR1 next month.
Big Leader
Taste the Salt has a 2YO Kodiac filly to run this year. She has a Blue Point foal at foot and is in foal to Ghaiyyath.
Big Leader will obviously step up from his maiden win.
26th May 2025
Taste the Salt’s first two foals were winners and we were waiting to see her Mehmas colt, Big Leader run as a 2YO in 2024. The story was that he would be the dam’s next winner and though never racing as a 2YO he did not leave his supporters down when he made his racecourse debut at Redcar on Monday. Sent to post as the 28/1 outsider in this one mile contest he took his time at the rear of the small field until asked to go at the 2f mark. He quickly moved through the gears and put the race to bed long before the finish, winning by 2½ lengths eased down. With his ears pricked and plenty in the tank the race report suggested that it was an impressive performance.Taste the Salt has a 2YO Kodiac filly to run this year. She has a Blue Point foal at foot and is in foal to Ghaiyyath.
Big Leader will obviously step up from his maiden win.
Treanmor
Treanmor is the first foal out of the listed winner in France namely Lock Lein who was subsequently group placed both in the Ireland and in the UK. Loch Lein’s dam Ashley Hall produced six other winners – three with black type. The grand dam Divine Dixie was stakes placed in the USA producing twelve winners including the GR1 winner Bandini. Loch Lein has a yearling filly by Saxon Warrior and a Wootton Bassett colt foal. She is in foal to Lope de Vega.
Treanmor will next run in one of the black type races at Ascot in four weeks time.
18th May 2025
Treanmor (Frankel X Loch Lein) first run at Newmarket was awaited with great expectation and he did not disappoint his followers. He went to post for the ITV Novice Stakes at odds of 30/100 and this €2 million yearling purchase by Godolphin lived up to the hype surrounding him. He travelled through the race with ease and when asked to go forward he won by an ever increasing four lengths, with minimal fuss.Treanmor is the first foal out of the listed winner in France namely Lock Lein who was subsequently group placed both in the Ireland and in the UK. Loch Lein’s dam Ashley Hall produced six other winners – three with black type. The grand dam Divine Dixie was stakes placed in the USA producing twelve winners including the GR1 winner Bandini. Loch Lein has a yearling filly by Saxon Warrior and a Wootton Bassett colt foal. She is in foal to Lope de Vega.
Treanmor will next run in one of the black type races at Ascot in four weeks time.
Dynamic Pricing
Dynamic Pricing’s sire, Night of Thunder is the heir apparent to the great Dubawi. The dam Shemda was a winner in France and is a half sibling to the black type horses Shamida and Shajak. Shemda has a yearling colt by Mehmas which will go to Book One and a colt foal by Night of Thunder born in February. She has visited Night of Thunder.
4th May 2025
Dynamic Pricing has only raced six times winning twice at group level and accumulating close to US $500,000 for her efforts. Her connections say the best is yet to come. Given a 260 day break when she finished a ¾ of a length 3rd to her stable mate at Saratoga in August 2024. She took her revenge this time beating the stable mate by 2½ lengths. Winning the Beaugay Stakes at Belmont Park on Sunday was anything but easy having been taken ten wide by another horse as they turned into the straight. With many lengths to make up she simply flew once she saw daylight, winning by just half a length but pulling right away at that stage.Dynamic Pricing’s sire, Night of Thunder is the heir apparent to the great Dubawi. The dam Shemda was a winner in France and is a half sibling to the black type horses Shamida and Shajak. Shemda has a yearling colt by Mehmas which will go to Book One and a colt foal by Night of Thunder born in February. She has visited Night of Thunder.
Rising Power
Pussycat Lips has already produced two black type placed horses and we can expect Rising Power to go one better. He was sold to Godolphin at the Goffs Orby Sale for £600,000 so after this good start we all hope he lives up to the high expectations.
4th May 2025
Rising Power (Wootton Bassett X Pussycat Lips) was our first 2YO to run in 2025 and was asked to start in the most valuable 2YO race so far this year, namely the Tattersallls Stg. £40,000 EBF Novice Stakes on Guineas day at Newmarket. Newmarket rumours said that he was good and that he was ready but he went to post a second favourite hearing that the 5f race might be too short for him. The Racing Post said that he overcame greenness to make a winning debut, picking up well on meeting the rising ground but also suggested he is sure to improve. His jockey and trainer both said he would even be better over 6f so we should see him step up to that extra distance before heading to Ascot in mid June.Pussycat Lips has already produced two black type placed horses and we can expect Rising Power to go one better. He was sold to Godolphin at the Goffs Orby Sale for £600,000 so after this good start we all hope he lives up to the high expectations.
Unique Journey
Returning to Naas on April 28th to contest the Racing TV Handicap he went to post as favourite being ridden by Ireland’s champion jockey Colin Keane. A win was never in doubt staying up with the pace for much of the race and sprinting right away in the final furlong. At the post he had 7½ lengths to spare over the placed horses. The handicapper has taken notice and raised his rating by 16 lbs to 90. His trainer said after the race that he expects offers from the Far East or from the USA so he may not race again in Ireland.
Unique Journey is the first foal from the mare Surround who was placed twice as a 2YO from two starts in England before being sent to the USA and winning there. Having sold her as a yearling Epona Bloodstock bought her back as a filly out of training at Keeneland. Surround has a Mehmas yearling colt which will probably be sold at the Orby and a Starspangled Banner filly foal.
28th April 2025
Unique Journey (Caravaggio X Surround) was unlucky not to win as a 2YO finishing 2nd and 3rd in his three starts. In his first run on March 23rd at Naas as a 3YO he finished a close 3rd in a 5f race that was all too short. The handicapper noticed and raised his rating by 3 lbs for this effort.Returning to Naas on April 28th to contest the Racing TV Handicap he went to post as favourite being ridden by Ireland’s champion jockey Colin Keane. A win was never in doubt staying up with the pace for much of the race and sprinting right away in the final furlong. At the post he had 7½ lengths to spare over the placed horses. The handicapper has taken notice and raised his rating by 16 lbs to 90. His trainer said after the race that he expects offers from the Far East or from the USA so he may not race again in Ireland.
Unique Journey is the first foal from the mare Surround who was placed twice as a 2YO from two starts in England before being sent to the USA and winning there. Having sold her as a yearling Epona Bloodstock bought her back as a filly out of training at Keeneland. Surround has a Mehmas yearling colt which will probably be sold at the Orby and a Starspangled Banner filly foal.
Arcturus Flame
From six live foals this is the fifth winner out of the mare Kitty Love, including Like a King who won six times and at listed level. Kitty Love has a St Mark’s Basilica yearling filly and a colt foal by the same stallion. She visits Sioux Nation.
9th April 2025
Arcturus Flame (Too Darn Hot X Kitty Love) had three quiet runs as a 2YO in 2024 finishing 4th and 5th at Chelmsford and at Southwell. After a long break of 156 days he went to Nottingham to contest their festival handicap with an official rating of 69. In a large field he led for much of the way and was never headed all the way to the line. The handicapper has given him 4 lbs for his win but we can expect further wins off this rating.From six live foals this is the fifth winner out of the mare Kitty Love, including Like a King who won six times and at listed level. Kitty Love has a St Mark’s Basilica yearling filly and a colt foal by the same stallion. She visits Sioux Nation.
Dutch Kingdom
We would like to congratulate owner, Harraton Court Stables and trainer Darryll Holland for the wonderful job he has done with this horse, now getting his seventh win. Though the handicapper has increased his rating by 15 lbs in September 2024 more wins can be expected at his favourite all weather courses.
21st March 2025
Dutch Kingdom had won in September and in October 2024 when he was beaten by a short head at Southwell on November 12th. Given three months rest he returned to Southwell on Friday and went to post unfancied at 14/1. With an official rating of 90 on the all weather he carried top in this valuable handicap which was worth Stg. £8,000 to the winner. Being patiently ridden for much of the 7f trip he got up in the shadow of the post to deny the 2/1 favourite.We would like to congratulate owner, Harraton Court Stables and trainer Darryll Holland for the wonderful job he has done with this horse, now getting his seventh win. Though the handicapper has increased his rating by 15 lbs in September 2024 more wins can be expected at his favourite all weather courses.
Warrior Mode
Warrior Mode is by the exciting Dubawi sire, Night of Thunder. Serene Beauty has a yearling filly by Ghaiyyath – another son by Dubawi. She has a Sioux Nation foal born this month and will return to one of the Dubawi sons.
17th March 2025
Warrior Mode (Night of Thunder X Serene Beauty) did not race at two and made his racecourse debut at Wolverhampton in the BetMGM Novice Stakes (Class 4) on Monday. Though this was his racing debut, his ability had not gone unnoticed and he went to post at the short price of 5/2. Racing in third and fourth spot from the outset he moved through on the rails at the 1f mark and ran out an easy 1½ length winner. This race was over 7f and he looks a very exciting prospect when stepped up in distance.Warrior Mode is by the exciting Dubawi sire, Night of Thunder. Serene Beauty has a yearling filly by Ghaiyyath – another son by Dubawi. She has a Sioux Nation foal born this month and will return to one of the Dubawi sons.
So Darn Right
Leafhopper has a No Nay Never foal on the ground and is in foal to Too Darn Hot from a February cover.
16th March 2025
So Darn Right (Too Darn Hot X Leafhopper) won in Tokyo as a 2YO in November 2024. Her next race in January 2025 was at group level where she finished a close 4th. At Nakayama on Sunday she went to post as favourite and did not disappoint her followers. Staying close to the pace she took the lead 1f out and won this Allowance race by a cosy three quarters of a length. With just five runs in her career to date she has earned $135,000 so she will now move on to race at group level.Leafhopper has a No Nay Never foal on the ground and is in foal to Too Darn Hot from a February cover.
Winners 2025
The Irish Flat season opened at The Curragh on Sunday last the 16th of March but our first winner of the new season won far away, on that day, in Japan. We have got off to a good start with a winner both on March 16th and 17th and we look forward to an exciting year ahead particularly with our two year olds. Four sold at the Orby 1 and the Book 1 Sales for in excess of €500,000. Our foaling and breeding season has got off to a good start with eighteen foals on the ground by early March and with seven mares scanned for a January foal in 2026.