Performance Review
August 2023
It was a fantastic result for everyone in the yard and owners Al Shira'aa Farms this month when Vespertilio produced a cracking performance to win the Group 2 Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes at the Curragh. Billy rode her confidently and she got the job done very nicely.
We’ve always really liked this filly and she’s been progressing along well through the season. As a result of her win here, she earns a free entry into the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes and that will be her next target at the Irish Champions Festival.
Vespertilio wins the Group 2 Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes
We were delighted to notch a maiden winner for the Niarchos Family through Night Glow at Bellewstown during the month too. She has improved with racing and I thought this was a good performance from her. We’ll decide on another target for her now, potentially at Dundalk as I’d rather not run on her on very testing ground.
Night Glow's maiden win at Bellewstown
Bella Colombia is a likeable, honest filly and she showed a good attitude to make a winning debut at Dundalk over six furlongs for the COR Racing Syndicate. It was also good to see the form franked by the second and third going on to win maidens since. She finished in mid-field when we had a crack at the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh on her next start, but we’re looking forward to getting her back on the all-weather for the Listed Legacy Stakes at Dundalk in October.
Bella Colombia is a likeable, honest filly and she showed a good attitude to make a winning debut at Dundalk over six furlongs for the COR Racing Syndicate. It was also good to see the form franked by the second and third going on to win maidens since. She finished in mid-field when we had a crack at the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh on her next start, but we’re looking forward to getting her back on the all-weather for the Listed Legacy Stakes at Dundalk in October.
Bella Colombia's winning debut in Dundalk
Hopefully Cardinal Zin can get off the mark for Mike O’Donnell over the coming weeks, as he has been running well without hitting the target just yet. He was narrowly touched off when second at Sligo before finishing sixth at the Curragh in a maiden won by the subsequent Blenheim Stakes winner. He’s been doing nothing wrong and we’ll step him up to a mile at Listowel next month in another maiden.
Finally, Morning Approach produced another good effort when runner-up at Leopardstown, turning out quickly from her previous run at Dundalk. She’s a generally consistent and honest mare who is at her best when getting a strong pace to run at.
It was good to get three winners on the board over the course of the month, and hopefully the final two months of the turf season will continue to be fruitful for us.