Annual Review

December 2024

We never tend to have too many runners over the winter at Dundalk so it was nice to come away from the all-weather period with a couple of winners notched up.

Liltia definitely wasn’t winning out of turn when getting off the mark in a fillies’ maiden over a mile and a quarter in December - the first leg of a double for us on the card. She had been placed four times before this first win under Wayne Hassett, so it was brilliant to see her get rewarded for her consistency.

She tries very hard and it was obviously important to see her get a winning bracket in a maiden for the Mitchells, given she’s a really well-bred filly. She’s out of a high-class mare in Lily's Angel, a multiple listed and Group 3 winner in the same colours (also placed at Group 1 level). Hopefully Liltia will be a lovely broodmare in her next career, having been retired to the breeding sheds on the back of this.

6 12 24 Liltia Dundalk

Liltia's first win in Dundalk

On the same card, we had Morning Approach win well by six lengths in a mile handicap under Jack Kearney. She obviously likes it around here because this was her third win at Dundalk (and the fourth of her career overall).

She got a good hike from the handicapper and ran well considering when second a month later, only beaten half a length. She’s been a real fun filly for the Morning Approach Syndicate. We bought her for €8,000 at the Goffs Sportsman's Yearling Sale and she’s now earned upwards of €54,000 in prize money.

Hopefully there will be more to come from a three-year-old filly called Shoney after finishing fourth on her debut in a five-furlong maiden at Dundalk in February. She was taking on more experienced horses and wasn’t helped by a bump straight away after leaving the gates. Again, she’s a nicely-bred Mehmas filly out of a well-related mare for Michael Ryan and we’ll give her a bit of time before coming back for another maiden in May.

6 12 2024 Morning Approach Dundalk

Morning Approach wins well in Dundalk

Away from Dundalk, we also had a National Hunt runner in Grade 3 company at the Fairyhouse Winter Festival with Coul Dreamer, who finished fourth a couple of weeks on from winning his maiden hurdle at Punchestown. We’ve always liked him and decided to give him some time afterwards, having hit a bit of a growth spurt.

The flat season proper gets started in late March and we’re all looking forward to a busier time as the year goes on. Winners at any stage of the year are important, though, so getting a couple on the board from a very small number of winter runners was welcomed by everyone.

December 2024