Performance Review
August 2026
It’s fantastic to be coming to you on the back of an excellent month of results for us here at Rathbride. Over the course of August, we recorded eight winners with eight different horses for seven individual owners. It’s a great kick for everyone to be getting those types of results - and testament to everyone’s hard work and support.
It’s not too often that any two-year-old maidens are won by eight and a half lengths, let alone over six furlongs at Naas, but that is what Timeless Tale managed to do when getting off the mark at the first attempt under Billy Lee.
This is a Sioux Nation filly who was showing up nicely in her work and I’m thrilled she put up a performance like that in the colours of Anne O'Callaghan. I’d imagine we’ll aim her towards the Listed Ingabelle Stakes at the Irish Champions Festival next month.
Timeless Tale gets off the mark at Naas
Later on the same card, we brought up a double when Steel Magnolia ran out a good winner of a five-furlong handicap in my own colours. She had been knocking on the door this season and finally got her turn, though the handicapper certainly didn’t miss her.
The same filly had been part of a 1-2 for us on her previous start when she finished second to Dandy Land in a sprint handicap earlier in the month. Again, Dandy Land wasn’t winning out of turn, having been placed on her previous two starts, and she did it well under Paddy Harnett for the Probity Racing Syndicate
A double at Naas with a win for Steel Magnolia too
We were delighted to have another double during the month at Roscommon, sealed by Miss Romagna in a mile-and-a-half maiden against the boys. She’s our first runner for Giampiero Vellucci, a solicitor in Italy, and she’s been a lovely improver with racing. I thought she got a good ride from Billy and she seems to stay the trip well.
Another double at Roscommon, Miss Romagna and Phoenic Pairc
The first half of the double came when Phoenix Pairc recorded her first win of the season in a seven-and-a-half-furlong handicap for the COR Racing Syndicate. It was a great place for her to get her head in front, given her owner Ciaran O'Reilly is local to the track as a St Brigid's GAA. We’ll try to find something similar for the filly next time.
That Roscommon result continued a great few weeks for the COR colours because Bella Colombia had already won at Leopardstown earlier in the month. She’s had a super year and has now won three in 2026. Off an 8lb higher mark, I thought it was a rock-solid run when she was just touched off back at Leopardstown on her next start.
A third 2026 win for Bella Columbia at Leopardstown
There was a smart performance at Gowran Park from Rebel Wave to win on her handicap debut for Valmont and Ballylinch Stud - following up her win in a maiden at the Curragh three weeks earlier. This New Bay filly is one I like and we’ll aim her towards a premier fillies’ handicap at the Irish Champions Festival next.
A smart performance from Rebel Wave at Gowran Park
As a Liverpool supporter, it was a real thrill to train a winner in the colours of Ian Rush when he and Michael Ryan’s Naoi came home in front at Leopardstown in a seven-furlong handicap.
Given she was off the track for more than 400 days beforehand - and she was making her debut for us - we were delighted she was able to open her account under Sam Coen. It’s possible this four-year-old filly could head to Chester before the season is out; I know Ian would enjoy keeping it local there with her, if it works out that way.
Naoi came home in front at Leopardstown
I’m hoping that Chapel Lane won’t have to wait long to get off the mark, after running on strongly for second in a handicap at Killarney that didn’t work out in his favour. He’s learning with racing and progressing all the time. We’ll go to Navan for a mile maiden next.
Navy Waters continues to hold her form well. She produced two more good runs during the month to finish third in both the McEnery Cup at Gowran and a smart fillies’ handicap at the Curragh. The latter race has been working out really well in recent days, with the fourth winning at Roscommon next time out and the fifth landing a listed race at Longchamp.
Love Bomb has gradually been coming down the weights and she edged a bit closer to the target when third in a sprint handicap at Cork under Megan Telford-Kelly. I’d love to see her win so we can keep her very important owner happy!
Finally, Serendipia ran well on her first try at the extended mile and a quarter at Cork when third in a fillies’ maiden. She’s been fairly consistent and we’re obviously keen to get a winning bracket with her, considering her pedigree for the Niarchos Family.
There have only been three months in our entire time training that we’ve had more winners in a single month than was the case in August, and it also goes down as our highest strike rate for a summer month of racing for nearly a decade. Let’s hope the horses can keep holding the form well into the closing stages of the season.