Performance Review

September 2022

It was great to get a hat-trick on the board over the course of September thanks to three lovely maiden winners who should hopefully have nice futures ahead of them.

We were delighted to saddle the first winner in Ireland for Al Shira'aa Racing when Ocean Jewel got off the mark on her second start at Down Royal by four lengths.

She's impeccably bred as a half-sister to 1,000 Guineas and Prix Rothschild winner Mother Earth, and earned black type when second in the Listed Blenheim Stakes at Fairyhouse on her next start. Unfortunately she was just picked off late on by a gelding last time, but I thought it was still a very good run.

Ocean Jewel wins at Down Royal

Ocean Jewel's win kicked off a good evening for Rathbride at Down Royal as we also had Sceolan win for the first time in the five-furlong maiden. She's a grand filly who had run well the time before at Tipperary, and Billy gave her a great ride to come home in front.

A second win at Down Royal with Sceolan

We've always liked Life In Colour and it was nice to see her come out on the right side of a photo at the Curragh for Wendy O'Leary. She was returning from a break and was probably entitled to get her head in front after running well in maidens last year and earlier this season.

Life in Colour wins at the Curragh

We rattled the crossbar on Irish Champions Weekend when Insinuendo ran a super race to only be beaten a neck in second in the Group 2 Blandford Stakes. It looked like a strong renewal of the race and she showed up very well.

There was a cracking run at Gowran from Marcher Lord when not beaten far in third against more experienced horses in a seven-furlong conditions race. We possibly should have ridden him differently, rather than making the pace, but ran a nice race in defeat.

Any Dream Will Do has been a bit frustrating as she has ability but doesn't always finish out her races overly strongly. It wasn't a bad run from her when third at Clonmel during the month. Blazing Skies is another who we're trying to get the best out of, and she ran one of her better races when third at Naas.

Overall, we've had a good, productive few weeks on the track. We still have a few more two-year-olds to run before the end of the season and fingers crossed we can keep things ticking along for the coming months.