Performance Review

September 2026

It was a special Saturday for the yard this month when we sent out three runners to finish first, second and third across the Irish Champions Festival and an international Grade 1 in North America. When we have the right ammunition, we’d always like to think we can compete on the big stage and, thankfully, the horses really represented us well both at home and abroad.

Rebel Wave has been a filly on the up and it was very satisfying to see her bring up a hat-trick of wins in the World Pool Autumn Fillies Premier Handicap at Leopardstown. Ben Coen managed to deliver her right in the nick of time - that was his first winner for us - and it was lovely to reward the support of her owners Valmont and Ballylinch Stud in a €100,000 pot. She’s gone up 6lb to a mark of 88 after her Irish Champions Festival win, and we might take our chance in a listed race to hunt for blacktype before the year is out.

Rebel Wave wins at Leopardstown

Earlier on the same card, I thought Timeless Tale ran a big race in defeat when runner-up in the Listed Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle Stakes. She had been an impressive winner at Naas on her debut over six furlongs and maybe the step up to seven furlongs might just have stretched her a little. She’s still a very nice prospect next season when she’s a stronger model for Anne and the O’Callaghan family.

Likewise, Jancis emerged from her third in the Grade 1 E. P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine with her head held high. She was only beaten a neck and a nose and earned some very valuable Grade 1 blacktype. On the back of that run, I think we’re well entitled to have a crack at the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland now. I don’t think she’ll look out of place in that line-up for Arturo Cousino.

We had a good afternoon at Navan during the month too when sending out a double, started by Chapel Lane in a mile maiden. He’s a Tamayuz three-year-old I’ve always held in decent regard and he certainly wasn’t winning out of turn for good friends of mine, Tom McParland and Joey Kirwan. I can see him making into a better four-year-old next season too. I liked the way he won and the penny seems to be dropping with him.

Chapel Lane, the first of a double at Navan

Make The Tide completed the double in a mile handicap later on the card, and that was an important win for her pedigree as she’s now a winning half-sister to this year’s Ebor runner-up Hopewell Rock (among the leading fancies for the Melbourne Cup). She’s started to strengthen up as a filly lately, and went on to finish second in a 21-runner handicap under a 5lb penalty back at Navan later that week. Dave and Sarah Hyland of Oghill Stud have been great supporters of the yard and I’m delighted for them to see this three-year-old amongst the winners.

And Make the Tide completes the double at Navan

Another very well-bred filly to get off the mark for us was Guy’s Girl, who repaid the faith to keep her in training when winning at Clonmel under a good ride from Billy. She isn’t the biggest filly in the world but she’s got a high-class pedigree and I’m thrilled for her owner Steve Fisher that we could get her into the winner’s enclosure. She’ll have to step up in class after this.

Guy's Girl gets off the mark at Clonmel

Sanctijude made it two wins in the space of four starts when coming through under a lovely ride from Billy in a nine-furlong handicap at Punchestown. She seemed to enjoy that bit of kindness in the ground. Hopefully she’ll run another big race at Navan next month in a mile handicap for her owners Michael and Dympna Deegan.

Sanctijude wins again, this time at Punchestown

Our sixth winner of September came at Fairyhouse when Naoi made it a second success in three starts since joining us. Decent ground seems to bring out the best in her and it was great that she was able to come here and win, having not got a run at Chester the previous week. She’s another who will have to step up in grade again after this win, but she’s turning into a good, fun filly for Ian Rush and Michael Ryan.

Naoi's wins at Fairyhouse, her second win since joining us

Hopefully Osterode should be a winner waiting to happen after back-to-back seconds this month at Down Royal and Bellewstown. She’s very much getting the hang of things for Michael Rosenfeld and is bred to get better with time.

Great Mover enjoys an ease in the ground and ran well to be third at Listowel, having possibly been a little caught for pace initially. I thought she finished out well. Bundle Of Interest filled the same position in a mile handicap at Gowran Park. She tries hard but can have a little trouble with her feet and that’s possibly impacting her.

Steel Magnolia also reached the frame in a sprint at Navan; that was a solid performance off 10lb higher than her win at Naas the previous month. In the same colours, Happy Henry continued his consistent run of form with another couple of placed efforts at Navan and Bellewstown. He’s now improved up to a mark of 67, having started the year with a rating of 44.

Only once in the last decade have we had a better September than was the case this month, and it’s been lovely to have a share of quality winners amongst the bunch too. As everyone knows, the turf season comes to a close at the end of next month and we’ll be doing our very best to see the year out strongly. Hopefully we still have a few more winners left to come.