New kids on the block to bring the crowds out on circuit of Irish Stallion Trail

The Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Irish Stallion Trail has largely survived the Arctic blast and, with the country defrosting just in time, racing fans and pedigree aficionados alike will get the opportunity to peak behind the curtain of some of Ireland's stallion farms, widely agreed to be among the world's best.

Thirty-one are set to open this Friday and/or Saturday, with Coolmore's four studs throwing open their doors the following Saturday. In total, around 135 sires will be on show. 

If it's new boys you're looking for, then Coolmore's main base at Fethard in County Tipperary should be your destination on Saturday week, for there are not one, not two but three newly minted stallions ready to shine for visitors.

The centre of attention is certain to be City Of Troy, the Derby, Eclipse and Juddmonte International hero who was crowned Cartier horse of the year and is the most expensive new stallion in Europe at €75,000. By Triple Crown hero Justify and a grandson of the mighty Galileo, he is bred to be a super stallion.

City Of Troy isn't the only recent Derby winner ready to be viewed at Coolmore as his immediate predecessor, Auguste Rodin, embarks on his stud career too. Bearing a striking resemblance to his breed-shaping grandsire Sunday Silence, the 2023 Breeders' Cup Turf winner is another crowd-pleaser.

The Classic-winning duo are ably supported by the Group 1 National Stakes winner Henry Longfellow, a son of Dubawi and the champion Minding. 

All three Coolmore new boys are out of Group 1 winners by Galileo.

Sticking with Tipperary and we meet the first of the four horses to have carried the purple colours of Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing to retire to stud in Ireland, with Group 2 Railway Stakes winner Go Bears Go joining Mayson at Springfield House.

Moving towards the centre of the country, and around Mullingar are a quartet of sires being prepared for their first seasons at stud.

Tally-Ho is another of Ireland's leading farms to have been bolstered by a trio of fresh recruits, the new kids headed by the Group 1 Champion Stakes winner King Of Steel, who was runner-up to Auguste Rodin at Epsom.

A tall and striking steel grey, he is one of two Amo-owned sons of Wootton Bassett to join the Tally-Ho roster this year, the other being the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes winner Bucanero Fuerte.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Big Evs is from the dynamite first crop of Blue Point and he's another young sire who will be immediately recognisable to racing fans.

On the other side of Lough Ennell, at Starfield Stud, is Group 2 winner Aesop's Fables, who was also placed at the highest level in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and Prix de l'Abbaye and is a son of leading two-year-old sire No Nay Never.

Across the eastern border in County Meath is Boardsmill Stud, where the St Leger runner-up and Group 3 winner Arrest joins the Flood family's team.

Doing a circuit of Ireland, heading south to County Kildare and Yeomanstown Stud is the first port of call to see last season's Group 1 July Cup winner Mill Stream, and if you're lucky you might also catch a glimpse of reigning champion sire Dark Angel.

On to the Irish National Stud, where Shouldvebeenaring is the first son of Havana Grey to retire to stud in Ireland. Middleham Park Racing's grey from the second crop of the sire sensation was a Group 3 winner last year, having been placed in the Group 1 Prix de l'Abbaye and Sprint Cup in 2023.

Head on down the M9 to Ballyhane Stud, where Joe Foley will unveil the Mill Reef Stakes winner Sakheer, the final son of Zoffany to retire to stud. Then finish up your trip in County Kilkenny at the historic Ballylinch Stud, where Look De Vega, successful in last year's Prix du Jockey Club, has joined his globally renowned sire Lope De Vega.

For opening times and further details, click here.

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