John O'Connor: Ballylinch Stud roster 'as strong as it's ever been'

Ballylinch Stud managing director John O'Connor has said the farm's roster is "as strong as it's ever been" and suggests second-season sire Make Believe has what it takes to become "a major sire".

Make Believe's first crop of three-year-olds includes Prix du Jockey Club hero Mishriff, now a leading contender for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and who holds an entry in the Grand Prix de Paris in mid-September, and Musidora Stakes scorer Rose Of Kildare, who also took third in the German 1,000 Guineas in June.

"Make Believe has made an outstanding start," said O'Connor, who runs Ballylinch Stud for American businessman and philanthropist John C Malone.

"It's pretty rare that a young stallion will sire such a high-class Classic winner in his first crop. And, of course, he's got plenty of other winners to back it up.

"Rose Of Kildare has really turned into a people's favourite now with her ability to turn up at the races time and again and give her best form.

"Make Believe's progeny have amazing attitudes. The will to win, the way they put their head down and fight for everything. That's something you really want in a racehorse. I think most people are starting to become believers now and I think Make Believe is going to become a major sire."

Two of the County Kilkenny stud’s five-strong Flat roster had their first two-year-old runners this year - New Bay, a son of Dubawi who precedes Mishriff on the French Derby roll of honour, and dual Group 1 winner Fascinating Rock, by Fastnet Rock.

New Bay has fielded seven winners to date headed by Imperial Yellow, who was third to Method in the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury, while Fascinating Rock - whose best form came at four and five - got off the mark with talented pair High Peak and Forbidden Beauty.

"New Bay has made a fantastic start - possibly the best start statistically of any stallion we've ever had," said O'Connor.

"He's got 78 per cent winners to runners from his UK and Ireland runners. I don't know if any stallion has ever made a start like that.

"He wasn't a precocious or early two-year-old himself but his stock are well ahead of that schedule. If they step up like we expect them to then this could be a major stallion to come."

Of Fascinating Rock, O'Connor said: "We're really pleased with the start he has made. We think he can really build on that. He wasn't necessarily a precocious two-year-old himself, but his two-year-olds are showing precocity, speed and a really good attitude.

"The feedback from trainers is excellent - expect to see plenty of action from Fascinating Rock between here and the end of the year."

Leading the way on the farm is flagbearer Lope De Vega, whose ten elite winners includes Black Caviar Lightning Stakes scorer Gytrash and recent Just A Game Stakes winner Newspaperofrecord, while his son Summerghand shouldered top weight to victory in the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood on Saturday.

"Undoubtedly Lope De Vega is leader of the pack and I think will continue to be so," noted O'Connor.

"He's a really successful sire with his ability to upgrade even good mares. I think his star will only continue to rise."

Completing the quintet is last year's Arc hero Waldgeist, the youngest stallion on the farm who covered his first book of mares at a €17,500 fee this year.

O'Connor said of the attractive son of Galileo: "Waldgeist is an interesting horse in the sense he was actually bred and raced in partnership by Dietrich von Boetticher of Gestut Ammerland, who also bred and raced Lope De Vega, so there's a bit of history repeating itself there.

"Waldgeist had an outstanding first book of mares, every bit as good as we started with Lope De Vega."

O'Connor added: "We're delighted with the roster at the moment - it's as strong as it's ever been.

"We've got a great team driving it all forward. It's one of the things I'm most proud of, to have built a team at Ballylinch that would equal any farm anywhere in the world."

Read more...

Group 2 winner Threat among 774 lots for Tattersalls August Sale

Miss Yoda has Sea The Stars in the Classic limelight once again

Fairytale comes true as stud staff yearling fetches seven figures