Coolmore juvenile fillies go head to head at Dundalk with pedigree and price on their side

Our resident bloodstock experts profile the well-bred eyecatchers and expensive purchases set to grace the track.

HEAD TO HEAD

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies' Maiden (5.45 Dundalk, Friday)

What's the story?

The Coolmore partners and Aidan O’Brien will be hoping that some family funk combined with Wootton Bassett can work the oracle with the latest runner out of Coolmore.

Said runner, Head To Head, makes her debut on Friday in the 7f fillies’ maiden at Dundalk (5.45), with Wayne Lordan in the saddle.

Head To Head has another debuting stablemate for company, Dramatic, the mount of 7lb claimer Jack Cleary, and with none of those who have run having set the world alight, most eyes will be on the Ballydoyle duo in a race which flows on quite nicely from the televised card at Newmarket, in terms of off time.

How's she bred?

Wootton Bassett is having a good time of things, so a definite tick there, and on the dam’s side, Group 3 winner Coolmore is a Galileo sister to Gleneagles, Marvellous, Happily, Joan Of Arc, Taj Mahal, Vatican City and Toy.

Their dam You’resothrilling hasn’t failed yet, but Coolmore’s own career at paddocks hasn’t got off to a flyer.

Her first runner, County Wicklow, who made his debut at Dundalk as well, managed four thirds at a lowly level from 13 starts, but his War Front brother War Strategy, a five-year-old, has fared a bit better in North America, generally being consistent in modest grade and winning twice, the latest just last month at Woodbine.

Head To Head, being a filly, obviously has some longer-term value anyway but connections you would think would dearly love to see a bit of dazzle on a track closer to home from the juvenile, to give her mum a bit of a lift.

Indeed, the family’s fortunes could potentially turn for the better all round this week as this filly’s year older stablemate and Dubawi half-brother, John Steinbeck, has an entry at the Curragh on Sunday.

Who does she face?

First, getting back to her stablemate, Dramatic, she cost MV Magnier the trifling matter of $1,500,000 as a foal at the 2022 Keeneland November Sale. Bred by Dellridge Farm and Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings, she is by Medaglia D’Oro and out of the Storm Cat mare Serena’s Cat.

Dramatic in the ring at Keeneland as a foalCredit: Anne M Eberhardt

That makes her a half-sister to the AP Indy-sired dual Grade 1 winner Honor Code, now doing duty at Lane’s End, Grade 2 winner Noble Tune and Lister winner Declarationofpeace.

The only rival with any form to write home about is Siyouni’s daughter Say Yes To Dreams, trained by O’Brien’s son Donnacha. A St Elias Stables homebred out of an Oasis Dream mare, she has run three times at Naas, finishing second on her first and most recent starts, and not beaten miles in between in the Listed Marwell Stakes.

Anything else afoot on Friday?

Indeed. There is also a North American theme with the debut of Godolphin homebred Secret Theory in the 7f colts’ and geldings’ maiden (4.10) at Newmarket.

By Dubawi out of the Shamardal mare Mistrusting, the juvenile colt trained by Charlie Appleby is a half-brother to the Dark Angel full-siblings Mysterious Night and Althiqa, winners of the Grade 1 Summer Stakes, and Just A Game and Diana Stakes respectively. Another half-sibling, Star Of Mystery, is a Group 2 winner and took the Grade 3 Quick Call Stakes at Saratoga in July.

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