Irish-bred Mares Go For The Guiness

Ireland residents are showing off their best Irish-bred mares in this week’s Emerald Isle Stakes. The race is for 4yo and older females over 12 furlongs on the turf course, for a purse of $75,000. The owners are hoping these girls will someday be the mothers of Ireland’s future champions.

Mrs Leprechaun(IRE) is by Rock Of Gibraltar(IRE) out of a Diesis (GB) mare. She has won five races in her career. She was a bit of a slow starter and didn’t really bloom until late in her 3yo season. She is shipping in from Ohio for this race, and to no one’s surprise, the calle3-owned filly will be ridden by D. Nickesy. I’m not sure what the plans for her next season are, but it is worth noting that Rock is already the dam-sire of a stakes-placed colt by Sinndar(IRE).

Travoltachov(IRE) is one of Mizzi Russell’s favorite claimers to ride. She is by Fasliyev(IRE) based on a Caerleon horse. She broke her maiden here in Ireland in her last start. Rumors on the backstretch are that she may already be booked to King Of Kings(IRE) for next season.

Irish Idol(IRE) has won nine races in her career. The 5yo is by Not Impossible(IRE) out of a Rhythm mare. She won the Irish Futurity here as a 2yo, and also ran in this race last year. In one allowance last year, she ran a 109! Definitely some talent in this one. She has only finished off the board twice this year, but collected fourth place in both of those. She continues to be competitive, but some railbirds hanging around seemed to think that when she does retire, Rock Of Gibraltar(IRE) might be a nice choice for her.

Red Rock Groom(IRE) is by Rock Of Gibraltar(IRE) out of a Red Ransom mare. She ran very well in a 14 furlong allowance last time out, and has been lightly raced this season. She didn’t even try long routes until her last two starts, so no one can be sure whether we’ve seen her best at this distance yet. As with Mrs Leprechaun(IRE), the best (only) Irish-bred damsired by Rock so far is by Sinndar(IRE).

Black Tie Dancer(IRE) is the star of this show, and looks like she’ll be a top choice for Ireland’s Equinics team. She is by Black Tie Affair(IRE) out of a Polish Precedent mare, and is ranked #37 in the long turf division. She wasted no time in letting her talent shine, winning a stakes race in her third career start. It wasn’t until this year, though, that she really began to show her stuff. She has won six (6!) stakes this year, running a 103 in her last at 12 furlongs. We certainly don’t want to rush this one into retirement, but I have heard that Theatrical(IRE) would like to get to know her better.

Dr. Schneidbaitzim(IRE) is the grand old lady of this race at six years old. She is by Theatrical(IRE) based on a Gulch horse. She was really a late-bloomer, not winning a race until this year, although she did not run last year as a 5yo. She won two in a row recently before taking a stab at stakes competition, and can run this distance, although she seems to be best around 9 furlongs. Her trainer does not plan to breed her until she is at least stakes-placed, but current reports say she is leaning towards Giant’s Causeway(IRE) for her first breeding.

May the luck ‘o the Irish be with you all. It looks like we will have some fantastic Irish-bred babies in the future to carry on the tradition!