An Extra Special Victory

"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!" was the philosophy behind Ballymore Stables' decision to purchase a group of yearlings in the United Kingdom last year and the plan to unearth promising Northern hemisphere bred gallopers is already proving successful.

Our first runner - raced by the Ballymore Downunder Syndicate - was Extra Noble at Goodwood in late May and, after a promising debut second the son of Epsom Derby winner Sir Percy was able to go right on with the job saluting at only his second outing at Kempton last week.

Racing a little greenly after joining the leader with 100m to go in the seven furlong (1400m) maiden, Extra Noble dug deep over the final stages and Paul Moroney was there to cheer him on.

"He is our first to run so we are extremely happy with the results so far," he said.

"He cost 50,000 gns and is from a German staying family so for him to be showing up in early Summer is quite exciting for his future."

Trained by Ralph Beckett who recently quinelled the Epsom Oaks with Talent and Special Gesture, Extra Noble is one of six yearlings selected by Paul at last year's Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

"The others are a Pivotal colt (100k gns) named Reaffirmed who is impressing in training as a likely autumn two-year-old with Ed Vaughan at Newmarket who also has Rock Hard Ten and Authorized colts who are staying types," Paul said.

"And an Oratorio filly named Cypress Point who is coming to hand nicely as an autumn two-year-old prospect whilst the other one is a tall, scopy staying filly by Teofilo with Rae Guest at Newmarket and he is clearly pleased with what he's seen to date."

Utilizing Paul's great eye for a yearling, we are hoping that the young horses will kick-start a long term plan with the nicer prospects able to head to Australia whilst others can be traded to "keep the process ticking over each year."

"I amd based in Newmarket for the next four months overseeing things" Paul said, "and looking for new racing and breeding prospects for my client base and to establish myself as a yearling buyer up here so I am rapt with Extra Noble's victory from all perspectives!"