Shirocco debutants steal the show at Tattersalls

Image © Healy Racing

Rathbarry and Glenview Stud sire Shirocco got off the mark for the 2024/25 season when securing a double on the card at Tattersalls.

Smart looking newcomer Mayo Shirocco provided Shirocco with his first winner of the new point campaign when scoring in likeable fashion under Bertie Finn in the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden.  

Trained by Colin Bowe and owned by Alberta Capital ltd, she is a first foal of an unraced dam Lady Legacy and was bought back by vendors as a foal at Tattersalls in 2020.

Afterwards handler Colin Bowe said “We don’t have her that long, but she’s as game as a pebble. Bertie says she’s a massive engine, and she is a lovely filly.

The second leg of Shirocco’s double came in the form of the Ross O’Sullivan-trained five-year-old gelding Thetownilovedsowel who travelled and jumped sweetly under Lee Shanahan before asserting from after the final fence to score impressively by a four-length margin.  

Owned by John Murphy and bought for €16,000 at Tattersalls as a foal, ThetownIlovedsowel is a very well-related individual, he is out of a half-sister to Grade 1-winner Harbour Pilot.  O’Sullivan also won first time out at Lingstown with ThetownIlovedsowel’s full-sister Alfie’s Princess who went on to do well in England for Sam Thomas.

“This lad had a little delay last spring, he pulled a muscle and he’s a big horse so took a bit of time, but he’s done it very well – his work was very good he was showing a lot at home,” O’Sullivan said.

“He looks like a nice horse, he is a fine, big, good-looking horse, and he’ll go to the sales potentially.”

Shirocco was an outstanding middle distance performer who had multiple Group 1 success in four different countries which include a Breeder’s Cup Turf and a Coronation Cup.  

He has enjoyed considerable success as a flat sire and is now proven as one of the top National Hunt sires.  Most notably, Shirocco sired the Willie Mullins-trained Annie Power who won Grade 1 hurdles at Punchestown, Fairyhouse, Cheltenham and Aintree.  Another successful offspring is Lac Fontana, winner of the Grade 1 Mersey Hurdle at Aintree and the Grade 3 County Hurdle at Cheltenham. Minella Rocco, Casablanca Mix and Rock The Casbah are good examples of the quality of Shirocco’s stock.

Shirocco was crowned Irish Point-to-Point leading sire of the 2021/22 season with an impressive 25 wins.  He finished 2023/24 season on 17 wins and continues to produce quality pointers.

Also standing at Rathbarry & Glenview Stud are:
Blue Bresil (FR)
Eagles By Day (IRE)
Jeu St Eloi (FR)
Old Persian (GB)
Youmzain (IRE)