DERBY DELIGHT FOR STABLES

There was great excitement in Tullogher House Stud, situated between New Ross and Mullinavat and owned by the Phelan family, as the 241st running of the world renowned Epsom Derby got under way.

The Phelan family has been successfully breeding thoroughbred racehorses there as far back as the 1970s but this was the first time they’d had a homebred runner, ‘Khalifa Sat’, in the famous race.

Thoroughbred breeders can go a lifetime without even having a runner in the derby, a race often dominated by powerful owners and trainers, and to have bred the runner-up with their first representative is without doubt a great achievement.

The race was won by Aidan O’Brien’s ‘Serpentine’, one of six runners for O’Brien in the race, with the famous trainer also taking third place.

Khalifa Sat, a three-year-old colt by Free Eagle out of Thermopylae, bred in partnership with the National Stud, was pitted against the best of what the world of middle distance horse racing had to offer, in a 16 horse field.

At a price of 50/1, punters didn’t appear to share the belief of his breeders that he was capable of making a bold bid for glory.

‘From the moment he stood up as a foal, I knew he was a natural racehorse,’ said Declan Phelan, son of Denis, who together run the breeding operation at Tullogher House.

‘He was a real athlete, with a great attitude and temperament.’

The Phelans generally sell their horses either as foals or yearlings. However, the decision to retain the full sister of Khalifa Sat has turned out to be an inspired one. They are now looking forward to what the future might bring.

‘She’s young so there are many possibilities. In time though we look forward to her joining our broodmare band here in Tullogher.’

RIGHT: Declan, Eamon and Denis Phelan at Tullogher house with their filly, which is a full sister to Khailfa Sat, the three-year-old colt ‘natural racehorse’ that came second in the Epson Derby.