Gary’s delight at acquisition of winning horse
A SLIGO-born stud farm owner has spoken of his delight at acquiring the recent winner of the July Stakes.
Gary Duffy, originally from Ballisodare, is the owner of the Irish Emerald Stud farm which is now home to stallion Royal Lytham. Royal Lytham made a winning debut over an extended 5f at Navan in June for Aidan O’Brien and went on to triumph in the Grade 2 July Stakes on his third start. He rounded off his juvenile season with a close third in the Grade 1 Phoenix Stakes, behind the subsequent Grade 1 Irish 2,000 Guineas victor Siskin.
He is the eldest son of Gleneagles, who was also a successful racehorse before being retired to become a breeding stallion.
The July Stakes record for winners who sire equally successful horses made Royal Lytham a much sought after horse. Speaking in The Racing Post, Gary explained how a seemingly unlikely deal eventually came about. He said: “Throughout 2020 I was looking for potential stallions. I had followed Royal Lytham’s career from when he was a two-year-old and thought he was unbelievably impressive winning the July Stakes, showing a real tough and willing attitude to put his head down and battle to the line to win.”
“To be honest I thought he would be way over my budget being such a high-class two-yearold and with such a fantastic pedigree, so I saved myself the embarrassment and didn’t enquire about him.”
“Then I saw he was entered for the sales [Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale], so I acted quickly and thankfully was able to secure him in a private deal. He has everything I’d look for in a stallion. He is the best offspring from European champion Gleneagles’ first two crops, he’s out of a high-quality Grade 3 performer and from a Grade 1 family. He was a precocious two-year-old, and physically he is absolutely stunning,” Duffy added.