There were three stakes races in Europe last Thursday and all three were won by Irish bred horses. At Leopardstown Moyglare Stud’s homebred Sense Of Purpose (IRE) showed great battling qualities to win the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes, seeing off Marksmanship (IRE) (by Galileo) and Bob Le Beau (IRE) (by Big Bad Bob) in a tremendous finish. It was Dermot Weld’s fifth success in the race in the last ten years and he paid tribute to the daughter of Galileo saying; “That was a wonderful ride from Pat (Smullen) but the real star of the show is the filly. She is small but all guts and courage personified. She’s really a one-mile-six mare and doesn’t know how to quit.

At Deauville, the Listed Prix Du Cercle was won by the Irish bred Lisselan Diva. Bred in Cork by Colman O’Flynn, Lisselan Diva is a daughter of former Rathbarry stallion Barathea and she is trained by France based Jennifer Bidgood. At Le Test De Buch, Vladimir (IRE) won the Listed Criterium Du Bequet for Spanish trainer Mauricio Delcher. The 2yo son of Kheleyf was bred by Denis Noonan and Loughphilip Bloodstock and was sold at last years Goffs Orby Sale by Cregg Stud to MAB Agency for €27,000. Vladimir won a maiden at Madrid on his second start and is the first foal out of the Barathea mare Catch The Sea who is out of the high class sprinter Catch The Blues (IRE).