'Bravemansgame's sister ignited a fire' - brave new world for Patrick Kelly

A Dunlavin father-and-sons team is planning on perfect timing working out for their quartet of mares in Sunday's ThoroughBid auction.

Patrick Kelly and his father and brother, spinologists Dermot and Jimmy, have a select draft of young National Hunt mares entered in the online auction, including a half-sister to the third favourite behind Honeysuckle for the Champion Hurdle.

All Risk For Love is a daughter of France's best young National Hunt sire No Risk At All and a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Teahupoo, who has only once failed to win in six starts since arriving in Ireland.

The enterprise, which sees her offered for sale along with three other mares from the family's Wicklow farm, was, in a twist of fate, inspired by the Kellys missing out on a sister to Bravemansgame who eventually wound her way to the founders of ThoroughBid, as the 23-year-old explains.

"How this whole venture started was back in November 2020," he says. "We wanted to buy a mare in France named Tikinik and we nearly had her for buttons but we stalled, slapped the brakes on and didn't go after her when we had the chance.

"This was shortly after Bravemansgame had won his first hurdle. She ignited a bit of fire, and made us think it was doable, so this is how we got into it."

The father and sons spilt their areas of expertise, with Dermot supplying the land and Jimmy horse knowledge, while Patrick is the talent spotter. He watches and researches Irish point-to-point, bumper and maiden hurdle form as well as the action in France. With the aid of a French speaker, he then goes in search of mares with pedigrees he believes will shortly be receiving updates.

All Risk For Love is being offered in foal to Jet AwayCredit: ThoroughBid

"It's great, they kind of weed themselves out," he says of his approach. "I can see 30 nice horses, and maybe 15 of them won't have sisters. Of those that do, quite a lot won't sell, so then you're left with a smaller pool to select from."

All Risk For Love was placed in a three-year-hurdle for Yannick Fouin and is offered in foal to Jet Away.

"We bought her in France, brought her back to Ireland and covered her with Jet Away," says Kelly. "It was a different angle and the cross looks a good one.

"He's a young sire with a very nice profile and this sale could be at the right time as Jet Powered sold so well after winning his point-to-point before Christmas, topping the Tattersalls Online Sale."

Kelly, who is currently working as a tour guide at the Irish National Stud, has high hopes for another novice hurdler trained by Gordon Elliott for Robcour and happens to be selling his half-sister on Sunday too.

"I really do think Gerri Colombe will be an exceptional horse, and hopefully we'll see the best of him at Punchestown later in the season," he says.

"La Jubanaise won four races in France and has a Brave Mansonnien yearling filly. We bought her in France in foal to him last year. Dad has another half-sister to Gerri Colombe here and is keeping her to breed from."

Not in foal but with a similarly exciting pedigree is Moyode Gold, a Gold Well half-sister to Bective Stud's Monksfield Novice Hurdle winner Hollow Games. The six-year-old son of Beat Hollow has also been third in two Grade 1s and has Cheltenham entries.

Twice successful over hurdles, Moyode Gold is out of a half-sister to Hilly Way Chase winner Tumbling Dice and her second dam is a half-sister to the brilliant Remittance Man. Kelly is equally bullish in his predictions for the future of Hollow Games.

"We bought Moyode Gold late last year, she's a lovely mare with plenty of size," he says. "She's a half-sister to a Grade 3 winner who has twice been Grade 1-placed and there's no doubt in my mind that I'm selling a half-sister to a horse who'll be a Grade 1 winner. He'll have won a Grade 1 over three miles by this time next year."

The quartet is completed by Estelle Ma Belle, a well-related winner for Paul Nicholls by Air Chief Marshal.

Kelly says: "She's a fine, big mare who showed talent on the track and will make a really nice broodmare. She's a lovely proposition."

For many people, having these mares on their farm would be the start of a breeding operation but not for Kelly.

"I'm happy testing my eye, hopefully getting paid for them and setting up the next lad," he says. "I've a shortlist of about 15 to go after next!"

Bidding opens at 6pm on Sunday for 28 lots including Maskada, who has an entry in the Grand Annual.

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