Broodmare Green Room's name in lights as Leopardstown unveil Meld Stakes sponsor

Gillian and Vimal Khosla have stepped in to sponsor one of Leopardstown's premier races in honour of their outstanding broodmare Green Room.

The contest, the Green Room Meld Stakes, takes place on Saturday, July 11.

The Group 3 Meld Stakes has been run at Leopardstown since 2003 and is established as one of the summer highlights at the racecourse. Entries for the 2020 renewal were released on Thursday and can be seen here.

Green Room, an unraced daughter of Breeders' Cup Turf winner Theatrical, was bought by the Khoslas through Templeton Railton Farms for $240,000 at the 2006 Keeneland January Sale and has since gone on to be one of the leading broodmares in the world.

Her offspring include Classic winner Forever Together and fellow Group 1 winners Together Forever (also by Galileo) and Lord Shanakill (Speightstown).

Her progeny consistently lead the way in the sales ring with the sister to Oaks winner Forever Together claiming the accolade of being the highest-priced yearling in the world in 2018, and she also holds the record price for a yearling filly at Goffs after selling for €3.2 million. Her full-sister, recently named Espania by new owners Coolmore, was also top lot at the 2019 Goffs Orby Sale at €3m.

Green Room is based at Ballylinch Stud in Kilkenny and managing director John O’Connor said: “Green Room is one of those rare broodmares who can breed outstanding racehorses, in her case three Group 1 winners, and also exceptional sales horses. She has bred the highest-priced yearling filly in Europe for the last two years. I have never seen a broodmare who can produce such beautiful equine athletes with the consistency that Green Room does. Her yearling filly by Sea The Stars is a real stunner."

He added: "I am very grateful to the Khoslas for basing Green Room at Ballylinch and I feel confident that Green Room and her daughters will have a big influence on the breed for many years to come.”

Tim Husbands MBE, Leopardstown's chief executive, said: “The Meld Stakes has an illustrious history and we are honoured to have it named the Green Room Meld Stakes after this outstanding mare. We are very grateful to Gillian and Vimal Khosla for their support and look forward to celebrating Green Room’s success through this race."

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