Epic success for small breeder as Mystery Power wins Group 2

Last Saturday marked the latest significant milestone for small breeder Siobhan O'Rahilly as she toasted her first Pattern winner, with the No Nay Never colt Mystery Power maintaining his unbeaten record in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket.

The King Power Racing-owned youngster - who is entered for the National Stakes at the Curragh - was bred by O'Rahilly from her only broodmare Gems, a daughter of Haafhd sourced for just €5,500 at the Goffs February Sale in 2013.

"We watched the race at home as we couldn't make it over to Newmarket," says O'Rahilly. "We were hopeful that he'd be placed but to go and win was just unbelievable. They were all together in a line and Oisin [Murphy] kicked, and on he went. He just took off and went to the line very well."

Asked what initially appealed about the mare at auction, O'Rahilly says: "We just really liked her pedigree. Eddie [Fitzpatrick] was at the sales and he bought her on behalf of my husband Paudie and I.

"We got her home and had her covered by Zoffany and it's gone from there. We're very lucky and it's been a dream come true."

Fayez, the resulting foal from that mating with Zoffany, has been conditioned by David O'Meara to win eight races, three of which have come on good ground at Ripon including a dominant three-length win in Class 2 company in May.

Her second foal is the exceptionally tough Canford Cliffs filly Seaella, a three-time winner at two who rounded off her ten-start juvenile campaign with a close second to Sweety Dream in the Group 3 Prix Miesque at Maisons-Laffitte.

Zoo Fun, her third foal by Zoffany, has won in Sweden and took third in the consolation race for the Swedish Derby at Jagersro on Sunday.

Gems

12yo b m Haafhd-Megdale (Waajib)

2014 Fayez (Zoffany), 8 wins

2015 Seaella (Canford Cliffs), 3 wins, 2nd Prix Miesque G3

2016 Zoo Fun (Zoffany), 1 win

2017 Mystery Power (No Nay Never), 2 wins, won Superlative S-G2

To date, Gems has produced four winners from as many runners, with three of those having earned three-figure Racing Post Ratings.

Her own dam, the Waajib mare Megdale, has nine successful sons and daughters under her name including the Listed-winning pair Frank Sonata and Peaceful Paradise, while Megdale's dam Nawara produced no fewer than 11 winners headed by the 1992 Italian 2,000 Guineas scorer Alhijaz.

Still only 12 years of age, Gems has to rank among the most exciting young producers around, and we can expect to see plenty more from her brood in the coming months and years.

"She's a great mare to go in foal and foals nearly every March or early April each year. Luckily they're all very strong, straightforward types and are all good-looking individuals and movers.

"She's got an Australia yearling colt who could go to the Goffs foals sales, a very good colt at foot who is a full-brother to Mystery Power, and she's back in foal to Australia.

"We've had great luck with the Coolmore stallions. She clicked very well with Canford Cliffs to produce Seaella, who placed in a Group race. Her three-year-old by Zoffany has won and been placed in Sweden.

"Mystery Power is now two from two and her yearling Australia colt is down at Glenvale and will be sold again at the Goffs Orby Sale."

Mystery Power (furthest right) puts his rivals to the sword in the Superlative StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

O'Rahilly, who hails from a farming background in Toomevara in County Tipperary, enjoyed stints at Barnane Stud and Coolmore Australia before returning to Thorny Bridge and Seskin Stud in Fethard, which is run by Coolmore farm manager Eddie Fitzpatrick.

Seskin Stud, where Gems and her youngstock reside, has enjoyed a fine few years through its graduates such as the Matriarch Stakes scorer Off Limits, Coronation Cup runner-up Salouen and the Chipchase and Lady Wulfruna Stakes scorer Above The Rest.

O'Rahilly explains: "I worked weekends and summers at Barnane Stud for two years, then I went to Coolmore Australia, and from there I went to work at Seskin Stud.

"Since I was young, I've always loved horses and had an interest in the bloodstock side of things."

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