First winner for Ballylinch Stud's Make Believe at Redcar

Make Believe became the latest first-season sire to get off the mark in Europe after Rose Of Kildare made it third-time lucky in division two of the racingtv.com EBF Novice Auction Stakes at Redcar.

The winner of both the French Guineas and Prix Jean Prat in 2015 as part of a light career for Andre Fabre and Prince Faisal, the son of Makfi is the latest young stallion hope at Ballylinch Stud, the County Kilkenny operation which has masterminded the upward breeding direction of Lope De Vega.

View result and watch race replay here

Make Believe is being offered at €12,000 this year, down from an opening price of €20,000, and has a maiden crop of 88 potential runners to represent him.

Half a dozen had hit the track already, with Rose Of Kildare his most profitable return to date having finished an unlucky-looking second on her Brighton debut before taking fourth place at the Chester May meeting.

Another of his daughters, Paper Star, has achieved placings on both her starts to date.

Out of the Listed Ballymacoll Stud Stakes winner Cruck Realta, Rose Of Kildare was bought by Johnston himself for a knockdown €3,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale.

Ridden in typical front-running style for the stable by Joe Fanning, the 6-5 favourite hung to the left in the last of the six furlongs but still had more than enough in her locker to come home a length and a quarter clear of market rival Huraa, the Brazen Beau-sired runner-up showing plenty of promise on what was her racecourse debut.

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