Irish Tweed out to prove she is made of the right material at Lingfield

It is five years since Elm Park’s fine juvenile campaign culminated in a Group 1 victory in the former Racing Post (now Vertem Futurity) Trophy at Doncaster and it will be a couple more before his first progeny from Haras du Saz begin to hit the racecourse.

For the time being, trainer Andrew Balding can look forward to the debut of his half-sister Irish Tweed, who makes her debut in the Rahman Ravelli EBF Fillies' Novice Median Auction Stakes at Lingfield on Wednesday.

Like Elm Park, Irish Tweed is very much a Balding family production as she was bred by Kingsclere Stud, run by the trainer’s mother Emma, and carries the iconic Mill Reef colours, formerly of Paul Mellon and now of the Kingsclere Racing Club.

Elm Park was much the best Flat progeny of the former Balding-trained Phoenix Reach and they opted for a speedier influence in the shape of Roderic O’Connor, formerly of the National Stud, to use with the mare Lady Brora.

She is another Kingsclere homebred, and a maiden-winning daughter of Dashing Blade. Her offspring also include useful middle-distance handicapper Brorocco and three-year-old Inclyne, who broke her duck at Kempton a week ago.

Since Elm Park and Brorocco, Lady Brora has produced a succession of fillies and she has also produced a yearling daughter by Nathaniel and a foal by Sea The Moon.

Most of the family, aside from its leading light, have taken a little more time to come to hand and three of her rivals - Restless Endeavour, Follia and Gypsy River - have shown something already.

The Queen unveils Paco Boy newcomer High Shine, who comes from a family which has produced a few Royal winners already including Sir Michael Stoute’s progressive Sextant.

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