Latest Moyglare jewel Trevaunance pays tribute to Ballymacoll heritage

The chance to walk in at the head of a homebred filly after winning an important Group race is surely the goal of anyone who ever bought a mare.

To judge by the smiles which wreathed the face of Eva Maria Bucher-Haefner after Trevaunance had scored in the Prix de la Nonette at Deauville on Saturday, it's a sensation that never gets old, however many times the black and white colours of her Moyglare Stud get to shine.

Trevaunance was backing up a maiden Group race success in the Prix de Pysche 18 days previously and the physically imposing daughter of Muhaarar clearly has a constitution to match her frame, having clocked up plenty of nautical miles on the boat from Ireland to Normandy.

While plenty in the Moyglare broodmare band go back generations, Trevaunance was bred on the farm out of a mare that comes from another blue chip breeding operation.

The Azamour mare Liber Nauticus was bought by Moyglare at Tattersalls in December 2017 as part of the Ballymacoll dispersal for 425,000gns.

Dam of Prix de la Nonette heroine Trevaunance, Liber Nauticus won the Musodora Stakes on just her second startCredit: Alan Crowhurst

A winner of the Musidora Stakes on just her second start for Ballymacoll, Liber Nauticus finished fifth to Talent in the Oaks on her final racecourse appearance.

Prior to Trevaunance, her best progeny was the Listed-winning Exceed And Excel filly Miss Celestial, who was sold at Book 1 the same year as her dam went under the hammer.

Liber Nauticus is in turn out of the Daylami mare Serres, a three-parts sister to St Leger and Breeders' Cup Turf hero Conduit.

Deep into the second decade of her stewardship of Moyglare - the stud's founder Walter brought his daughter on board well before his death in 2012 - Bucher-Haefner claims modestly still to be learning the game.

"I have to be truthful, I'm still learning," she said. "I took over 14 years ago but to know exactly which stallion would suit the mare, you have to be in the business much longer than that.

Moyglare Stud's Eva Maria Haefner-Bucher Haefner leads in Trevaunance and Tony Piccone after success in the Group 2 Prix de la NonetteCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

"Fiona Craig does the matings with me, she is a very good adviser and we discuss them together."

Bucher-Haefner is already looking forward to Trevaunance racing on at four, when some major middle-distance prizes could be lined up. In the meantime she is enjoying a filly that has flourished with surprising speed after being slow to come to hand in the spring.

"She's really big but that's the line from her mother," she said. "I wasn't here last time but when we saw the first betting show, she was the same price as last time so we took it as a good sign.

"I'm so, so surprised. I never expect anything because you can often be disappointed. I’m so thankful to [trainer] Jessica Harrington, who does really great work with her.

"I take the trophy on behalf of everyone who works with her and of course it all starts with the breeding."

And there is plenty more to look forward to with Trevaunance's younger siblings.

Harrington has already taken delivery of a two-year-old colt by Kodiac called Portreath - named like her big sister after a Cornish beach, while behind him there is a yearling colt by Blue Point and a filly foal by Sea The Stars.

The last of then arrived only in May and so Liber Nauticus was not bred to this year.

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