Remarkable Cheltenham Festival double for Sway as McManus siblings strike

Sway achieved a rare Cheltenham Festival broodmare double on Friday when her daughter Limerick Lace was successful in the Grade 2 mares' chase, 24 hours after Sway's son, Inothewayurthinkin landed the Kim Muir. The Walk In The Park full siblings are both trained by Gavin Cromwell for JP and Noreen McManus, who also bred the pair.

The 18-year-old daughter of late Boardsmill Stud sire Califet won eight times under rules in France and Britain, including a trio of Listed contests over hurdles for breeder-trainer Guy Cherel. She was subsequently acquired by McManus and struck at Ludlow and Exeter for Jonjo O'Neill. 

Sway has continued winning ways in her second career too with her first five foals all successful on the track for Gavin Cromwell and their owner-breeders.

Her first foal, the Yeats gelding Spades Are Trumps, won three times for Gavin Cromwell, while her second, Ilikedwayurthinkin also by Yeats, won four times and was second in a Grade 3 handicap hurdle at Aintree's Grand National meeting.

Sway went to Galileo next and produced winning hurdler Walk Me Home, while she did not produce a foal in 2016. Her next two however are the Cheltenham winning Walk In The Park siblings.

Inothewayurthinkin (Derek O'Connor) wins the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham FestivalCredit: Patrick McCann

Earlier this season, Inothewayurthinkin placed third in Grade 1 company in the Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick behind Arkle hero Gaelic Warrior. 

Excitingly, Sway has a two-year-old colt and yearling filly by Walk In The Park, thus making them siblings to the Cheltenham Festival winners. Sway's five-year-old Flemensfirth son Mywayofthinkin, meanwhile, was a promising second on his debut in a Leopardstown bumper in December for Cromwell. 

Her four-year-old gelding by Getaway is named Thatsdwayimthinkin and struck in an Oldtown point-to-point on debut last month. 

Sway is a half-sister to Romanesco, who was third in the Kim Muir for Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud back in 2013. 

Sway follows in the footsteps of another remarkable mare in Robbe, whose Delta Work (Network) and Jazzy Matty (Doctor Dino) struck in the Cross Country Chase and Boodles Handicap Hurdle last year.

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