Unusual heritage a unique selling point for Straw Bear relation

One of the more intriguing pedigrees at this week’s Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale belongs to lot 257, an El Salvador colt related to top-class hurdler Straw Bear who will be offered by his breeder Robert McCabe on Monday.

His dam Moray Firth hails from a registered UAE foal crop of just 36 in 2005, at a time when Sheikh Mohammed was attempting to build up the native breeding industry there, with Halling sent on to secondment to Emirates Stud Farm from Dalham Hall Stud and US-bred stallions Timber Country and Jade Robbery both leased from Shadai Stallion Station in Japan.

Following the last-named pair’s return to the Far East and Halling’s departure to Britain, only a handful of thoroughbred mares have foals registered in the UAE each year, and according to the Emirates Stud Book, no foals were registered at all in 2013.

View the Straw Bear relation's catalogue page

Bred by Cyril Humphris, Moray Firth shares her third dam Camogie with her sire Halling, who won both the Juddmonte International and Eclipse Stakes twice.

While Moray Firth was unraced, her three-parts brother Straw Bear, by Diesis, won both the 2006 Fighting Fifth Hurdle and 2007 Christmas Hurdle, leading many of the mare's progeny to be campaigned over jumps.

Her first foal, by Shirocco, was twice placed in point-to-points, while her son Brown Bear has recorded five wins over jumps including three victories at Fontwell.

"He's an athletic, racey and correct foal," said McCabe, who is based in County Wexford, of his sale offering. "He has a nice step on him and should turn into a nice racehorse.

"I also have a two-year-old by the sire - a lovely, big scopey model - and the sire seems to put a good step into them.

"I asked his previous owners, who I broke some horses for, if they had a mare for sale and luckily they happened to have one. She is now back in foal to Elusive Pimpernel."

The Listed-placed El Salvador was a late maturer on the Flat for Aidan O’Brien but blossomed into a classy runner over middle-distance and staying trips, finishing second to Pique Sous in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot and winning the Irish Cesarewitch on his final start.

Retired to Killack Stud in County Wexford in 2015, he stood the latest season at a €1,000 fee.

The colt is one of two foals by the sire to be offered this week, with McCabe also offering a colt from the family of Italian Oaks winner Lady Bentley immediately beforehand as lot 256.

McCabe also owns and trains Proper Ticket, a daughter of Gold Well who finished second for him in a mares' maiden at Ballinaboola on Sunday.

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