Rose of Kildare First Group Winner for Make Believe
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Photo: Edward Whitaker/Racing Post
Make Believe wins the 2015 Prix de la Foret at Longchamp
Ballylinch Stud's first-season sire Make Believe passed a significant milestone Sept. 21 when Rose of Kildare became his first black-type winner with a game success in the William Hill Firth Of Clyde Stakes (G3) at Ayr.
The Mark Johnston-trained filly has been a real flag-bearer for her sire, having won four of her 11 starts, a record that includes a victory at Redcar in May, when she became the first progeny of Make Believe to pass the post in front.
Bred in Ireland by Wansdyke Farms, Rose of Kildare is the second foal out of Cruck Realta, a daughter of Sixties Icon who won three times, including the 2013 Ballymacoll Stud Stakes, during her time in training with Mick Channon.
Despite being out of such a well-performed mare, Rose of Kildare only cost Johnston €3,000 (US$3,531) at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale from the draft of Oghill House Stud.
Her success Saturday seems set to ensure that her half brother, by sire of the moment Kingman, will fetch a good deal more than she did when Oghill House offers the colt at the upcoming Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
Make Believe is the highest-achieving progeny of Makfi, having won the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, G1) and Qatar Prix de la Foret (G1) in 2015. He has supplied nine winners across Europe with his debut 2-year-olds.
His debut crop—conceived at a fee of €20,000—contains 88 foals, with other notable performers including Sandown scorer and listed-placed Tammani and the useful dual winner Makyon.