“Bravemansgame’s sister lit a fire” – a brave new world for Patrick Kelly | Bloodstock News
CAROLINE NORRIS
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By Aisling Crowe
A father-son Dunlavin team is planning perfect timing for their quartet of mares at Sunday’s ThoroughBid auction.
Patrick Kelly and his father and brother, spinologists Dermot and Jimmy, have a select sample of young National Hunt mares entered into the online auction, including a half-sister to the third favorite behind Honeysuckle for the Champion Hurdle.
All Risk For Love is a daughter of National Hunt’s top young French sire, No Risk At All, and a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Teahupoo, who has only won once in six starts since his arrival in Ireland.
The venture, which sees her up for sale with three other mares from the Wicklow family farm, was, by a twist of fate, inspired by the Kellys missing out on a Bravemansgame sister who eventually joined the founders of ThoroughBid, as the 23-year-old explains.
“The way this whole business started was in November 2020,” he says. “We wanted to buy a mare in France named Tikinik and we almost had her for buttons, but we stalled, braked and didn’t chase her when we had the chance.
“It was shortly after Bravemansgame won its first hurdle. She lit the fire a bit and made us think it was doable, so that’s how we got started.”
Father and sons have shared their areas of expertise, with Dermot providing the land and knowledge of Jimmy’s horses, while Patrick is the talent scout. He observes and studies the Irish point-to-point, bumper and first hurdle form as well as the action in France. With the help of a French speaker, he then goes in search of mares whose pedigrees should soon receive updates.
Deep Auction
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“It’s great, they sort of eliminate each other,” he says of his approach. “I can see 30 beautiful horses, and maybe 15 of them won’t have sisters. Of those that do, a lot won’t sell, so you end up with a smaller pool to choose from.”
All Risk For Love was placed in a three-year-old hedge for Yannick Fouin and is offered full of Jet Away.
“We bought it in France, brought it back to Ireland and covered it in Jet Away,” says Kelly. “It was a different angle and the cross looks good.
“He is a young stallion with a very good profile and this sale could come at the right time as Jet Powered sold so well after winning his pre-Christmas point-to-point topping the Tattersalls online sale.”
Kelly, who is currently working as a tour guide at the Irish National Stud, has high hopes for another Gordon Elliott-trained novice hurdler for Robcour and also happens to be selling his half-sister on Sunday.
“I really think Gerri Colombe will be an exceptional horse, and I hope we see the best of him at Punchestown later in the season,” he said.
“The Jubanaise has won four races in France and has a yearling filly Brave Mansonnien. We bought her in France in foal to him last year. Dad has another half-sister to Gerri Colombe here and keeps her for reproduce it.”
Moyode Gold is not full but with an equally exciting pedigree, a Gold Well half-sister to Hollow Games, Bective Stud’s Monksfield Novice Hurdle winner. The six-year-old son of Beat Hollow also finished third in two Year 1s and has Cheltenham starters.
A two-time hurdler, Moyode Gold is out of a half-sister to Hilly Way Chase winner Tumbling Dice and her second dam is a half-sister to the brilliant Remittance Man. Kelly is equally optimistic in her predictions for the future of Hollow Games.
“We bought Moyode Gold at the end of last year, she is a beautiful mare with a lot of size,” he says. “She is a half-sister to a Grade 3 winner who was placed twice in Grade 1 and there is no doubt in my mind that I am selling a half-sister to a horse that will be a Grade 1 winner. He’ll have won a grade 1 over three miles by this time next year.”
The quartet is completed by Estelle Ma Belle, a well-linked winner for Paul Nicholls by Air Chief Marshal.
Kelly said: “She’s a nice, big mare who has shown talent on the ring and will make a great broodmare. It’s a great proposition.”
For many people having these mares on their farm would be the start of a breeding operation but not for Kelly.
“I’m happy to test my eye, hope to get paid for them and install the next boy,” he says. “I have a shortlist of about 15 people to follow next!”
Auctions open at 6 p.m. on Sunday for 28 lots, including Maskada, which has an entry in the Grand Annual.
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FIRST POSTED AT 12:57 PM, MARCH 5, 2022