Breeder Nigel Riley is upbeat ahead of the National Yearling Sale in Johannesburg this week after he enjoyed a big win for a son of former Heversham Park stallion Solskjaer at Aintree on Grand National day.
Unable to get a flight to watch the My Pension Expert Maghull Gr1 Novices’ Chase where Found A Fifty was taking on some decent opposition, Advocate Nigel Riley relaxed in front of the telly on his beautiful farm, and enjoyed the victory, another chapter in a fairytale for a stallion imported into South A frica some 17 years ago.
“Found A Fifty has had five Gr1 outings this years, and has never been out of the first two,” he told the Sporting Post
Found A Fifty returns after a gutsy win (Pic – Gordon Elliott Racing)
Solskjaer was a half-brother to Yeats (Sadler’s Wells), who won seven Gr1 races and at the time was picking up momentum as a sire of excellent jump horses.
“We made some enquiries and sent Solskjaer back to Ireland to stand as a jump stallion at Coolagown Stud in County Cork. He covered 80 mares a season in his first three seasons but then he scaled down after his busy time. Solsksjaer retired with dignity and made his mark,” said Riley.
And now Found A Fifty is proving one of his best and saw quotes of 33-1 (from 66) from Paddy Power for next season’s Champion Chase after getting the better of a head-bobbing finish with Master Chewy in the My Pension Expert Maghull Novices’ Chase.
Found A Fifty was headed halfway up the run-in but battled back to score by a head. In doing so he completed a Grade 1 double on the day for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy after Brighterdaysahead’s win in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle. Trainer and jockey also combined to claim the runner-up spot in the National with Delta Work.
Enjoy the replay – as much as Nigel has!
The Riley’s Heversham Park Farm will be offering two lovely fillies at this week’s National Yearling Sale.
Singspiel’s Gr1 winning son Potala Palace is no stranger to siring high-class fillies with his daughters including the likes of Gr1 South African Fillies Sprint winner Singforafa, and this season’s Gr1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas runner up Red Palace to name but two.
He is represented in this draft by a filly (Lot 234) whose Dynasty sired dam Marie Antoinette is a half-sister to speedy Gr1 Cape Flying Championship winner Sergeant Hardy. Tellingly, perhaps, Dynasty is also the sire of Potala Palace’s Gr1 winning half-sister Front And Centre, and this is a filly already packed with paddock value.
Dubawi’s Gr1 SA Nursery winning son Willow Magic is a prolific source of winners, with his offspring including the durable Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes winner MK’s Pride.
Heversham are offering a well bred daughter of Willow Magic. Lot 367 IS a half-sister to four winners, including Gr3 Pretty Polly Stakes runner up Celestina. This filly’s dam is a Jet Master half-sister to the stakes placed Twilight Tiger, and further back, this is the family of the lightning fast Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner Noble Heir.
These two fillies can be viewed from Block A at the TBA Complex in Germiston.
