Ablah breaks maiden at Dundalk
The Adrian McGuinness-trained Ablah (2 f ex Here Comes Lucinda by Dixieland Band) got his head in front at the eighth attempt as he shed his maiden tag when he landed Hollywoodbets Nursery Handicap (6f) at Dundalk on Wednesday and in the process handed former Coolmore Stud shuttler Air Force Blue (War Front) with his 12th first-crop winner.
The two-year-old filly took the lead with one furlong left to travel and surged clear to beat Ginato (Footstepsinthesand) by a length and three-quarters, while Brokers Tip (Anjaal) was a further head away in third.
The filly was purchased by Kingswood Farm for US$80,000 at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale and she is out of placed Dixieland Band (Northern Dancer) mare Here Comes Lucinda.
Ablah is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Stormy Lucy (Stormy Atlantic) and winner Elusive Luci (Elusive Quality), who in turn produced Grade 2 winner Big Runnuer (Stormy Atlantic).
Here Comes Lucinda is herself a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Moonwalk (Malibu Moon), Listed scorer Thatswhatimean (Belong To Me) and the dam of Listed winner Fool’s Paradise (Pioneerof the Nile).
Air Force Blue shuttled to Australia for one season and he now stands exclusively at Coolmore’s Kentucky base and his fee in 2021 will be US$10,000.