First Foals For Hurricane Lane
Courtesy Of The European Bloodstock News, 20/02/2025
Grange Stud’s triple Gr.1 winner Hurricane Lane, who was acquired from Godolphin in August 2023, has welcomed his first batch of foals over the recent weeks.
Gerry Mullins of Ballyduane Stud has bred a colt out of the unraced Sholokhov mare Jodotville, a half-sister to the Italian Gr.2-winning hurdler and Gr.1 Grande Steeple Chase di Milano runner-up Plinsky (King’s Theatre), as well as the Aintree Listed winner Minella Forfitness (Westerner). A delighted Mullins commented: “He is not just a nice foal...he is an absolute belter! He is a beautiful colt and has a beautiful head on him, a great backside and a lovely walk.”
Bruce Mactaggart’s nine-year-old Flemensfirth mare Annies Regatta has also produced a filly by the sire. The dam is a full-sister to the dual Gr.2 winner and Gr.1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle-placed Three Musketeers, and a half-sister to the Gr.2-winning chaser and dual Gr.1 Ascot Chase-placed Royal Regatta (King’s Theatre). This is also the family of the Gr.1-winning jumpers Strong Flow and Strong Leader.
Rathasker Stud’s Scarlet Wings, a 12-year-old daughter of Sir Percy, has also foaled a filly. She has already produced two winners on the Flat, as well as the Gr.2-placed hurdler Berkshire Phoenix (Bungle Inthejungle), and is a half-sister to the dual Gr.2-winning and multiple Gr.1-placed sire Sri Putra (Oasis Dream) and the Gr.2 Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle winner Duty (Rainbow Quest). This is also the family of the Gr.1 Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle, Gr.1 Morgiana Hurdle and Galway Hurdle winner Saldier.
A further two fillies have also been bred by A V and Minch Bloodstock and Sweetmans Bloodstock. The former is a half-sister to the Listed winner and Gr.2-placed Irish Roe (Vinnie Roe) out of the unraced Oscar mare Betty’s The Best, from the family of Gr.1 Champion INH Flat Race winner Supreme Developer and the Gr.1-placed hurdler Sandor Clegane. The latter is a particularly well-bred individual, being a half-sister to the Gr.1 King George VI Chase hero Tornado Flyer and the recent Punchestown hurdle winner Magic McColgan (both by Flemensfirth), out of the Exceed And Excel mare Mucho Macabi, a half-sister to the legendary hurdler Hurricane Fly (Montjeu).
A 200,000gns purchase by Godolphin from Normandie Stud at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Hurricane Lane was a two-length winner of his only start at two. At three, he racked up top-level victories in the Gr.1 Irish Derby, Gr.1 Grand Prix de Paris, which he won by six lengths, and the Gr.1 St Leger Stakes, as well as being placed in the Gr.1 Derby and Gr.1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. He also won the Gr.2 Dante Stakes at York as a three-year-old and the Gr.2 Jockey Club Stakes at five.
The son of Frankel is a half-brother to the Gr.2 Doncaster Cup winner and Gr.1-placed Sweet William (Sea The Stars), out of the Listed-winning Shirocco mare Gale Force. This fine family also features the likes of Gr.1 winners Seal Of Approval, Harzand (sire) and Emily Upjohn. He is currently available to breeders at a fee of €5,000.