With the 2010 foaling season now beginning in earnest, outstanding multiple G1 winner Raven's Pass has welcomed the arrival of his first foals in recent days.
His first reported foal was born at Woodpark Stud in Co Meath on 12 January. The bay filly, out of the winning Danehill mare Pure Illusion, was described by Kildangan Stud Director Jimmy Hyland as,“a strong-bodied filly with good depth and substance”.
Pure Illusion, a winner at two and three, is herself a daughter of G3 winner Saintly Speech. She has a two-year-old filly by Darley America stallion Street Cry and a yearling colt by Elusive Quality (who is of course also sire of Raven’s Pass).
Two days later, Shadwell’s Cape Cross mare Ghaidaa produced a bay colt at Derrinstown Stud. Jimmy Lenehan, who declared himself very pleased with the foal, described him as, “a nice bay and a good size for a first foal”.
Ghaidaa, who was twice placed at Listed level and a winner over ten furlongs, is a daughter of the exceptional Midway Lady who won the 1,000 Guineas, the Oaks and the Prix Marcel Boussac. Midway Lady has herself produced ten individual winners, including fellow Oaks winner Eswarah.
Raven’s Pass, who rounded off his career with a record-breaking win in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic (where he beat Horse of the Year Curlin), also won the fastest-ever QEII Stakes and broke the course record at Sandown when landing the G3 Solario Stakes as a juvenile. He stands at Kildangan Stud at a fee of €30,000.
