International double for BDS graduates
6 May 2024
Stud graduates Gegenpressing and Clifton Down sealed a good week for Blue Diamond Stud on Sunday when successful within hours of each in Ireland and the US.
Their wins came hot on the heels of homebred Pratigya at Wolverhampton on Wednesday.
Gegenpressing, who struck in the sprint handicap at Sligo, was bred and raised at Blue Diamond out of our former mare Bouyrin, a winning daughter of Invincible Spirit. By The Gurkha, the six-year-old was winning for the fourth time for Eddie and Patrick Harty.
"He loves these summer tracks and all four of his wins have come right-handed," said Patrick Harty. "I thought he got there too soon but he held on and, with a bit of luck, he might pick up another one or two off the marks he'll be off."
Meanwhile, Clifton Down ran out the impressive winner of The Speedy Smithwick Memorial Hurdle at Great Meadow. The son of Lope De Vega was a winner in France for Juddmonte Farms prior to changing hands to his current connections, owner Runnymore Racing LLC and trainer Leslie Young. He scored by just over ten lengths on Sunday and should have more to offer in this sphere.
Clifton Down was bred by Blue Diamond Stud out of Star Of Bristol (pictured), a Speightstown half-sister to Classic-winning miler Mastercraftsman. Star Of Bristol currently resides at Stonereath Farm in Kentucky where she has a yearling filly by Saxon Warrior and is in foal to Blame.
