John’s Letter

Dear Breeder,

As we enter 2027, Ballylinch can look back on another highly successful year for our stallions, our equine graduates and our clients. We continue to focus on breeding and raising good horses, and it is rewarding to see the stallions, the broodmare band and our sales draft all contributing at the highest level.

Our flagship sire Lope de Vega confirmed himself as one of the world’s leading stallions in 2026. Over the past two seasons he has sired more European Stakes horses than any other stallion worldwide, and these also include six winners at Group 1 level. His influence now extends well beyond his own runners, with his sons and daughters increasingly making their mark as sires and dams. Recently he sired his one-hundredth Group winner, an outstanding achievement and few stallions have shown such consistency across so many countries and for so long.

It has been a thrill to see the first foals by his Classic-winning son Look de Vega arrive this spring. Bred from a high-quality book of mares, they are good-looking, correct and very athletic, and the early reports from breeders have been very encouraging. He has been given every opportunity to succeed by breeders, and we look forward to seeing his first crop at the upcoming weanling sales in Goffs and Tattersalls .

New Bay’s rise to the top of Europe’s stallion ranks continued in 2026, with 13 Stakes winners led by 10 length Group 1 winner Bay City Roller. The results vindicate the faith breeders have shown in him as his fee increased since his first runners appeared. His yearlings were in great demand at the sales, with a top price of 700,000gns, showing that the market recognises him as a leading light among stallions.

Bayside Boy’s first runners made an immediate impact. At the time of writing, he has 21 winners and is the Leading European First Crop Sire by both prizemoney and Stakes winners. Among his six Blacktype horses are Gimcrack winner Arapaho Gold as well as Listed winners Sale Shark and Belisa Bay. I expect his stock to keep improving from two to three, as he did himself and I believe his star will continue to rise in 2027. Breeders who support him now are getting in at an opportune stage of his career, one that could prove very lucrative.

Make Believe remains outstanding value. His Blacktype strike-rate is still the envy of stallions standing at much higher fees, and with Stakes winners this year in Ireland, Britain, France, Australia and North America, his stock show real toughness and versatility. He offers breeders a genuine opportunity to produce a high-class performer at an accessible fee.

Ballylinch bred, raised and sold horses once more enjoyed success around the world in 2026, with three Group 1 winners being sourced from our yearling drafts. Blue Bolt was one of the success stories of the entire flat season, winning four consecutive Group 1s, and we thank her breeders, Brendan and Anne Marie Hayes, for entrusting us to sell her on their behalf. We also had two other Group 1 winners raised at Ballylinch, Expensive Queen and Miss Scott.

As ever, I would like to thank all of our clients and partners for their loyal support. The entire Ballylinch team joins me in wishing you a happy and prosperous year ahead, and we look forward to sharing many more good days with you on the racecourse and beyond in 2027.

Yours sincerely,

John O’Connor
Managing Director