Dollymount

Dollymount is a five-year-old daughter of Vadamos who has displayed some promise in five starts to date and has the potential to win races.

In pedigree terms, there is much to like about this young mare. Her sire won the Gr.1 Prix du Moulin when trained by Andre Fabre and has since developed into a high-class source of NH talent, responsible for the likes of Matata, The Other Mozzie and King Of Kingsfield, as well as several smart horses on the flat.

Furthermore, Dollymount is out of the Kayf Tara mare Princess Tara, who won a bumper and three times over hurdles, as well as finishing third in a Listed hurdle at Doncaster. The only foal she produced prior to Dollymount was the year older Metkayina, who holds an official rating of 130 after finishing fifth in the Gr.2 Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. This is clearly a smart family, with black-type horses found throughout the wider pedigree, and Dollymount realised €40,000 when offered at the Tattersalls Ireland May Store Sale in 2023.

She would go on to make her debut in a Tipperary bumper in October of last year, making some eye-catching headway a quarter of a mile from home before understandably tiring late on. Too keen when sixth in another bumper at Fairyhouse in December, she made her debut over hurdles at Navan shortly afterwards.

Once again held up out the back, she began to pass rivals at the entrance to the home straight, only to tire again closer to the line. To contextualise the form, this was a race in which the subsequently Gr.1-placed Eastern Legend finished second. Following a short break, Dollymount would perform creditably in seventh in big field maidens at Clonmel and Thurles after the turn of the year, confirming that she possesses a good deal of natural ability. 

Allocated an official rating of just 85, it seems only a matter of time before this well-related and clearly talented mare can take advantage. She was previously based with Cormac Farrell, a trainer with an exceptional reputation for producing young stock, and it was interesting to read, in the notes accompanying Dollymount’s latest trip to the sales, that he believes she is handicapped to win when learning to settle.

When she does consent to race more efficiently, there is no telling where her improvement might end. We can’t wait to get her out on the track.