Group One targets for ‘tough’ Guineas runner-up Evolutionist

The Karl Burke-trained filly landed the Group 3 Prix de la Grotte at Longchamp on her seasonal return last month and followed that up with an even better effort when chasing home True Love in the fillies’ Classic earlier this month. 

Paul Curran, racing and bloodstock manager for the recently rebranded Ace Stud, revealed future plans for the filly who runs under the Forz Europe banner. 

Speaking on Luck On Sunday, he said: “She’s a superstar. She’s so tough. We went to the Guineas with a lot of uncertainties, we weren't sure if we wanted to run [because of the fast ground]. A mile on very quick ground, was that going to suit? 

“We wanted to leave it as late as we could which we did, and luckily it was the right decision as she went on the ground fine. 

“She’s been progressive, she’s tough, but you can’t go near her hind. She tried to go through the bushes at Haydock! 

“She was tough as you like when third [in the Fillies’ Mile] last year. She puts a lot into her racing. 

“We want to do right by her, Karl [Burke, trainer] is in agreement, and we have several Oaks entries. She will have the stamina for it, she will have no problem up in trip. 

“I think she will be a very good filly and pick up a couple of Group Ones [before the end of the season].” 

Yulong Investments’ Zhang Yuesheng handed over the European racing and bloodstock interests to Ace Stud, which is run by his son-in-law Harris Li and controlled by his daughter Yuefang Zhang, at the end of last year, and Curran revealed that they will continue to send horses to a wide variety of trainers. 

“We have a wide spread of trainers across Europe,” he said. “We like to send horses to trainers that we get on well with and where we have had previous success. 

“Andrew [Balding] and Karl have done very well for us, but we have horses with nearly everyone in Newmarket. Jessica [Harrington] has done great in Ireland, too. 

“We send horses to trainers that fit the type of horses we have; we fit the trainer to the horse. 

“Harris [Li] is keen on a good relationship with the trainer. The reason we use the best is because they are often so communicative. If we can’t modernise things and improve that side of things, then what are we doing?"

Curran was also full of praise for the role that Shane Foley has within the operation.

“Shane Foley has been working with us for seven or eight years, he was stable jockey at Jessica's when we first went there," Curran explained. “He’s a huge asset, a big team player. He’s always there when we visit and Harris has a great relationship with him. He’s top class.”  

While Ace Stud, which was formerly known as Dullingham Park, still has Shaquille as its figurehead, it was denied a chance to add Gewan to its future stallion roster after the former Andrew Balding-trained Dewhurst winner sadly passed away last month. 

Curran revealed that his death was felt deeply by all those involved. 

“It was truly upsetting, both for us and Andrew and his team. My heart went out to them,” he said. “We are a new entity and he was the one who symbolized that next step for us and what could have been. 

“He was such a character. 

“The joy he brought us when he won the Dewhurst, and what could have been, it’s one that will leave a hole in our hearts for a long time.” 

Despite Gewan’s absence, Curran is still hopeful that Ace Stud can continue to progress and has lofty aims for the operation, with leading broodmare Via Sistina – a 12-time Grade/Group One winner across the globe - at the forefront. 

He explained: “We are hoping we can challenge the big boys. 

“If we can win the major Group Ones, those are the dreams. We’ve had a good chance in the Guineas before and that’s a race we want to tick off. 

“But from our point of view we are a breeding operation, to produce horses that can stand as stallions and as broodmares. 

“Via Sistina is in foal, doing great back at the farm and looking great. She is in foal to Dubawi. 

“She was some filly, one that we probably won't see the likes of again. 

“When we bought her she just kept winning. What she did was a freak of nature, for such a big filly she stayed sound, and she loved quick ground. 

“She was a good filly here, but we never saw her doing what she did Down Under.”