DANCING BRAVE BEAR SET FOR ROYAL ASCOT

The Ballymore Sterling Syndicate is likely to have another Royal Ascot runner following the effort of Dancing Brave Bear at York on Wednesday.

The $US230,000 paid for a Street Cry filly at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale is looking a particularly shrewd bit of business following Dancing Brave Bear’s second place finish in the Group III Musidora Stakes at York on Wednesday.

Dancing Brave Bear struck the front inside the final furlong before racing greenly, staying on well to be beaten by Give And Take.

Bloodstock Consultant Paul Moroney selected Dancing Brave Bear on behalf of the Ballymore Sterling Syndicate which is managed by Trainer brother Mike.

Trained at Newmarket by Ed Vaughan, Dancing Brave Bear won her only start at two over seven furlongs at Lingfield and started 2018 with victory on the all-weather surface at Chelmsford over one mile.

Stepped up in class and trip, Dancing Brave Bear showed she can be competitive at Royal Ascot next month in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes over a mile and a half.

Mike Moroney’s Ballymore syndicate has already had a Royal runner when the Ed Vaughan-trained Bartel finished close up eighth in the Britannia Handicap and prompting a seven figure private sale to Hong Kong.

“We formed a syndicate with myself and long term clients Rupert Legh, Joe Pulitano, Michael Ramsden, Bryan Dorman and recent clients to the stable, Neil Werrett and Colin Madden, of Black Caviar fame, and we’ve had quite a bit of luck buying yearlings in Europe,” Moroney said.

“The thing that attracted us to Dancing Brave Bear was her physique - she’s a terrific sort and she has a pedigree to match.”

A daughter of champion sire Street Cry, Dancing Brave Bear is out of three-time Grade 3 winner Baghdaria, a Royal Academy half-sister to four stakes winners including the 2011 Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford and the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes winner Lady Joanne.

“Now she has the Group form it obviously enhances her value but the pleasing thing is that Ed expects her to improve again,” Moroney said.

“Andrea Atzeni her jockey on Wednesday said he felt that she could have done with a lead for a bit longer into the race as she is still a little green and a step up to a mile and a half in the future will suit.

“It’s obviously extremely exciting and we are all looking forward to the Royal Ascot meeting and anticipating cheering home a winner.”