Megellan Cloud

Purchased from Tattersalls Ireland - The sale that produced CLAYMORE and BALLYMOUNT BOY

We were determined to secure this colt, who looked like something special from the very start of his eye-catching breeze. Showcasing a huge stride and serious speed, he ran a rapid first furlong and stayed on to clock 31st overall from a total of 250 breezers. He looked the picture of an athlete at inspection too, and although not the biggest in stature, he has an impressive presence and athletic action. It is hard not to get excited about horses like this, and it was for that reason we took the risk of losing some of other options earlier in the sale to wait for him specifically. 

With that a bidding war was ignited between us and Northern trainer Sean Quinn, along with data science company, Pythia Sports. It became clear that neither party was going to back down, but instead opened up an opportunity to join forces for the upcoming season. We have long had Sean and John Quinn in our minds as potential trainers for our Northern owners, and it seemed to fall into place perfectly that the father and son would take up the mantle with a colt that we were both were so keen on. 

John Quinn is well-known for his success with some of racing’s fastest sprinters, most notably HIGHFIELD PRINCESS, racing’s beloved filly who scored a Group 1 hat-trick in 2022. Her story is all the more incredible for her humble beginnings, having started her career two years earlier as a below average handicapper on a rate of 57. The past four seasons have seen John earn £3.3 million in prize money, and this season looks to be still more fruitful with his son Sean on the license as official joint trainer. With Sean on board they have already expanded their international reach over the winter, and have prospered with two horses they sent to Bahrain, both of which returned victorious and accrued just over £140,000 in prize money in a matter of months. 

For the buying process their team enlisted the help of Pythia, an operation that develops predictive sports models, who gave us further reason to be delighted with the colt from the results of their breeze up data acquisition. Assessing a range of components, including stride length, speed and biomechanics, he scored 9th overall of the 250 candidates. Most notable was his considerable length of stride in conjunction with his rapid pace, something that is often seen as the hallmark for the very best racehorses. 

“This colt is a really lovely backend two-year-old/three-year-old type. He has a superb stride on him and did a very good gallop out, breezing very straight and he was highly recommended by his vendor Adrian Costello. He has been bought in partnership with Sean Quinn and Pythia Sports who are a data company and who were very keen on his data in regard to his stride length, his times and how he galloped out. All in all he looks like a very exciting prospect.” - Bloodstock Agent, Billy Jackson-Stopps

Pedigree

MOHAATHER is a first season sire that looks as though he will be a highly sought after prospect in the future. We have already seen serious promise with his progeny, and like MOHAATHER himself, we will likely see the best of them towards the latter end of the season. Starting late in the season as a two-year-old didn’t stop MOHAATHER winning at Group level only a month later when taking the Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury. He was an exceptional miler that went on to succeed at Group level every year until he capped off his career with his Group 1 Sussex Stakes victory, earning himself an outstanding rating of 123 and beating some of the biggest names in the business, including CIRCUS MAXIMUS, KAMEKO and SISKIN. 

Our colt’s dam was a winner herself and daughter to the multiple Group winning TROPICAL PARADISE, who won a total of six times and achieved a rating of 108 before going on to produce four winning sons and daughters. The family is an accomplished one, both on the track and as breeding prospects, stemming from the extraordinary broodmare LADYLISHANDRA, who produced seven winners from 11 runners. Numerous of these were at Group level, including UBETTABELIEVEIT, who stands at stud as a stallion this year following his Flying Childers victory, and HARLEM SHAKE and SHENANIGANS. 

This colt will likely take a bit of time, but will certainly be one to wait for and is an extremely exciting prospect for the big races as a three-year-old miler!