DEFENDING CHAMP ROSE OUT OF DUBLIN CUP AS RETIREMENT BECKONS

Ian Fortune

Hello Rose was a brilliantly professional winner of the Dublin Cup twelve months ago, showing her trademark trapping ability and early speed to dominate in the decider.

She would subsequently join Graham Holland at his Riverside Kennels operation and would go on to further success, winning the Dave Collins Memorial Munster Oaks at Waterford as well as finishing third in the Shelley Fennelly Memorial at Cork.

She changed hands later in the year with David Lynch stepping into purchase the talented daughter of Burgess Bucks and Holycross Heidi with an eye on the breeding paddocks. It did come with a stipulation, however.

She wasn’t allowed to leave the Riverside Kennels operation until after the Boylesports Derby was over as she shared a kennel with a certain Bockos Diamond. She was clearly an inspiration to one of the great Derby winners of all time.

David Lynch completely understood and was delighted to get his hands on Rose when the time was right. Sadly, he didn’t get to see her race too often under his ownership as she came in season last week, although she did manage to win her opening round assignment in this year’s Dublin Cup.

It would be her final start. David confirmed she would be a non-runner on Saturday night, meaning there will be no defence of her title but he is excited about the future. As we pen these words, Hello Rose is down with the Dunphys in the Droopys Stud where she is to be mated to King Sheeran.

It’s sad we won’t see Hello Rose in racing action again but she is set for a bright future as a brood and we look forward to seeing her progeny hitting the track in 2026.