ENGLISH TEXTS the local community. Wendy Humphrey-Taylor is a volunteer coordinator within the“ Asylum Link” project of the Liverpool Football Club Foundation, whose mission is to connect asylum seekers with local football clubs in order to create a more inclusive, united and welcoming community for those who are often the most marginalised in society. She received this award in recognition of 15 years of commitment to migrants and football, and commented:“ I am delighted to receive this award on behalf of the thousands of people of Liverpool.” Rachael Blackmore became an international celebrity thanks to her Grand National victory, and the now-retired Irish jockey is honoured with a new bar named after her at the racecourse.“ Blackmore’ s Bar” serves only non-alcoholic drinks and, in another nod to the city, this time its artistic talent, is decorated by local street artists. So many reasons why the people of Liverpool are proud to dress to the nines to celebrate a race, a sporting event, and even a cultural occasion that fully reflects the values of their city.
IRE
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FR BREAK RECORDS AT LEOPARDSTOWN
BY VICKI GIBBINS
The early part of the season is a hopeful, and tense, time for the stud farms eagerly awaiting a first winner for their freshman sires. Coolmore’ s Prix Morny( Gr. 1) winner Blackbeard, Tally-Ho Stud’ s speedy Persian Force and Darley’ s Perfect Power have all been attempting to make a quick start to their tally in the opening twoyear-old races, yet it was Ballylinch Stud’ s Bayside Boy who has caught attention. A Group 1 winning son of New Bay, Bayside Boy hails from a French maternal pedigree. Dam Alava( Anabaa) was trained by Carlos Laffon-Parias during her racing career and secured a Listed victory in the Prix Occitanie before making a successful switch to the breeding barns, producing three individual Black Type performers. Bayside Boy was the best of the trio, winning the Champagne Stakes( Gr. 2) as a juvenile before transitioning to the top-level at three, ending his short career with a success in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes( Gr. 1) at Ascot, ahead of Modern Games. Standing for an opening fee of € 15,000, Ballylinch Stud would have been anticipating a fair start for their young sire, but Bayside Boy immediately surpassed expectations. His first runner, Belisa Bay( out of a Fascinating Rock mare), finished second on her racecourse debut in the Prix du Premier Pas at Lyon Parilly for trainer Henri-Alex Devin, part-owned by both trainer and Ballylinch Stud. Bayside Boy’ s prospects were given a further boost in the UK, with his second runner Blessed Voyager securing an important debut win in the competitive Dubai Duty Free EBF Maiden Stakes at Newbury. Out of a Listed winning George Strawbridge-owned mare Elysium( Belardo), Blessed Voyager was an unfancied prospect to get his racing career off to a successful start for trainer Ralph Beckett and owners Valmont Racing. Demonstrating a green attitude but a physical athleticism that appealed, the leggy colt raced prominently throughout the 1000m contest. Taking up the lead with 200m to go under jockey Hector Crouch, Blessed Voyager proved courageous in a battle, holding off Harry Knows to win by a head.“ It ' s a terrific start with the juveniles,” said Ralph Beckett.“ We haven ' t got too many forward ones, so it ' s nice to get off the mark and it hopefully bodes well for the season ahead. He behaved much better in the race than he did beforehand, but he did it nicely and 1200m looks about right for him at the moment. He ' ll appreciate a bit of ease in the ground as well.” It was an eye-catching start for a stallion who may have been underestimated against flashier first-season sire counterparts and he remains one of only eight stallions who has secured that valuable first winner. * correct at time of writing, 25 April *
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