Yaupon De Replay sparks Breeders’ Cup hopes with debut win Joseph O’Brien could look to the Breeders’ Cup meeting with Yaupon De Replay after she finished with a flourish to win the Listed Ballyhane Blenheim Stakes at Fairyhouse on her racecourse debut. The filly, by the Uncle Mo stallion Yaupon, cost $150,000 in May and went off a 20-1 chance on her first start but clearly knew plenty. Dropped out in rear by Chris Hayes, Yaupon De Replay looked to have a bit to do with two furlongs to run but picked up impressively down the centre of the track to beat Chicago Call by a neck. “We liked what we saw at home but you are never sure starting off in that company, it can be tough,” said O’Brien who was completing an across-the-cards four-timer. “I said to Chris to educate her early and have her finishing off and she showed a big kick late on, you’d have to be very impressed with her. “I’d say they went a nice gallop and that helped her to relax but still it’s always hard to win from anywhere behind mid-field here, especially on debut. She’s a nice filly. “We felt like she was working like it was worth a shot and we thought that she’d learn a lot in the race. “She’s an exciting filly for the future. After today you can look at things like the Breeders’ Cup, she’s an American-bred filly and she’s fast. She has a lot of options.” "The third filly (stablemate Alibah) ran great, she probably wants to go back to seven. We were expecting the ground to be a little bit softer today but it’s great to get some black-type with her.” O’Brien was earlier on the mark with Love Is Blind (8-1) under Wayne Hassett and Miracle Beauty (14-1) for Joey Sheridan, while at Listowel his Starford (11-8 favourite) gave Dylan Browne McMonagle a valuable winner as he attempts to hold off Colin Keane in the jockeys’ title race.
