The Group III Ballycorus Stakes (7f) at Leopardstown overnight was won by talented Sidestep gelding Real Appeal, who carries the colours of Yulong Stud’s Zhang Yuesheng.
Trained by Jessica Harrington and ridden by Shane Foley, Real Appeal finished with a well timed run to score a half length win, his fifth success from 17 starts.
A stakes-winner in France at two, he was winless last season, but seems to have come back to his best form this year.
“Real Appeal has really stepped forward this year and seems a different horse. This trip seems ideal for him. We'll see what's in the programme for him but we can aim for the Boomerang Stakes here on Champions Weekend,” said Jessica Harrington.
Bred by Gestut Kussaburg in Germany, Real Appeal was bought by Yulong at the 2019 Goffs London Sale for 265,000 pounds after he had won his first stakes race.
He is the second foal out of the winning Green Desert mare Runaway Sparkle, a grand-daughter of Group III Park Hill Stakes winner Mistle Song.
A Champion 2YO by Exceed and Excel, Sidestep stands at Telemon Thoroughbreds in Queensland in association with Darley and is best known as the sire of Group I Golden Slipper winner Kiamichi from his first Australian crop.
Sidestep stands this spring at a fee of $11,000.
