G2 Triumph for Yulong's Sidestep Gelding Real Appeal at Leopardstown

Mark Smith - Saturday September 11

The Zhang Yuesheng owned Real Appeal (GER), a son of Telemon Thoroughbreds Sidestep, carried the Yulong silks to victory in Saturday's Group II Boomerang Mile at Leopardstown.

It completed a magical thirty minutes for rider Shane Foley and trainer Jessica Harrington who were still on a high after the Shalaa (IRE) filly No Speak Alexander caused a surprise in the Group 1 Matron Stakes (1m).

Advertisement

In a driving finish, Real Appeal struck the front at the 200 metres before holding the fast-finishing Fev Rover (Gutaifan) by a half-length with Horoscope (No Nay Never) a neck back in third.

"I don't think my heart will stand much more, it's still pounding," Harrington told irishracing.com. 

Real Appeal

"To have two winners on Champions Day is absolutely amazing. We came here today saying we could have one of those nearly weekends, with everything running really well and not getting a winner.

"Now to have two winners is absolutely amazing. For No Speak Alexander to win a Group 1 is great.

"Shane came in and said Real Appeal is 10lb better here than any other racecourse. He's won three races here now and he does nothing but improve.

"It's the first time he's won over a mile and it's really worked out. He's a funny horse, when he gets to the front he pulls himself up."

Real Appeal advances his record to six wins, a second, and four thirds from 19 starts with earnings of €226,415.

The 4yo son of Sidestep won the Group III Ballycorus Stakes (7f) at Leopardstown in June and won the Listed Prix la Fleche at Maisons-Laffitte at two.

Bred in Germany by Gestut Kussaburg, Real Appeal was a £265,000 purchase by BBA Ireland/ Yulong Investments at the 2019 Goffs London Sale after he had won three of his first four starts.  

He is the best of two winners from the winning Green Desert mare Runaway Sparkle.

Real Appeal is one of three stakes-winners for the leading first season sire Sidestep, whose Golden Slipper winning daughter Kiamichi visited Lonhro last spring.

 A Champion 2YO by Exceed and Excel, Sidestep stands at Telemon Thoroughbreds for a fee of $11,000.

Sidestep is a Premium stallion, click for more information.

Advertisment
More Reading...
$450,000 Satono Aladdin Colt Headed to David Payne in Sydney
A striking colt by Satono Aladdin lured respected trainer David Payne back to Karaka on Sunday after more than a decade-long absence.
First Winner for Splintex - 25 for Perth Magic Millions
Darling View Thoroughbred’s G2 winning Snitzel son Splintex continues to be popular with leading WA breeders and the young stallion has a big draft of 25 yearlings to tempt buyers at the upcoming Perth Magic Millions.
Sires With Winners - Sunday January 25
Here is the full list of 51 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Well Deserved Stakes Win for Jaz Session
There are few more genuine racehorses in training in the west than the bonny mare Jaz Session. 
Successive Lots for $675,000 and $600,000
Bloodstock agent Kevin ‘Millie’ Walls was a key player on back-to-back big lots at Karaka on Sunday, securing a colt for $675,000 before being underbidder on a $600,000 colt that was the very next yearling through the ring.
Karaka 2026 makes favourable impression on William Haggas
The milestone 100th edition of New Zealand’s National Yearling Sale has caught attention throughout the thoroughbred world, including one of the United Kingdom’s leading trainers.
Knight's Realm wins G3 Taranaki Cup
Elen Nicholas has ridden the highs and lows of racing with Knights Realm, and Saturday proved to be the pinnacle of their journey.
First Aussie Stakes-Winner for St Mark’s Basilica
The 2021 European Horse of the Year, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) is on the board with his first Australian stakes-winner after hot favourite Aristopolos kept his unbeaten record intact with an impressive win in the Listed Kevin Sharkie Elwick Stakes (1100m) at Hobart on Sunday.
Booming Trade Kicks off Momentous Karaka 2026
NZB’s historic 100th National Yearling Sale kicked off with a solid first day of trade with increases across the average and median reflecting a healthy middle market.
$850,000 Snitzel Colt from NZ Oaks Queen Amarelinha
A late, great sire and a deceased Group One-winning dam combined with an $850,000 colt that topped the opening day of the Book 1 session of Karaka 2026 on Sunday.