As 2014 draws to a close we can reflect on some of the highpoints of the year and hopefully look forward to an equally successful season in 2015 here at Copper Beech Stables. Last year we began our year in Dubai and emerged from the gulf with five wins courtesy of Certerach, Russian Soul, who won a Group 3, and …

We were delighted to learn on Tuesday, December 2nd, that our eight Dubai aspirants have been accepted and we are thoroughly looking forward to returning to the Gulf to try and emulate the successes of last season. Having never trained on dirt, nor run any horses on the surface, it will be a new experience for us all …

Venezia completed a memorable evening for us at Dundalk when running out a clear-cut winner of the concluding Dundalk Stadium On Facebook Maiden, and in doing so, completed a four-timer for us, the second of which we have recorded at the County Louth racecourse. The son of Galileo was formerly trained in the UK and he finished a good fourth …

Conor McGovern, the 18-year-old rider from Clones who is based with Michael Halford, rode his first ever winner when guiding Slipper Orchid to victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Race at Dundalk last Friday. One week on from that success, McGovern and Slipper Orchid landed the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Handicap at back at the …

Michael Halford looks to have a very smart filly in his yard following the victory of Raydara in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes at the Curragh. The Aga Khan-owned two-year-old quickened in the manner of a classy racehorse under the guidance of Shane Foley to record a cosy half length victory over Lucida. Foley made his move with a furlong …

The Michael Halford-trained Certerach landed the biggest race of his career under Jamie Spencer when running out a narrow winner of the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan. Yet another horse to come alive in the Gulf for Halford, Certerach bellied his starting price of 33-1 to just hold off the late surge from last year’s winner Cavalryman by a neck.…