Congratulations to Virginia McGrath and Nora Cullen for the following achievements:

Virginia McGrath has secured her place on the shortlist for the Olympics in Sydney after her performance at Badminton.  Having done a reasonable Dressage with a score of 54.8, she then went on to complete a very good Cross-Country.  She was one of only two riders who took Smith's Wall at the angle and finished.  Following her showjumping round she moved up to take 18th place overall.  

Nora Cullen's family achieved a lifetime dream on Sunday the 14th of May 2000 - to breed a Classic Winner. Bachir (1997 c. by Desert Style out of Morning Welcome by Be My Guest) won the French Two Thousand Guineas.

The dream came true again on Saturday the 27th May 2000, when Bachir won the Irish Two Thousand Guineas.  He became the first horse to win the French Two Thousand Guineas and the Irish Two Thousand Guineas.

Bred on a small Stud Farm in Kildare by Mr. & Mrs. K. Cullen, Bachir was sold as a foal at Goffs.  He returned the following year to the Orby Sale and was bought by Darley who put him in training with John Gosden.   Bachir won his first race and then went on to win the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood.  He was placed third in the Prix Moray and the Prix de la Salamandre before joining the Godolphin team to be wintered in Dubai.  He came out in February in Dubai to win his first race as a three year old and was second to China Visit in the UAE Derby.