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Helvic Dream among entries for Green Room Meld Stakes

Helvic DreamHelvic Dream
© Photo Healy Racing

Leopardstown Racecourse today welcome the continued support of Gillian and Vimal Khosla, owners of outstanding broodmare Green Room, who will once again sponsor the Green Room Meld Stakes at Leopardstown next month.

Entries for the Group 3 contest on July 14th were revealed today with 29 in the 9f contest which carries a prize pool of €52,500.

Group 1 winner Helvic Dream heads the latest renewal of the Green Room Meld Stakes which has also attracted notable British interest.

Noel Meade’s Tattersalls Gold Cup winner is the highest rated of the 29 entries on 112 but that is closely followed by the Joseph O’Brien-trained duo of Hannibal Barca (111), who runs in the Irish Derby on Saturday, and Buckaroo (110), who was sixth in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Potapova is among the potential runners. The four-year-old daughter of Invincible Spirit contests a Group 3 at Newcastle tomorrow (Friday), while the William Haggas trained My Oberon runs at Windsor on Saturday and also has the Green Room Meld Stakes as a possible target.

Simon and Ed Crisford’s Jadoomi and the Ralph Beckett-trained New Mandate are the other British entries.

The Khoslas’ pride and joy Green Room is an unraced daughter of Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Theatrical and her offspring include Epsom Oaks winner Forever Together, Dubai Fillies’ Mile heroine Together Forever and the Prix Jean Prat winner Lord Shanakill.

Since being purchased for $240,000 at the Keeneland January Sales in 2006, Green Room has produced offspring that have been the talk of world racing, commanding record prices including fees of €3.2m and €3m.

The Jessica Harrington-trained Fennela is the latest of the phenomenal broodmare’s progeny to win. The three-year-old daughter of Sea The Stars scored for the owner-breeders at The Curragh earlier this month and holds an entry in the Irish Oaks.

Harrington’s representation in the Green Room Meld Stakes, a race she is yet to win as a trainer, is likely to come courtesy of the Moyglare Stud-owned Trevaunance, who impressed at Limerick last time out.

Kate Harrington, who assists her mother Jessica at Commonstown, said on Thursday: "We have Trevaunance in the Meld Stakes. She was very impressive when winning at Limerick last week and her form got a nice boost last night at Naas when Galleria Borghese was an impressive winner of the Oaks Trial there.

"Trevaunance now will head straight to Leopardstown all being well. It’s a nice stepping stone for her in her career. It looks an exciting renewal."

Green Room’s daughter, Fennela, carries the colours of Vimal Khosla and Harrington added: "The Meld Stakes is kindly sponsored by Gill and Vimal Khosla, naming the race after the phenomenal mare Green Room. We are lucky enough that we have Green Room’s progeny, Fennela, by Sea The Stars, in our yard. She was an impressive winner of her maiden at the Curragh and heads now straight to the Irish Oaks. Green Room is already a dam of an Oaks winner, Forever Together, and let’s hope Fennela can emulate her sister."

Dermot Weld would appear to hold a strong hand at this early stage if he is to extend his record as the most successful trainer in the race with a 10th victory. Weld’s entries include course and distance winner Duke De Sessa, who landed the Eyrefield Stakes last year and was fifth in the Irish 2,000 Guineas last month.

Jim Bolger has won the Green Room Meld Stakes four times since 2013, the most recent of which was with Turret Rocks in 2018 and Irish 2,000 Guineas fourth Wexford Native would be a colt capable of enhancing that fine recent record.

Tim Husbands, CEO of Leopardstown Racecourse said: "We are delighted to welcome back Gillian and Vimal Khosla to sponsor the Green Room Meld Stakes, named after their exceptionally talented mare, Green Room. It is fantastic to see a strong field of early entries including four possible UK contenders for the third renewal of the Green Room Meld Stakes. We are particularly looking forward to giving the Khosla’s a warm welcome to Leopardstown and look forward to celebrating Green Room’s successful career through the Meld Stakes."

Gillian Khosla added: "It's wonderful to continue sponsoring at Leopardstown for the Green Room Meld Stakes on 14th July. After two years watching from afar, we can't wait to present the winning trophies in person in this year."