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...
$1.6million Snitzel Filly Stars at MM Day 3
The latest yearling from Arrowfield Stud's grand producer Madame Andree topped Day Three of selling at the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale on Thursday.
Home Affairs Filly Dazzling on Debut for Lindsay Park
The Lindsay Park team have had a week far beyond what we would call tough, but a good horse is often the best tonic and Home Affairs filly Jacaranda scored a dazzling six length debut win at Seymour on Thursday.
Hot Lots Day Four – Magic Millions
After three days of Book 1 selling, Friday’s super session sees 280 lots catalogued in what will surely be a bumper day in the ring.
Star Colt and Star Filly Highlight Snitzel Day at Magic Millions
It was Snitzel day at the Magic Millions on Thursday with Arrowfield Stud’s much missed champion sire, who died last year, producing the top selling filly and colt of the day.
$1.1million Frankel Colt Sold by Newgate
Juddmonte Farms based champion sire Frankel has exerted a powerful presence on the Magic Millions this year and had a second million dollar yearling on Thursday when the Newgate Farm consigned colt from Miss Alacrity (USA) sold for $1.1million.
Sires With Winners - Thursday January 15
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$1.6Million for Sister to Caffe Florian
Three year-old Snitzel filly Caffe Florian has been one of the finds of the summer in Sydney reeling off three successive wins culminating with a Black Type success in the Listed Gosford Guineas and her full sister lit up the Magic Millions sale ring on Thursday selling for $1.6million.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Three heats won by juveniles at Randwick on Thursday morning and two of those winners were unraced fillies by Home Affairs and Farnan with a half-sister to the latter being sold at Magic Millions on Tuesday and might just be a saleyard gift!
Magic Week for Jayven See
Singapore-based Jayven See is reaping the rewards of his continued investment into the Australian racing and breeding landscape this week on the Gold Coast.
People at Magic Millions - Day Three
Day Three at Magic Millions and Maree wasn’t finding it difficult to find the love for Frankel, while there’s a great story about a $250,000 sale from a $6,000 service fee with Ben Lucas.