Australian bred mare Danemarque produced Ireland’s first juvenile winner of the year on Sunday when Whip Rule was handed the Tally Ho Stud EBF Maiden at the Curragh.  

It was a controversial win for Whip Rule.  Jim Bolger’s homebred colt was beaten a head on the line by Tough As Nails (Dark Angel) but stewards reversed the result after he was shepherded right across the track in the final furlong.

Whip Rule (2c Whipper – Danemarque by Danehill) is from the third crop of a sire who was a Group 1 winner of the Prix Morny (2yo), Prix Jacques Le Marois (3yo) and Prix Maurice de Gheest (4yo).

Whipper (Miesque’s Son) is a three-quarter brother to brilliant filly Divine Proportions.  He stood at Ballylinch Stud in County Kilkenny before transferring to Haras du Mezeray in advance of this year’s breeding season.

Whip Rule’s Australian connection comes through his second dam Circus Ring (High Top).  She was a G2 winner of the Lowther Stakes at York and was sent here in March 1995.  She was carrying Sadler’s Wells filly Rose Of Tralee who later foaled Champion Australian 3YO Filly Serenade Rose (Stravinsky).

Danemarque arrived two years later and, after unplaced runs at Kembla Grange and Rosehill, was exported in April 2001.  She was later sold for 42,000gns at the 2006 Tattersalls December Sale and subsequently foaled winners by High Chaparral and Whipper (2) before Whip Rule.