I Can Fly represents a famous Group 1 family

I CAN FLY (GB) - 2015 bay filly

I Can Fly (by Fastnet Rock) gave her future paddocks value another boost when she swept past Kenya to take the Group 2 Clipper Logistics Boomerang Stakes over a mile at Leopardstown last month. This was only her third win from nine starts, but it added to a prior listed success over the same trip at Killarney.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained three-year-old, who was third to Altyn Orda in the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket on the latter of two runs at two, is a daughter of one of the world's leading reverse-shuttle stallions and she comes from a branch of one of the most famous families in the stud book.

3.42pm - St Leger winners
6:02pm - @IrishChampsWknd winners

Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore land the Boomerang Stakes with I Can Fly at @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/44NIT58IIO

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 15, 2018

Her half-brother Viscount Barfield (by Raven's Pass) – who is also bred by Rockwell Bloodstock – won the Listed City Plate Stakes over seven furlongs at Chester last year before finishing third to Dutch Connection in the Group 3 Supreme Stakes at Goodwood, and he was a one-length runner-up to Hakam in the Group 3 Polar Cup at Ovrevoll, in Norway, in late August – also over seven.

Their dam, Madonna Dell'Orto (by Montjeu), was placed over eight and 10 furlongs in England and she has two brothers of note.

Ikhtyar (by Unfuwain) was a six-length winner of a 10-furlong listed contest at Sandown, he was only beaten a neck when runner-up to Bandari in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes, and he had Sulamani just behind when finishing third to Rakti and Powerscourt in the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Landseer (by Danehill) was even better. He won the Group 3 Coventry Stakes at two – when also he was short-headed by Rock Of Gibraltar in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes and a half-length runner-up to Act One in the Group 1 Criterium International – and he went on to take both the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) and Grade 1 Shadwell Keeneland Turf Mile Stakes at three.

With these performances to his name, plus a second-place finish to old rival Rock Of Gibraltar in the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes and fourth to Continent in the Group 1 July Cup over six furlongs, there was every reason to hope that he would make a good stallion, but sadly he sustained a fatal injury in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile.

Seriously fancied for the 1000 Guineas by jockey Seamie Heffernan back in the spring, I Can Fly gets back on track in fine fashion in the Listed Vincent O'Brien Ruby Stakes for @Ballydoyle at @KillarneyRaces: pic.twitter.com/Tsx9kLG5PZ

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 22, 2018

Sabria (by Miswaki), the grandam of I Can Fly, was an unraced daughter of Flood (by Riverman), who was a half-sister to Grade 1 winner and Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile runner-up Sabona (by Exclusive Native) and out of Hail Maggie (by Hail To Reason), an unraced full-sister to Trillion and half-sister to Doff The Derby (by Master Derby).

Trillion's wins included the Group 1 Prix Ganay, Group 2 Prix d'Harcourt, and two editions of the Group 2 Prix Dollar, her star daughter Triptych (by Riverman) was a prolific Group 1 star and international traveller dubbed 'The Iron Lady', and Trillion's descendants feature the brilliant dual Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Treve (by Motivator).

Triptych, who beat the colts in the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas in 1985, notched up a career tally of 14 wins that also included the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac, Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes, Group 1 Prix Ganay, Group 1 International Stakes at York, two Group 1 Coronation Cups, and two editions of the Group 1 Champion Stakes, and she achieved a top end-of-year Timeform rating of 133 – 1lb below Treve's best mark. She was in foal to Mr Prospector (by Raise a Native) when fatally injured in a freak paddock accident in her first season at stud.

Doff The Derby, of course, is the unraced dam of Timeform 139-rated Group 1 Derby, Group 1 Irish Derby and Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes hero Generous (by Caerleon), and of Group 1 Oaks and Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas ace Imagine (by Sadler's Wells), plus classic-placed dual stakes winner Strawberry Roan (by Sadler's Wells) and Group 1-placed dual pattern scorer Wedding Bouquet (by Kings Lake).

Her descendants, therefore, include ill-fated Group 1 juvenile winner Horatio Nelson (by Danehill), and the Timeform 129-rated Moonlight Cloud (by Invincible Spirit), who won the Group 1 Prix de la Foret, Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois, Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, and three editions of the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest.

There are many more good horses to be found in the various branches of this family, and everything about her racing and pedigree profile suggests that I Can Fly has a considerable amount of potential for a notable second career as a broodmare.

​She is due to run in tomorrow's Group 1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes over a mile at Newmarket, and it catches the eye that, in addition to an entry in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in two weeks' time, she has also been put into the six-furlong Group 1 Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes that same day.