Slay Girl

Slay Girl is a scopey and athletic mare by Blue Bresil out of Browngirlinthering. She was purchased for £65,000 by Highflyer Bloodstock at the Tattersalls January Sale from the Tom and Gina Ellis yard, the same respected consignors from whom we have previously sourced the likes of Big City Roller, DropEmAtTheStation, and Outmaster. She will now enter training with 14-time Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls at Ditcheat.

We have enjoyed a long and successful association with Paul, and DancingOnTheEdge was one of our longest-serving horses, building up a loyal following during her career and holding a special place in the yard. We are therefore delighted to be sending another strong, scopey mare to Paul and his team, and Slay Girl looks an exciting addition to the string.

Slay Girl made an encouraging start to her racing career when finishing a promising second on her point-to-point debut over 2m4f at Sheriff Hutton in January. Only beaten by a more experienced rival, she showed plenty to like throughout the contest. Travelling well through the race, she displayed a touch of greenness but jumped soundly overall, and once the penny dropped she stayed on strongly all the way to the line. The same connections won this race last year with Edith Pelham, who subsequently went on to land a Class 2 Aintree bumper on her Rules debut, offering a strong pointer to the quality of the form. Further boosting confidence, the winner of Slay Girl’s race was later sold to Lucinda Russell.

Her sire, Blue Bresil, was a high-class dual-purpose performer, winning multiple times on the Flat in France, placing at Group level and lining up in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, before gaining black-type over hurdles. At stud he has been an exceptional influence, siring eight Grade 1 winners headed by the outstanding Constitution Hill, alongside Royal Pagaille, Blue Lord and Inthepocket. Slay Girl is out of Browngirlinthering, an unraced mare from a strong National Hunt family that includes Grade 2 winner Cooldine and Grade 1 Champion Bumper hero Blow By Blow.

With her size, scope, and likable attitude, Slay Girl looks a mare with plenty of potential. She should thrive under Rules and, given her pedigree and promising early signs, looks capable of developing into a very exciting prospect for her connections in the seasons ahead.

Paul took out his trainer’s licence in 1991 and has dominated the sport for three decades! Paul has trained from Manor Farm Stables in Ditcheat from the off. His achievements are second to none; he has been awarded an OBE for his services to horseracing, crowned Champion Trainer 14 times and trained over 3,700 winners with close to 150 of them at Grade 1 level, 48 Cheltenham Festival winners, four Cheltenham Gold Cups, a Grand National victory, 12 Tingle Creeks and an astonishing 13 King George VI Chase wins.