U.S. buyers get Ballingarry

Ballingarry, the winner of Sunday's Canadian International at Woodbine, has been acquired by a partnership headed by Sidney Port and now will be trained by Laura de Seroux, the trainer said Tuesday.

De Seroux said Ballingarry will be pointed to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Turf on Oct. 26 at Arlington Park. Ballingarry, however, will have to return to Europe before heading back to the United States for the Breeders' Cup. According to de Seroux, Ballingarry only completed the necessary equine health tests for an abbreviated stay in North America, not the more extensive tests required of a horse who staying permanently. Those tests will be completed by the time Ballingarry returns for the Breeders' Cup.

Jeff Fort, an assistant to de Seroux, and Etienne Drion were scheduled to head to Toronto in order to accompany Ballingarry on his flight on Thursday, and will remain with the colt until he heads back for the Breeders' Cup, de Seroux said. Ballingarry will go to France, and be housed at the yard of trainer John Hammond.

"He'll go on our routine," de Seroux said. "He'll just have some light canters. We'll freshen him up for this race, and after the Breeders' Cup he'll get a long break."

According to de Seroux, the deal, negotiated by her husband, bloodstock agent Emmanuel de Seroux, had been agreed to in principle before Sunday's race. On Monday night, Dr. Greg Ferraro, a veterinarian, flew to Toronto and examined the 3-year-old colt Tuesday morning at Woodbine.

"It's a done deal. He passed the vet with flying colors," de Seroux said from her stable at the San Luis Rey Downs training center in Bonsall, Calif.

Port, a 91-year-old retired Chicago businessman, will be the majority owner, with the de Serouxs and Marsha Naify also sharing ownership. De Seroux said the sales price was "seven figures," but she declined to be more specific.

Ballingarry, who was based in Ireland, had been owned by Susan Magnier and trained by Aidan O'Brien. Ballingarry, a son of Sadler's Wells, finished third in the Irish St. Leger, his race before the Canadian International. He was considered a cut below such highly regarded O'Brien-trained 3-year-olds as Hawk Wing and High Chaparral and thus was on the market.

"It shows how strong Coolmore is," de Seroux said, referring to the outfit run by O'Brien and owners Michael Tabor and John Magnier, Susan's husband.