Prince of Lir (Ire)

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Special Wan at Kentucky Downs on Saturday.   Team Valor Filly Strikes In Kentucky Team Valor International and Steven Rocco's Special Wan (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) was first past the post in a Kentucky Downs contest in her U.S. debut on Sept. 7 (video) for trainer Patrick Foley. Bred by Kilnamoragh Stud, the G3 Ballycorus Stakes second and G3 Brownstown Stakes third was a...

Everybody is searching for that flagbearer. Be it a jockey, trainer or an owner, the hunt for a horse capable of taking in big-race riches, that's the lure Breeze-up consignors are no different. Being associated with good horses is what sustains a business and keeps buyers coming back for more. That's what makes Sunday's Leopardstown maiden winner Ecureuil Secret (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) such an important horse in the career of Ryan Conran.  Having put down two big stints working for prominent breeze-up handlers Con Marnane and Thomond O'Mara, Conran...

Breeders' Cup qualifier Live In The Dream (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}), who won the G1 Nunthorpe S. in August, is doing well prior to an intended start in the Oct. 7 GII Woodford S. at Keeneland. "He's very well, he's out of quarantine and he took the travelling very well," trainer Adam West said on Tuesday. "You can't do too much in quarantine, he had a little canter on the track for the first time yesterday and he's breezing on the grass today, then it'll be a light blow...

   It was a case of carpe diem at York on Friday, as Steve and Jolene De'Lemos's Live In The Dream (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}--Approaching Autumn {GB}, by New Approach {Ire}) carried some of the minnows of the racing world aloft on his shoulders with a sensational front-running display in the feature G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe S. Rapid from the gates, rapid throughout the first three furlongs and ruthlessly determined for the final two, the kingpin of Adam West's small Epsom base strained every nerve and sinew to...

Kodiac (GB) (Danehill) has long been a sought-after source of precocity, and as he has risen toward the upper echelon of proven stallions, the hunt is now on for his heir. Or heirs, as the case may be, because just as Kodiac's winners are legion, his sons' foals are starting to display that same vaunted quick-maturing zest for racing: a quartet of group-winning sons of Kodiac retired to stud in 2017-Kodi Bear (Ire), Adaay (Ire), Coulsty (Ire) and Prince of Lir (Ire)--and all have sired group winners with only two...

G2 Norfolk S. hero The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}) will start next in either the G2 Flying Childers S. at Doncaster on Sept. 11 or the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket on Sept. 26. Runner-up by only a short head in the G2 Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly on July 19, the bay was third, promoted to second, in the G1 Phoenix S. at The Curragh on Aug. 9. Qatar Racing purchased The Lir Jet after a winning debut at Yarmouth. Bell said, "He's come out...

Royal Ascot hero The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}), second by only a nose in the G2 Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly on Sunday, will make his next start against elders in the G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. in August. Originally campaigned by Nick Bell and trained by Michel Bell, the bay sparkled on debut at Yarmouth on June 3 and was subsequently purchased privately by Sheikh Fahad's Qatar Racing. The acquisition proved a shrewd one, as The Lir Jet captured the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot on...