WILLIE Mullins’ strike rate is the envy of most, and his record in bumpers is particularly impressive.

He struck twice in bumpers recently, both in Co Kildare, winning at Naas with the French-bred four-year-old gelding Quiryn (Sottsass), and at Punchestown with the seven-year-old mare How’s Hannah (Sans Frontieres). Both were ridden by Patrick Mullins, and won by nine and 13 lengths respectively.

Quiryn was bred at Haras de la Perelle, managed by William Rimaus, and the farm celebrated 30 years in business last year. Situated in Normandy, near Deauville, Juergen Winter founded the stud in 1995. Sitting on 100 hectares, Haras de la Perelle (which means pebbles) has more than 80 boxes. The breeding motto of the entrepreneur from Baden-Baden is: “Have a limited number of high-class mares, and pair them with top-class stallions.”

The stud ended 2025 as the seventh leading breeder in France, the fifth consecutive time it has been among the top-10. In what was a truly special year, a highlight was the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet win for the farm’s Quisisana (Le Havre). This relation to Quiryn went on to finish third in the Group 1 British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes at Ascot, and concluded her season with an excellent third in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup.

The year was also outstanding at the sales for Haras de la Perelle, with a top price of €1.2 million at Arqana for a colt by Camelot, sold to Coolmore.

Quiryn is from the first crop by Sottsass (Siyouni), and he failed to sell as a yearling when the price reached €60,000. He twice went to race at Saint-Cloud last year, trained by Philippe Decouz, but failed to enter the stalls. He joined Willie Mullins and races for Margaret Masterson. She has enjoyed huge success, with her colours carried to Grade 1 successes by such as Champ Kiely, Kilcruit and Appreciate It. Could Quiryn be the next?

The ninth winner from the stakes-placed dual winner Quezon Sun (Monsun), Quiryn is a half-brother to the Group 1 Prix du Cadran winner Mille Et Mille (Muhtathir). That consistent stayer was runner-up in the same race. A few daughters of Quezon Sun are retained at Haras de la Perelle, among them the unraced Quamoclit (Sea The Stars) who bred last year’s Group 1 winner Quisisana.

Two of Quiryn’s siblings won over jumps, with Trapista (Golden Horn) visiting the winners’ enclosure five times. There is a blacktype jumps winner up close in the family, as Quiryn’s placed half-sister Qingdao (Dansili) bred the Auteuil listed hurdle winner Flash Davier (Doctor Dino).

Best colt

The best colt of the year in France at three and four, Sottsass won the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club-French Derby and ran third that year in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. He then won the Arc at four and captured the Group 1 Prix Ganay.

After four seasons at Coolmore, Sottsass moved to Japan, and this will be his second year covering there. Just two stakes winners is a poor return so far for the sire, but perhaps Quiryn will put his name in lights.

Midleton-based Tim Townend is father to Jody and Paul, and he has enjoyed success as a breeder, owner and trainer. As a breeder, his most recent success has been with How’s Hannah, whom he saddled to finish second on her debut in a point-to-point at five, to win second time out 13 months later, and he then sold her to Willie Mullins.

It was another long wait for her third start, 10 months on, but the manner of her Punchestown victory suggests she is talented, and could be seen to best effect when sent chasing.

How’s Hannah is a daughter of the Group 1 The Irish Field St Leger winners Sans Frontieres (Galileo) who went to stand at The Beeches Stud on his retirement. He moved to Vauterhill Stud in 2020, and his last known coverings were in 2020. He sired a few smart runners, Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Cracking Rhapsody, Grade 3 winner Jason The Militant who was denied a Grade 1 win by half a length, and Buddy One who was runner-up in the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree.

Timely win

This victory for How’s Hannah could not have been better timed. Her newly-turned yearling half-brother by Crystal Ocean (Sea The Stars) is part of Walshtown Stables’ consignment at the Tattersalls Ireland Sale on February 3rd. How’s Hannah is the first foal of her unraced dam, Howstheback (Brian Boru), and that mare is a half-sister to four winners. Best of these was We’llhavewan (Imperial Monarch), a listed hurdle winner at Navan who placed second in Punchestown’s Listed Grand National Trial Chase.

This is a solid family. Howstheback is a full-sister to Back Bar (Brian Boru), a horse who won over hurdles and fences, but never reached the heights expected of him. Gordon Elliott gave £95,000 for him as a four-year-old, but two years later he traded again for just £1,000. Back Bar has also won 10 point-to-points, including last year at the age of 13!