DANEHILL and Green Desert forged powerful branches of Danzig’s (by Northern Dancer) phenomenal sire line and they are also responsible for one of the top pairs of sibling stallions in Europe. Group 1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) heroine Rafha (by Kris) visited both dynasty-makers, producing Group 1 winner and major classic sire Invincible Spirit to Nunnery Stud’s late flag bearer and the pattern-placed Kodiac to Coolmore’s dual-hemisphere colossus.
Invincible Spirit’s early stallion sons are making quite an impact and they feature dual classic sire Lawman, notable Australian Group 1 sire I Am Invincible, and 2016 leading freshman Mayson whose seven blacktype juveniles included three stakes winners.
This augurs well for all the Invincible Spirit horses who are in the earlier stages of their stud careers, but also for the prospects of the first wave of Kodiac colts who take up stud positions for 2017.
Prince Of Lir is one of that talented quartet – the others are Adaay, Coulsty and Kodi Bear – and last year’s Group 2 Norfolk Stakes winner has joined the team at Ballyhane Stud. He beat the subsequent Group 1 winner The Last Lion on his first two starts, the second of those being at Royal Ascot.
He is retiring to stud having just a two-year-old campaign behind him, a path already trodden by notable sires such as Dark Angel, Fasliyev, Holy Roman Emperor and Teofilo.
The first foal of three-time scorer Esuvia (by Whipper), Prince Of Lir is out of a half-sister to the pattern-winning sprinter Resplendent Glory (by Namid), who is the sire of the 12-times scorer Dreams Of Glory and three other multiple winners from just a handful of offspring.
His grandam, Aoife (by Thatching), won twice, she is a half-sister to the Group 2 King’s Stand Stakes third Funny Valentine (by Cadeaux Genereux) and also to the Michael O’Callaghan-trained De Boss Man (by Dandy Man) who finished third in the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh in August.
The pedigree also got a notable boost last year as Dame Hester (by Diktat), a stakes-placed half-sister to Aoife, is the dam of Group 2 Goldene Peitsche winner Donnerschlag (by Bahamian Bounty).
If you go back to the fourth generation of the pedigree then you will find a string of other stakes winners, including the smart miler L’Irresponsable (by Ile de Bourbon), who was a top-rated performer in Italy, and the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas heroine Platinum Witness (by California Dane) who, like Prince Of Lir, is by a son of Danehill.
Prince Of Lir, who made £170,000 at the Goffs UK Doncaster 2yo Breeze-Up Sale, has a pedigree that is all about speed and he looks sure to prove popular with those seeking to produce early types, smart juveniles, and talented sprinters.
Won two races, £75,619, over 5 furlongs, at 2 years including, Norfolk Stakes, Ascot, Gr.2.
Retires to stud in 2017.
Stands at: Ballyhane Stud, Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow, Ireland
Contact: Joe Foley or Jane Foley
Telephone: +353 (0)59 9722068 or +353 (0)86 2524135 (Joe) or +353 (0)86 8066000 (Jane)
Email: info@ballyhane.com
Web: www.ballyhane.com
Fee: €5,000