FINANCIAL Reward is a rising star among Irish thoroughbred stallions and yet he is almost completely unknown in that role to the racing sector.
A former member of the Willie Mullins team, he won a mile maiden at Listowel on his third start, won over hurdles at Thurles and Limerick, and was a close runner-up to Punjabi in the Grade 1 Champion 4-Y-O Hurdle at Punchestown, to Convincing in the Grade 2 Cashmans Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown, and to J’y Vole in a Grade 3 hurdle at Auteuil, and he was only beaten by two and a half lengths when runner-up to Sophist in a Grade 3 contest at Fairyhouse.
He won twice over fences, including the Grade 2 Greenmount Park Novice Chase over two miles, three and a half furlongs at Limerick.
So far, the son of high-class middle-distance horse Fruits Of Love (by Hansel) has not had any runners on the track, but his five-year-old son Financial Outcome won a maiden point-to-point at Tinahely in February, followed that four-length score with a 10-length win at Ballyragget, and was then snapped up by Rebecca Curtis at the Tattersalls Ireland Ascot March Sale, for £50,000. Not a bad advertisement when you’ve had just one point-to-point horse, and a €700 covering fee!
Financial Reward, whose third dam Stoyana (by Abdos) is also the third dam of Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, dual Derby hero, and now retired classic sire Sinndar (by Grand Lodge), deserves attention.
The sport horse sector have known this for some time and, in 2016, the registered foal crop of 34 for 2011’s Croker Cup champion was the second highest total for any approved thoroughbred stallion that year.
He is also getting plenty of good-looking and athletic stock – which is important in catching the attention in the sales ring – with a growing number of ribbons being won by his offspring in the show ring. The victory of his son of Kilcahill Diamond at the All-Ireland traditional foal final at Mountbellew in September, for example, came three years after that colt’s full-sister won the filly final at the same venue, and he had the runner-up in the filly foal section at that same 2017 show.
Financial Reward also made headlines at the Dublin Horse Show last year when Bloomfield Kylemore won the five-year-old geldings’ class for lightweight show hunters, completing a hat-trick following wins at the Tattersalls July Show and at Adamstown. Financial Reward certainly sounds like a horse that National Hunt breeders should be checking out.
FINANCIAL REWARD (IRE), Bay 2003. Won one race, £8,432, over 1 mile, at 3 years, also won four races and £104,412 under NH Rules, Guinness Greenmount Park Novice Chase, Limerick, Gr.2, 2nd Ballymore Properties Champion 4yo Hurdle, Punchestown, Gr.1, Cashmans Spring Juvenile Hurdle, Leopardstown, Gr.2, Gras Savoye Vie et Avenir Longchamp Hdle, Auteuil, Gr.3, Tote Winners Circle Juvenile Hurdle, Fairyhouse, Gr.3, and 3rd Aramark Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle, Fairyhouse, Gr.2.
Retired to stud in 2012, first crop now five-year-olds.Sire of the point-to-point winner Financial Outcome (Ire), his only runner.
Stands at: Ballinglen Stud, Ballinglen, Gorey, Co Wexford, Ireland.
Contact: Donal Goland or James Goland
Telephone: +353 (0)53 9420837 or +353 (0)87 9801801 or +353 (0)87 3586544
Email: ballinglenstud@gmail.com
Fee: €700