LUTHIER (by Klairon) was one of the brightest stars in France in 1968, a Prix Lupin winner who was a beaten odds-on favourite in the Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby) before dropping back to a mile to make most of the running for victory in the Prix du Moulin. Rated 126 by Timeform, he stood at Haras d’Etreham and was a multiple champion sire, with top-level winners that included Sagace and Riverqueen.
To the National Hunt sector he is arguably best known as being the sire of outstanding stallion Over The River, plus Black Minstrel, Condorcet, and others who got talented jumpers. His grandsons include Mansonnien – the sire of Golden Silver, Or Ou Argent, Taranis, J’y Vole, Mansony, Millenium Royal, and many others of note.
The first two on that list won at the highest level over obstacles and it is their stakes-winning full-brother Diamond Boy who has joined the team at Kilbarry Lodge Stud.
Or Ou Argent got his top-level win in Italy, but Golden Silver was a member of the Willie Mullins stable, a prolific graded race star who completed the Grade 1 treble of Arkle Perpetual Challenge Cup Novice Chase, Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase, and (Punchestown) Champion Chase. Tragically, he died at the age of nine and just a couple of weeks after a runaway and odds-on Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase success at Cork.
The trio are out of the Glint Of Gold (by Mill Reef) mare Gold Or Silver, and Diamond Boy, who made €85,000 in Deauville as a yearling, got his biggest success in a 14-furlong listed race on the flat at Saint-Cloud.
He began his stallion career at Haras de la Croix Sonnet in France, his eldest offspring are only five, and they include French Grade 3 bumper heroine Dont Hesitate, several hurdle winners, and also the Gordon Elliott-trained Diamond Turf who was a nine-length bumper winner for Gigginstown House Stud at Navan in January.
Point-to-point scorer and €54,000 Goffs Land Rover Sale graduate Valdieu, who represents the same owners, was runner-up in a Navan bumper for Noel Meade on his debut in November.
In 2017, Diamond Boy’s store horses made up to £100,000 in England, he had a €70,000 three-year-old at the Derby Sale in Fairyhouse, and his foals made up to €22,000.
With all of this going for him, it is little wonder that his popularity with breeders soared in France and, from his new home, there is every reason to hope that he can become a leading National Hunt sire.
DIAMOND BOY (FR), Bay 2006. Won five races, £141,678, from 1½ miles to 1 mile 7½ furlongs, at 3 and 4 years including, Prix Scaramouche, Saint-Cloud, L, also 2nd Prix de Reux, Deauville, L, and 3rd Prix La Moskowa, Chantilly, L.
Retired to stud in 2012, and sire of the winners of 9 races, and £76,781 and sire of the winners of 9 races, and £177,677 under N.H. Rules, including Dont Hesitate (FR) and Viola St Goustan (FR)
Stands at: Kilbarry Lodge Stud, Waterford, Co Waterford, Ireland.
Contact: Con O’Keeffe or Claire O’Keeffe
Telephone: +353 (0)87 6822773 or +353 (0)87 3398639
Email: kilbarrylodgestud@gmail.com
Web: www.kilbarrylodgestud.ie
Fee: €5,000