IF there is one trainer whose owners have felt the benefit of the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Series, it’s Ger Lyons.

The Meath trainer has taken five of the 13 races in the series so far this season and in so doing has accrued €67,095 in win prize money. And, when Kestrel Prince outbattled Dark Conqueror at Roscommon on Monday evening, he became only the second horse to win two races in the regular part of the series, adding a winners’ race to his maiden win at the same track in June. Safe to say that the series final at Naas, worth €120,000, is now under consideration for Kestrel Prince. In fact, the final is under consideration for any two-year-old Lyons runs in the series.

“I’m hoping to get as many qualified as possible,” Lyons said. “It’s a fabulous pot to aim for at the end of a brilliant series. Obviously I’ve done quite well out of it this year but in general, the series is fantastic – any sort of extra sponsorship is very beneficial.”

All you have to do is run in any Foran Equine Irish EBF series race in order to become eligible for the seven-furlong final in October.

Heavenly Rainbow, Sakura and recent impressive Dundalk scorer Burmese Waltz are Lyons’s other winners in the series and somewhat worryingly for other trainers targeting the series, there are a few more Glenburnie two-year-olds waiting in the wings for the remaining series races.

Lyons will be hoping to fare better in the final this time around, after his two entrants last season disappointed on the day. Kestrel Prince, a €42,000 purchase from the Tattersalls September Sale, has shown a real good attitude to win his two races so far while Burmese Waltz, owned by Clipper Logistics, has shown a decent level on each of her three wins.

The series final has become a real target for many trainers and Lyons is starting to see the series having an effect on the racing calendar.

“I think people are starting to sway towards that now,” he added. “Look at the race Kestrel Prince won the other night, it was a winners’ race and it was full up, which is something you rarely see. Everyone is keen to get qualified for the final and you can work around the series to plan a season.

“The rules are simple which is good as it’s easy for everyone to follow and they tied up a loophole from last year that allowed yearlings that were bought cheaply at first but then sold on for over the ceiling amount to take part.

“It’s a great series and my owners are definitely very appreciative of it.”