FRENCH stallion Tirwanako has been purchased by Knockhouse Stud, and will stand at the renowned Kilkenny farm for the 2020 breeding season.

Tirwanako won the Listed Prix Grand du Prix Conseil Général over a mile and a half and was second in the two-mile Group 3 Betty Barclay Rennen as well as being placed in seven more listed contests over trips from 10 furlongs upwards. He was a tough and tenacious racehorse, who demonstrated soundness and longevity during a racing career that lasted four seasons.

His pedigree is free of Sadler's Wells blood while Northern Dancer appears just once in the first five generations. Tirwanako is a son of the little-known Sin Kiang, a son of the Northern Dancer horse Fabulous Dancer.

Knockhouse's latest signing is inbred to the prolific mare Almahmoud through her daughters Natalma and Bubbling Beauty. His dam is a daughter of the champion sire Kaldoun, a son of the influential Caro, whose other daughters include the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and Prix de la Foret winner Occupandiste. She is the dam of dual Grade 1 winner and young sire Mondialiste and the second dam of Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club winner and Group 1 sire Intello.

“We have been following the horse for some time now and we really liked what stock we have seen by him, they are very athletic and forward types,” said Sean Kinsella, of Knockhouse Stud. “To date his point-to-point runners have been very promising. He is the type of stallion who will be well-suited to Irish breeders.”

Two four-year-old sons of Tirwanako, graduates of Irish point-to-points, have been sold this year, with both achieving six-figure prices.

Admirel, winner of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden at Ballyarthur in March for Josh Ryan, was sold for £280,000 to Ed Bailey Bloodstock at the Goffs UK Aintree Sale.

Just last month Gabynako was bought for £130,000 by Gavin Cromwell at the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale, after making an impressive debut when second in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden at Moig earlier in the month.

John Bleahen, of Lakefield Farm, who consigned Gabynako, was impressed by Tirwanako’s French progeny. “I saw the stock in France and I was very taken with what I saw so I am looking forward to purchasing more of them in the future,” he commented.