Brian Boru (horse)

Last updated
Brian Boru
Sire Sadler's Wells
Grandsire Northern Dancer
DamEva Luna (USA)
Damsire Alleged
Sex Stallion
Foaled16 March 2000
CountryUnited Kingdom
Colour Bay
Breeder Juddmonte Farms
Owner Susan Magnier
Trainer Aidan O'Brien
Record18: 4-4-3
Earnings£677,671
Major wins
Racing Post Trophy (2002)
St. Leger Stakes (2003)

Brian Boru (foaled 16 March 2000) is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire who was bred in Britain but was trained in Ireland. In a career which lasted from June 2002 until December 2004, he ran eighteen times and won four races. Brian Boru was made favourite for The Derby after winning the Racing Post Trophy in 2002. In September 2003 he recorded his most important win when winning the St Leger at Doncaster.

Contents

Background

Brian Boru is a dark bay horse with a narrow white blaze bred by Juddmonte Farms. He was sired by the thirteen time Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland [1] Sadler's Wells out of the Park Hill Stakes winner Eva Luna (USA). Eva Luna later produced Sea Moon, who won the Great Voltigeur Stakes and finished second in the Breeders' Cup Turf. She was also the dam of Soviet Moon, who in turn produced the Epsom Derby winner Workforce. Before his racing career began, Brian Boru was acquired by the Coolmore organisation. He was sent into training with Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle and raced in the colours of Susan Magnier, the wife of John Magnier.

Racing career

2002: two-year-old season

Brian Boru began his racing career in a seven furlong maiden race at the Curragh on 28 June 2002. Ridden by Mick Kinane he started slowly but took the lead a furlong from the finish and won by a neck from the filly Evelyn One. [2] Brian Boru was immediately moved up to Group Two class for the Beresford Stakes for which he started 2/1 favourite. He took the lead in the straight but was caught in the closing stages and beaten a head by the future Irish Derby winner Alamshar. On his final start of the year, Brian Boru was sent to England to contest the Group One Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster on 26 October. Brian Boru was made 11/8 favourite and was ridden by Kevin Darley. Darley tracked the leaders into the straight but struggled to obtain a clear run until the final furlong. In the closing stages Brian Boru produced a "storming late run" [3] to take the lead and won by one and a quarter lengths from his stable companion Powerscourt. [4] Following the race he was made favourite for the following year's Epsom Derby. [3]

2003: three-year-old season

Brian Boru began his three-year-old season in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown on 11 May in which he finished third behind Alamshar and The Great Gatsby. In The Derby on 7 June, Brian Boru started the 9/2 third favourite in a field of twenty runners. he made no impression in the race and finished sixteenth behind Kris Kin, The Great Gatsby and Alamshar. Three weeks later, Brian Boru finished fourth of the nine runners behind Alamshar and Dalakhani in the Irish Derby. In August, Brian Boru took the lead in the straight in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York but was caught inside the final furlong and beaten a neck by Powerscourt. [5]

On 13 September Brian Boru started 5/4 favourite for the St Leger at Doncaster against eleven opponents. Ridden by Jamie Spencer, he was held up in the early stages before making his challenge in the straight and taking the lead a furlong from the finish. He "kept on well" [6] in the closing stages to win by one and a quarter lengths from High Accolade with Phoenix Reach in third. Brough Scott writing in the Telegraph , described the race as "ruthlessly run" and the finish as being "admirably committed". [7] Spencer dedicated the win to his friend Kieran Kelly, a National Hunt jockey who had been killed in an accident at Kilbeggan Racecourse. [8] In October, Brian Boru was sent to Canada to contest the Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack. He started 5/4 favourite, but finished third of the ten runners to Phoenix Reach. [9]

2004: four-year-old season

On his first start as a four-year-old, Brian Boru won the Listed Alleged Stakes at Leopardstown, beating Napper Tandy by three quarters of a length. [10] The rest of Brian Boru's season was disappointing as he failed to win in eight subsequent races. His best efforts came when finishing second in the Irish St. Leger (to Vinnie Roe) [11] and the Prix Kergorlay and third (to Sulamani) in the Canadian International Stakes. [12]

Stud career

Brian Boru was retired to stand at the Coolmore Stud, where he is marketed as a "dual-purpose" sire. He has had little success with his flat racers but has shown promise as a National Hunt stallion, siring the useful steeplechaser Bold Sir Brian. [13]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Brian Boru (GB), bay stallion 2000 [14]
Sire
Sadler's Wells 		Northern Dancer Nearctic Nearco
Lady Angela
Natalma Native Dancer
Almahmoud
Fairy Bridge Bold Reason Hail To Reason
Lalun
Special Forli
Thong
Dam
Eva Luna 		Alleged Hoist the Flag Tom Rolfe
Wavy Navy
Princess Pout Prince John
Determined Lady
Media Luna Star Appeal Appiani
Sterna
Sounion Vimy
Esquire Girl (Family 14-c) [15]

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References

  1. ↑ "Leading Sires of Great Britain and Ireland". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
  2. ↑ "Results from the 6.00 race at CURRAGH (IRE) – 28 June 2002". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
  3. 1 2 "Favourite takes final Group One". BBC News. 2002-10-26. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
  4. ↑ "Racing Post Trophy". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
  5. ↑ "Results from the 3.30 race at YORK – 19 August 2003". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
  6. ↑ "ST Leger Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
  7. ↑ Horse Racing. "Brian Boru rules Leger". Telegraph. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
  8. ↑ "Brian Boru bags St Leger". BBC Sport. 2003-09-13. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
  9. ↑ "'Phoenix' Rises in Canadian International". BloodHorse. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
  10. ↑ "Results from the 5.00 race at LEOPARDSTOWN (IRE) – 28 March 2004". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
  11. ↑ "VINTAGE VINNIE AS WELD STAR MAKES IT FOUR". Sporting Life. 2010-03-12. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
  12. ↑ Shinar, Jack. "Sulamani Likely to Retire After Canadian Smasher". BloodHorse. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
  13. ↑ "Brian Boru Stud Record". Racing Post. 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
  14. ↑ "Brian Boru pedigree". Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
  15. ↑ "Pretty Polly – Family 14-c". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
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