| Irish Flame’s Full-Sisters Achieve Double At Durbanville |
Bush Hill Stud’s champion Gr 1 winning Irish Flame, who stands his first season at stud this year has a number of relatives hitting the heights at the racetrack.
On Wednesday the two full sisters to the former Horse Of The Year won good races at Durbanville – giving the dam Clock The Rock (by Flaming Rock) a rare double seldom achieved by other broodmares. Irish Flame’s three year old full sister Irish Myth broke her maiden in style for trainer Justin Snaith.
The very next race saw Irish May, a full sister to Irish Myth, land the fourth win of her racing career for trainer Andries Steyn.
Clock The Rock herself was a talented racemare, whose four wins included the Winter Oaks. From the prolific Corn family, her relatives include high-class performers such as Lion’s Blood, Swartland and Emerald Cup hero Meadow Magic.
Irish Flame’s sire, Dynasty, has also been in the news of late. Himself a former Horse Of The Year, Dynasty’s progeny have been in hot form this season, and include the talented three year olds Atomic Rush and De Kock – second in the Sophomore Sprint.
One of South Africa’s most popular sires, Dynasty was the dominant sire in the sales ring last year, with his offspring fetching up to R3 600 000.
The sire of last season’s Equus Champion Beach Beauty is fully booked this year at a fee of R150 000.
Irish Flame stands his first season for a fee of R10 000 and Bush Hill Stud have reported his first mares covered to date are in foal.
– extract Sarah Whitelaw