WHEN Pat O’Reilly went to the Goffs February Sale in 2012, little could he have imagined that the €2,400 he spent on the 13-year-old mare Hirayna (Doyoun) would result in him producing a pair of graded National Hunt winners from the first three foals she would have for him.

At the time the mare had failed to produce a foal for a couple of years, and she had yet to have even a placed horse. Now, after Three Stripe Life’s success in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree, she is the dam of four winners, a couple of placed runners, and she still has youngsters to race for her. What a turnaround in a decade?

Hirayna won a bumper at Perth on her second outing, and was runner-up on her next start. She was ridden on both occasions by Richard Forristal, now better known as the Irish editor of the Racing Post, and who cut some of his writing teeth with this paper. I wonder did he ever foresee a Grade 1 Aintree win in the future for a son of that mare?

In addition to being the dam of Three Stripe Life, by Leading Light (Montjeu), Hirayna is also dam of the Grade 2 Anaglog’s Daughter Mare Novice Chase winner Ballyshannon Rose (Doyen), five-time winner Sealus Scout (Old Vic) and the dual hurdle winner O Ceallaigh (Westerner).

Highest Hopes

While this is one of the best female flat families in the stud book, Three Stripe Life’s third dam being the (now Group 1 ) Prix Vermeille-French Oaks winner Highest Hopes (Hethersett), Hirayna’s three winning siblings had all been successful over jumps. Her full-brother Hisar (Doyoun) gained all but one of his 11 victories over hurdles and fences, Himrayn (Generous) won twice over fences, but their achievements paled by comparison with those of Hirapour (Kahyasi).

In a racing career that spanned many years, and included winning from the age of three until 10, Hirapour recorded 16 victories, on the flat and over jumps in Ireland, England and the USA. He really came to prominence when sent jumping in the USA where he was their champion steeplechaser in 2004, though he only ever won over hurdles!

Trip to Wales

A few weeks ago I wrote that “Top Dog is from Leading Light’s second crop, but this year Irish breeders will have to travel to Wales if they wish to avail of the stallion’s services. He will be commanding a fee of £2,500 at Dunraven Stud.” That followed the gelding’s win in a listed bumper at Newbury, and it was the start of a great run of success for the stallion.

Winner of the Group 1 St Leger and the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup the following year, Leading Light stood his first seven seasons at Grange Stud. His first crop, now six-year-olds, include Three Stripe Life who had been runner-up on his three most recent starts, in the Grade 1 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Grade 1 Brave Inca Novice Hurdle and the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle, both at Leopardstown, before going one better at Aintree.