FINSCEAL Fior was bred to achieve anything and it is unfortunate that injury denied him the chance of a racing career. However, being a son of the phenomenal Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) and out of the dual classic-winning miler Finsceal Beo (Mr Greeley), it was no surprise that he got a berth as a stallion.
Accordion (Sadler’s Wells), a half-brother to the Group 1 winner and dual Derby runner-up Hawaiian Sound (Hawaii), is a famous example of a beautifully bred horse who went to stud unraced. He became a leading sire in all of the National Hunt disciplines and even got a Group 1 winner on the flat.
Finsceal Fior’s eldest are only six-year-olds and his number of runners is still quite small. However, he promises to become an effective dual-purpose stallion, one with the potential to get graded winners over obstacles.
The bulk of the Galileo stallions are primarily flat sires and a growing double-digit number have at least one top-level winner already, including the classic sires Frankel, Nathaniel (also sire of the recent Cheltenham stars Burning Victory and Concertista), New Approach, and Teofilo. Mahler and Soldier Of Fortune are leading the way among his National Hunt sons, Imperial Monarch is among those catching the eye with their early runners, and there are other Group 1 stars waiting in the wings.
The Galileo horses are well-bred, and with the growing of National Hunt mares who are winning graded contests at all levels, a well-bred stallion has added value as being a potential leading broodmare sire of the future.
Finsceal Fior’s first crop features the talented Annie Fior, a four-time flat winner currently rated 98 and who finished third to Red Tea and the ill-fated Goddess in the Group 2 Kilboy Estate Stakes at the Curragh last summer. She is best from seven to nine furlongs but also stays 10. The Amanda Perrett-trained Double Legend won again over 12 furlongs at Kempton last month, Minnie Dahill has won on the flat and over hurdles, and juvenile hurdler Sacchoandvanzetti won at Galway and Punchestown before heading to the recent Cheltenham Festival.
Dewcup is also of note. The lightly-raced gelding has won bumpers at Thurles and Punchestown by a combined margin of seven lengths, he missed out on blacktype when fourth to McFabulous in the Grade 2 bumper at Aintree last year but gained some when third in a listed bumper at Navan on his most recent start.
All of this has been from small crops, and the half-brother to Group 2 scorer and young stallion Ol’ Man River (Montjeu) looks value at his current fee.
FINSCEAL FIOR (IRE), Bay 2010. Unraced.
Retired to Stud in 2013, and sire of the winners of 12 races, and £148,718, including Annie Fior (IRE); also sire of the winners of 7 races, and £77,969 under N.H. Rules, including Dewcup (IRE)
Stands at: Green Hills Stud, Ashtown, Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford, Ireland
Contact: Michael Lenihan or John Clarke
Telephone: +353 (0)51 294187 or +353 (1) 2300947
Email: lenihanatthepaddocks@eircom.net or johnclarkebloodstock@gmail.com
Web: www.finscealfior.com
Fee: €1,000