RIVER Boyne, a Grade 1 winning son of Dandy Man (Mozart), commenced stallion duties at Derek Iceton’s Tara Stud two years ago, and among the purchasers of his first foals last autumn were Peter and Ross Doyle, and Bobby O’Ryan.
The stallion was supported in his first year by breeders such as Eimear Mulhern and Ringfort Stud’s Derek Veitch.
River Boyne crowned a fine career on the track which consisted of nine wins when he landed the Grade 1 Frank E Kilroe Mile Stakes on turf at Santa Anita over a mile on his penultimate start, beating Got Stormy. He was adding to victories in a pair of Grade 2 races, the Mile Stakes and the nine-furlong Twilight Derby, both at Santa Anita at three
Bred where he now stands, River Boyne sold as a foal to Joe Foley, and more than trebled the colt’s value at the yearling sales. Sixth behind U S Navy Flag at the Curragh on his debut, fourth at Dundalk on the all-weather and then runner-up at Newcastle just days before the Tattersalls Sale.
River Boyne was the top lot on the fourth day of the Autumn Sale when he was knocked down to Alastair Donald. The agent was bidding on behalf of Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal,
River Boyne won at two over nine furlongs when he transferred to the USA. He enjoyed a prolific second season, winning six times and being placed twice in nine outings. In addition to the two Grade 2 wins noted earlier, he showed himself to be among the best sophomores on the west coast of the USA, and all but one of his six victories that year were at stakes level. He also ran second to Raging Bull in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby.
He failed to win at four, but was very consistent. He was runner-up to Bolo in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile, third on the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Delman, and fourth in a Grade 1. River Boyne gained his well-deserved Grade 1 win at five, and won another race at Grade 3 level. He amassed more than $1.2 million in earnings, and his consistency is well exemplified by the fact that on all but two of his 18 starts in stakes races he won of finished in the first four.
The only son of Dandy Man at stud in Europe, his dam Clytha, a daughter of Mark Of Esteem (Darshaan) was purchased as a three-year-old to join the broodmare band at Tara Stud. She had a desirable pedigree, being a half-sister to a pair of stakes winners. The best of these was Ventiquattrofogli (Persian Bold).
One of the best three-year-olds of his generation in Italy where he was a dual listed winner, he was a Group 3 winner in Germany, a Grade 2 winner in the USA, and considered good enough to travel to Royal Ascot for the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes, where he was beaten just over two lengths by Kingmambo.
Clytha is dam of five winners, her dam India Atlanta (Ahonoora) bred nine, while the third dam Place Of Honour (Be My Guest) was responsible for seven. Go back one more remove and you find River Boyne’s fourth dam, Sutton Place (Tyrant), winner of Royal Ascot’s then Group 2 Coronation Stakes.
RIVER BOYNE (IRE), Bay or Brown 2015. Won nine races, £926,491, from 1 mile to 1 mile 1 furlong, at 2 to 5 years including, Frank E Kilroe Mile Stakes, Santa Anita, Gr.1, Mathis Brothers Mile Stakes, Santa Anita, Gr.2, Twilight Derby, Santa Anita, Gr.2, La Jolla Handicap, Del Mar, Gr.3, Thunder Road Stakes, Santa Anita, Gr.3, Pasadena Stakes, Santa Anita, L, Rainbow Sakes, Santa Anita, L, also placed second in Hollywood Derby, Del Mar, Gr.1, Shoemaker Mile Stakes, Santa Anita, Gr.1, San Francisco Mile Stakes, Golden Gate, Gr.3, and third in Del Mar Derby, Del Mar, Gr.2, Seabiscuit Handicap, Del Mar, Gr.2, Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Handicap, Turf Paradise, Gr.2, Lure Stakes, Santa Anita, Gr.2.
Retired to Stud in 2021, first crop now yearlings
Stands at: Tara Stud, Tara, Co Meath C15 P762, Ireland
Contact: Derek Iceton
Telephone: +353 46 9025203 or +353 87 2323566
Email: derekiceton@tarastud.com
Web: www.tarastud.com
Fee: €5,000