KING Cuan has been one of the success stories of the flat season.

Bought for €21,000 at the Goff’s Orby Book 2 Sale (formerly the Sportsman’s Sale), the Paddy Twomey-trained colt has won three times this season, including two big pots at Naas – the Goffs Sportsman’s Challenge and last Sunday’s Irish EBF Auction Series Race Final.

The Tasleet two-year-old is owned by the Red Lily Syndicate, formed by Naas Racecourse’s finance manager Brian O’Riordan. Like the trainer, Brian is a Corkman and he and Paddy have been friends for over 25 years.

Brian asked a number of friends from near and far if they would like to get involved in a syndicate, and about 15 including some new friends took up the offer. This included PR and media relations consultant Brian Purcell, who filled us in on the story.

“It’s incredible stuff,” he said. “This sort of thing just doesn’t happen. Paddy bought the horse on spec around the same time the syndicate was formed. He liked him then and offered him to us. We’re just privileged to be in with a trainer with such a great record. Paddy and Claire have built up a great business in recent years.”

A May foal, King Cuan had barely turned two when he made his debut and finished a very promising fourth of 17 at the Curragh. Brian added: “We knew then we had something special. Paddy decided to give the horse a break until early September. He did one piece of fast work before he ran in a maiden at Cork in early September where he hosed up.”

King Cuan was odds-on at Cork, and he was money-on again at Naas for the Goffs race which he won easily. With jockey Billy Lee telling syndicate members he felt the horse was stakes class, it was no surprise to see King Cuan sent off hot favourite again last Sunday. Racing on very soft ground for the first time and over seven furlongs, he held on for a narrow success.

“Billy said he got such a big roar in the winner’s enclosure it was like being at a National Hunt meeting!” reported Brian. “Ten of the syndicate are first-time owners which is amazing. This is a once-in-a-lifetime horse. He has given some amazing days and nights.”

Having pocketed over €137,000 in prize money, the syndicate members have plenty to dream about over the winter. Brian reported: “The horse has a Guineas entry but we’ll wait and see how he’s going in the spring – we’ll leave all those decisions to Paddy.

“We’ll see how the horse develops. He’s a very laidback individual – a push-button ride who goes on any ground. We’ve all grown very fond of him.”

Sadly one of King Cuan’s supporters is no longer with us. Brian explained: “My father Brendan Purcell from Ballyduff in Co Kerry loved following the horse but he passed away three weeks ago. He was a great greyhound and pony racing man. We still own the local pub and there was a great crowd in there cheering on the horse last Sunday.”

“The dream is clearly still alive and, as Brian O’Riordan said in his post-race interview on Sunday, we must give great praise to all the staff in Athassel House Stud in Golden. They’ve done a fantastic job this year with our lad, so well done to them.”