Irish River (FR)
April 2, 1976 – April 24, 2004
Riverman (USA) x Irish Star (FR), by Klairon (FR)
Family 1-w
April 2, 1976 – April 24, 2004
Riverman (USA) x Irish Star (FR), by Klairon (FR)
Family 1-w
Easily the best French runner of his generation at distances up to a mile, Irish River did not stay much beyond that but was as consistent as anyone could ask up to that limit. While he proved a good stallion, he tended to throw conformation issues that limited his long-term influence.
Race record
12 starts, 10 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third, US$622,739 (converted from French earnings)
1978:
1979:
Honors
Assessments
Irish River earned a Timeform rating of 131 pounds as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
A chestnut of fiery disposition, Irish River stood 16.1 hands. He was a big, strong colt with exceptionally powerful, well-laid shoulders and action more marked by raw power than fluidity. He wore blinkers even at exercise to keep him from lashing out at workmates but was thoroughly genuine on the race course.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Irish River sired 546 winners (56.7%) and 82 stakes winners (8.5%) from 963 named foals; Ulbrich's Peerage of Racehorses credits him with 87 stakes winners (9.0%). Unfortunately, Irish River tended to throw tied-in tendons (a trait that limited the soundness of much of his stock), and many of his progeny were not at all attractive.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per El Turf (https://elturf.com/):
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Brief Truce (USA), Brigid (USA), Exit to Nowhere (USA), Hatoof (USA), Irish Approach (USA), Irish Prize (USA), Leariva (USA), Mashkour (USA), Natalie Too (USA), Navarone (USA), Old Maestro (USA), Orban (USA), Paradise Creek (USA), River Bay (USA), Seven Springs (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Alhaarth (IRE), Arcangues (USA), David Junior (USA), Distant View (USA), Dolphin Street (FR), Erin Bird (FR), Insight (FR), Listen (IRE), Loving Claim (USA), Priolo (USA), Saffron Walden (FR), Sanglamore (USA), Sequoyah (IRE). Spadoun (FR), Winona (IRE)
Connections
Irish River was bred and owned by Madame Raymond Ades. He was trained by John Connington, Jr. After one season at stud in France, he was imported to the United States in 1980 by John R. Gaines and stood the remainder of his stud career at Gainesway Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. He was pensioned in October 2001 due to declining fertility and died of an apparent heart attack in his paddock in 2004.
Pedigree notes
Irish River is inbred 5x4 to two-time French champion and four-time French champion sire Djebel and 5x5 to Sir Gallahad III, a Classic winner in his native France and a four-time champion sire in the United States. He is a full brother to Star River, second dam of three stakes winners including 2002 Eddie Read Handicap (USA-G1) winner Sarafan. He is a half brother to Irish Song (by Dapper Dan), dam of 1984 Prix du Rond-Point (FR-G3) winner Duke of Silver and second dam of French Group 3 winner Cachet Noir. He is also a half brother to Liska (by Lyphard), dam of French stakes winners L'Orangerie (by J. O. Tobin; dam of 1993 American champion sprinter Cardmania, by Cox's Ridge) and Liska's Dance (by Riverman).
Irish Star, the dam of Irish River, was stakes-placed on the race course and is a full sister to 1966 Prix Penelope winner Kaliopi, dam of French Group 3 winner winner Alik (by Targowice) and French stakes winner Princesse Kay (by Roi Lear) and second dam of German Group 2 winner Goofalik and French Group 3 winner Belka. The next dam in Irish River's tail-female line, Botany Bay (by East Side II), is a half sister to stakes-placed Black Perfume (by Sayani), dam of French stakes winner Baroque (by Cambremont) and second dam of French Group 2 winner Hakodate and to Black Princess II (by Prince Chevalier), dam of stakes winner Kapakahi (by Star Envoy) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Rojo Dinero. Botany Bay and her siblings are out of Black Brook (by Black Devil), a half sister to the notable runner and sire Turn-to.
Last updated: September 29, 2023
Race record
12 starts, 10 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third, US$622,739 (converted from French earnings)
1978:
- Won Prix Morny (FR-G1, 1200mT, Deauville)
- Won Prix de la Salamandre (FR-G1, 1400mT, Longchamp)
- Won Grand Criterium (FR-G1, 1600mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix du Bois (FR-L, 1000mT, Longchamp)
1979:
- Won Poule d' Essai des Poulains (FR-G1, 1600mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix d'Ispahan (FR-G1, 1850mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix Jacques Le Marois (FR-G1, 1600mT, Deauville)
- Won Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (FR-G1, 1600mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix de Fontainebleau (FR-G3, 1600mT, Longchamp)
- 3rd Prix Lupin (FR-G1, 2000mT, Longchamp)
Honors
- French champion 2-year-old male (1978)
- French champion miler (1979)
Assessments
Irish River earned a Timeform rating of 131 pounds as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
A chestnut of fiery disposition, Irish River stood 16.1 hands. He was a big, strong colt with exceptionally powerful, well-laid shoulders and action more marked by raw power than fluidity. He wore blinkers even at exercise to keep him from lashing out at workmates but was thoroughly genuine on the race course.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Irish River sired 546 winners (56.7%) and 82 stakes winners (8.5%) from 963 named foals; Ulbrich's Peerage of Racehorses credits him with 87 stakes winners (9.0%). Unfortunately, Irish River tended to throw tied-in tendons (a trait that limited the soundness of much of his stock), and many of his progeny were not at all attractive.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 5th on the American general sire list in 1994.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 7th on the American broodmare sire list in 2006.
Per El Turf (https://elturf.com/):
- Led the Peruvian broodmare sire list in 2013.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 3rd on the American general sire list in 1994; 4th in 1992.
- 10th on the combined English/Irish general sire list in 1992.
- 8th on the combined English/Irish broodmare sire list in 1995.
- 4th on the French general sire list in 1992; 7th in 1985.
- 6th on the French broodmare sire list in 1990; 7th in 1993 and 1997; 8th in 1995 and 2003; 10th in 1994 and 1996.
Notable progeny
Brief Truce (USA), Brigid (USA), Exit to Nowhere (USA), Hatoof (USA), Irish Approach (USA), Irish Prize (USA), Leariva (USA), Mashkour (USA), Natalie Too (USA), Navarone (USA), Old Maestro (USA), Orban (USA), Paradise Creek (USA), River Bay (USA), Seven Springs (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Alhaarth (IRE), Arcangues (USA), David Junior (USA), Distant View (USA), Dolphin Street (FR), Erin Bird (FR), Insight (FR), Listen (IRE), Loving Claim (USA), Priolo (USA), Saffron Walden (FR), Sanglamore (USA), Sequoyah (IRE). Spadoun (FR), Winona (IRE)
Connections
Irish River was bred and owned by Madame Raymond Ades. He was trained by John Connington, Jr. After one season at stud in France, he was imported to the United States in 1980 by John R. Gaines and stood the remainder of his stud career at Gainesway Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. He was pensioned in October 2001 due to declining fertility and died of an apparent heart attack in his paddock in 2004.
Pedigree notes
Irish River is inbred 5x4 to two-time French champion and four-time French champion sire Djebel and 5x5 to Sir Gallahad III, a Classic winner in his native France and a four-time champion sire in the United States. He is a full brother to Star River, second dam of three stakes winners including 2002 Eddie Read Handicap (USA-G1) winner Sarafan. He is a half brother to Irish Song (by Dapper Dan), dam of 1984 Prix du Rond-Point (FR-G3) winner Duke of Silver and second dam of French Group 3 winner Cachet Noir. He is also a half brother to Liska (by Lyphard), dam of French stakes winners L'Orangerie (by J. O. Tobin; dam of 1993 American champion sprinter Cardmania, by Cox's Ridge) and Liska's Dance (by Riverman).
Irish Star, the dam of Irish River, was stakes-placed on the race course and is a full sister to 1966 Prix Penelope winner Kaliopi, dam of French Group 3 winner winner Alik (by Targowice) and French stakes winner Princesse Kay (by Roi Lear) and second dam of German Group 2 winner Goofalik and French Group 3 winner Belka. The next dam in Irish River's tail-female line, Botany Bay (by East Side II), is a half sister to stakes-placed Black Perfume (by Sayani), dam of French stakes winner Baroque (by Cambremont) and second dam of French Group 2 winner Hakodate and to Black Princess II (by Prince Chevalier), dam of stakes winner Kapakahi (by Star Envoy) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Rojo Dinero. Botany Bay and her siblings are out of Black Brook (by Black Devil), a half sister to the notable runner and sire Turn-to.
Last updated: September 29, 2023