Old Persian

Bay, 2015, 16.2½hh
Retired sound in wind and limb

THE FACTS

FIRST FOALS IN DEMAND

The foal sales provide the first test for a stallion’s progeny and dual Gr.1 winner Old Persian’s first foals passed with flying colours in 2022.

Gerry Hogan headed a list of shrewd judges who successfully secured a son of Old Persian’s first crop, and a winning bid of €47,000 was required to procure the colt from the family of Cooldine offered by Ballincurrig House Stud at the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale. After revealing that his purchase was made as a racing prospect on behalf of a client, Hogan said, “I really like the sire, he is a lovely son of Dubawi and has had some very nice foals here this week”. Other notable buyers included Capital Bloodstock, Ferndale Stables, Redbridge Stables, etc.

The Bleahen Brothers regularly top the store sales and will be hoping to repeat the feat with Kevin Galvin’s Old Persian colt, who they bought from Lough na Sollis Stud. The following month at Goffs, Hugh Bleahen added an Old Persian filly to his haul.

Smart first foals saw Old Persian rewarded with a stellar book of mares in his third season at stud. They include Grade 3 Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle heroine Silk Affair (Barathea), whose resulting foal will be bred on a similar cross to Dubawi’s Group 1 winners Arabian Queen, Hunter’s Light and Monterosso.

Among the proven mares covered was Supreme Breda, dam of the three-time Grade 1 winner Benefficient and exciting point-to-point winner Leader In The Park, who sold for £250,000.

A number of well-bred mares are also in foal to Old Persian, including sisters to Grade 1 winners Bob Ollinger, Blackstairmountain, Kalashnikov, Watson Lake, Monkfish, etc.

PEDIGREE