Valirann represents a top Group 1-producing family

VALIRANN (FR) - 2010 bay horse

Whytemount Stud, in Co Kilkenny, had a lot of success in recent years through the exploits of their star stallion Stowaway (by Slip Anchor). He died in February 2015, his progeny include standouts such as Champagne Fever, Hidden Cyclone, Outlander and Western Leader, and although the team's new stallion is no relation of his, there is every reason to hope that he too can become a National Hunt sire of note.

Valirann, a son of the regally-related Group 1 star and Group 1 sire Nayef (by Gulch), is a half-brother to Valyra (by Azamour), the undefeated star who, tragically, died shortly after her Group 1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) victory in 2012.

He is also a half-brother to the multiple blacktype-placed filly Valasyra (by Sinndar), who had the misfortune to be disqualified after passing the post first in a Group 3 contest at Saint-Cloud, and he is a half-brother to the pattern-placed stakes winner Valiyr (by Alhaarth).

Their dam, Valima (by Linamix), was a lightly-raced seven-furlong listed scorer in France and she, in turn, is out of Vadlawsya (by Always Fair), a winning full-sister to the Group 2 Prix Hocquart winner Vadlawys and half-sister to 2001's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile star Val Royal (by Royal Academy).

Val Royal, who shuttled to South America, died young but those he left behind include nine Group/Grade 1 winners, among a total of 20 individual stakes winners, with the best-known of them, to European racegoers, being the dual Guineas hero Cockney Rebel.

Mile listed scorer Vadlamixa (by Linamix), a half-sister to Val Royal and Vadlawsya, has done her part for the family by becoming the dam of the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan and Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes winner Valixir (by Trempolino) and also of two blacktype daughters who have also achieved top-level success at stud.

Celebre Vadala (by Peintre Celebre) is the stakes-winning dam of this year's Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp scorer Vadamos (by Monsun), who is taking up stallion duties at Tally-Ho Stud in 2017, while Vadaza (by Zafonic) is the dam of the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary heroines Vadawina (by Unfuwain) and Vazira (by Sea The Stars) and also of the dual Group 3 scorer Vadapolina (by Trempolino).

With family connections like these, combined with a race record that saw him win four times from five starts, including two important stayers' races in France, it is no surprise that Valirann covered 114 mares in his first season.

VALIRANN (FR) – b.2010 – Nayef – Valima, 4 wins inc Prix Chaudenay (Gr2), Prix de Lutece (Gr3). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2016.

FOALS CATALOGUED (updated)
bc – All For Fame (by Alhaarth)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €5,000
bc - All Notoriety (by Shantou)     Goffs     Dec     not sold
grc – Ballymartintheatre (by King's Theatre)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €9,000
bf – Basteta (by Sholokhov)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
bc – Brogella (by King's Theatre)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €20,000
bc – Broken Thought (by Broken Hearted)     Goresbridge     Oct      €3,800
brc - Culmore Native (by Be My Native)     Goffs     Dec     €17,000
bc - Dimona (by Alhaarth)     Goffs     Dec     €8,000
bc - Eau Pure (by Epervier Bleu)     Goffs     Dec     not sold
bf - Fix It Lady (by Millenary)     Goffs     Dec     €1,000
chc - Gael Force Lady (by Flemensfirth)     Goffs     Dec     €1,500
bf – Grangeclare Gold (by Old Vic)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €9,500
chf – Grangeclare Star (by Old Vic)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     withdrawn
bc – Hollygrove Cezanne (by King's Ride)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €16,000
chf - Hurricane Linda (by Stowaway)     Goffs     Dec     not sold
chf - Inquisitive Look (by Montjeu)     Goffs     Dec     withdrawn
bf - Julimark (by Accordion)     Goffs     Dec     withdrawn
bc – Little Vinnie (by Vinnie Roe)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
bc - Lizzy Langtry (by King's Theatre)     Goffs     Dec     €16,500
bf – Lusobar (by Luso)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €600
chc – Manuels Sister (by Lend A Hand)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €21,000
bc - Marine City (by Carnegie)     Goffs     Dec     not sold
bc – Mrs Bukay (by Bishop of Cashel)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €4,000
bf – Rosie's Trix (by Luso)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
bc - Shambala (by Imperial Ballet)     Goffs     Dec     not sold
chc - Stowaway Susie (by Stowaway)     Goffs     Dec     €4,000
bc – Stylish Ways (by Bach)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €5,200
brc - Talkin Madam (by Talkin Man)     Goffs     Dec     ​€10,000