Special Wan

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Barry Irwin's Team Valor will offer a handful of accomplished racemares, consigned by Bluewater Sales, during Monday's Fasig-Tipton November Sale. And in a business where timing and asset appreciation is everything, the operation's Special Wan (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) (hip 155) comes into the boutique sale just as her connections might hope. Trained by Brendan Walsh, the 5-year-old mare has won four of her six starts in this country and enters the 'Night of the Stars' off victories in the GIII Ladies' Turf Stakes at Kentucky Downs on...

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the Breeders' Cup meeting. Ethical Diamond Hands Mullins The Turf Training maestro Willie Mullins landed the biggest Flat victory of his career with Ethical Diamond (Awtaad) in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf on Saturday (video). A winner of a brace of valuable handicaps across the pond, the five-year-old gelding has also run seven of his lifetime starts over hurdles. Bred by W. Kennedy, Ethical Diamond is owned...

Just outside of 48 hours before she is set to take her place as hip 155 at Monday's Fasig-Tipton November Sale, Special Wan (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) enhanced her resume with a straight-forward success as the favorite in Saturday's GIII Goldikova Stakes at Del Mar. Away neatly from the three hole, Special Wan was with the early pace, but was wisely taken a hold of by Joel Rosario as 77-1 Violeta M (Arg) (John F Kennedy {Ire}) opened up a sizeable advantage through enervating early splits of :22.82 and :46.29. Kept...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Wimbledon Hawkeye at Kentucky Downs.   Kameko Colt Hits The Target In Kentucky The consistent Wimbledon Hawkeye (Kameko) made his first American foray a winning one when scooping a $1 million-plus payday at Kentucky Downs in the GIII Nashville Derby Invitational Stakes on August 30 (video). Bred by owners the Gredley family's Stetchworth and Middle Park Studs, the James Owen trainee had won...

He may hail from a family that will forever be associated with one of Ireland's most famous jumps horses but trainer Pat Foley has been making a name for himself on the Flat of late and sent out the well-named Special Wan (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) to record an emphatic debut success at Leopardstown last week.  That performance put Special Wan slap bang in the shop window and, while Foley admitted that she is likely to continue her career for new connections eventually, he also revealed that his owner Jim Browne...