Brian Boru (horse)

Brian Boru began his racing career in a seven furlong maiden race at the Curragh on 28 June 2002. Ridden by Mick Kinane he started slowly but took the lead a furlong from the finish and won by a neck from the filly Evelyn One.[2] Brian Boru was immediately moved up to Group Two class for the Beresford Stakes for which he started 2/1 favourite. He took the lead in the straight but was caught in the closing stages and beaten a head by the future Irish Derby winner Alamshar. On his final start of the year, Brian Boru was sent to England to contest the Group One Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster on 26 October. Brian Boru was made 11/8 favourite and was ridden by Kevin Darley. Darley tracked the leaders into the straight but struggled to obtain a clear run until the final furlong. In the closing stages Brian Boru produced a "storming late run"[3] to take the lead and won by one and a quarter lengths from his stable companion Powerscourt.[4] Following the race he was made favourite for the following year's Epsom Derby.[3]

Brian Boru began his three-year-old season in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown on 11 May in which he finished third behind Alamshar and The Great Gatsby. In The Derby on 7 June, Brian Boru started the 9/2 third favourite in a field of twenty runners. he made no impression in the race and finished sixteenth behind Kris Kin, The Great Gatsby and Alamshar. Three weeks later, Brian Boru finished fourth of the nine runners behind Alamshar and Dalakhani in the Irish Derby. In August, Brian Boru took the lead in the straight in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York but was caught inside the final furlong and beaten a neck by Powerscourt.[5]

On 13 September Brian Boru started 5/4 favourite for the St Leger at Doncaster against eleven opponents. Ridden by Jamie Spencer, he was held up in the early stages before making his challenge in the straight and taking the lead a furlong from the finish. He "kept on well"[6] in the closing stages to win by one and a quarter lengths from High Accolade with Phoenix Reach in third. Brough Scott writing in the Telegraph, described the race as "ruthlessly run" and the finish as being "admirably committed".[7] Spencer dedicated the win to his friend Kieran Kelly, a National Hunt jockey who had been killed in an accident at Kilbeggan Racecourse.[8] In October, Brian Boru was sent to Canada to contest the Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack. He started 5/4 favourite, but finished third of the ten runners to Phoenix Reach.[9]

On his first start as a four-year-old, Brian Boru won the Listed Alleged Stakes at Leopardstown, beating Napper Tandy by three quarters of a length.[10] The rest of Brian Boru's season was disappointing as he failed to win in eight subsequent races. His best efforts came when finishing second in the Irish St. Leger (to Vinnie Roe)[11] and the Prix Kergorlay and third (to Sulamani) in the Canadian International Stakes.[12]