Irish War Cry to stand at Northview in 2019

Irish War Cry cruised to win the Grade 3 Pimlico Special. Photo by Dottie Miller.

From a Northview Stallion Station release

Classic-placed Irish War Cry, one of the most dynamic runners of his generation, has been retired and will enter stud at Northview Stallion Station in Chesapeake City, Md., for the 2019 season.

“Irish War Cry is by leading sire Curlin, won the Holy Bull, Wood Memorial and Pimlico Special and was second in the Belmont, earning more than $1 million,” said John Sikura of Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm, home to two-time Horse of the Year Curlin. “It was always the intent of our partners to stand Irish War Cry in Kentucky. With the addition of champion Good Magic (also by Curlin) and the strong track record of making stallions at Northview, we decided this was the ideal situation for Irish War Cry. They pursued the horse aggressively and made a great pitch for the horse. His credentials as a top class racehorse and great physical specimen make him a standout in the vibrant Maryland market.”

Irish War Cry is a four-time stakes winner of $1,257,060 and raced from 2 to 4 for his breeder Isabelle de Tomas. He launched his career with three straight victories, including the Marylander Stakes at Laurel to complete his juvenile season, and the Grade 2 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park to kick off his 3-year-old campaign, earning the first of five triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures with a front-running performance. It was his first two-turn attempt and he completed the mile and a sixteenth in 1:42.52.

That effort launched him to the top of the NTRA’s leading 3-year-olds poll, and he went into the Kentucky Derby-G1 as one of the favorites off a smart, three and a half-length score in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct. Although off the board in the Derby, he was the favorite in the Belmont Stakes-G1 and led the majority of the mile and a half classic, battling gamely to the wire with Tapwrit to finish second.

“Irish War Cry is such a gorgeous and talented horse,” said his trainer Graham Motion. “I have not had a horse since Animal Kingdom who has shown the kind of raw ability that he has. Unlucky not to win a Grade 1, he came so close in the Belmont Stakes, but did win the Wood Memorial, which previously had been a Grade 1. I look forward to training his offspring.”

The chestnut colt returned at four to capture the Grade 3 Pimlico Special, leading at every call and drawing off by four and a half lengths over a sloppy track in 1:55.51 for the mile and three-sixteenths.

Irish War Cry is one of six winners from as many starters for the Polish Numbers mare Irish Sovereign. He is a half-brother to graded stakes winner Irish Strait and stakes-placed Irish Politics.

Northview’s general manager David Wade commented: “We couldn’t be more thrilled to add Irish War Cry to our stallion roster. This horse will get the attention of breeders not only in Maryland, but throughout the entire region. He has such a presence and is so beautifully balanced that I believe mare owners will line up after they see him. We’ll announce a stud fee and syndicate structure shortly.”