Norse Dancer x Kizzy May Gelding

Pioneer Racing are delighted to have secured the extremely athletic and strongly built Norse Dancer gelding who is none other than the half brother to Pioneer Racing’s very own flagbearer Mars Harper and is to be trained by Gordon Elliott at Cullentra House Stables.

After the great exploits of our multiple winning and black type gelding Mars Harper and the ability he has shown at home and at the track, we were keen to explore purchasing his relation and after consulting with Gordon & Aidan (Mouse) O’Ryan, who were the duo responsible for purchasing Mars Harper and saw this gelding at the sales, we decided we would look to secure him. The view is that he is a bigger and stronger looking horse than Mars Harper was at the same age. We were delighted to have purchased him at the sales well within our budget we had agreed we would go up to in order to secure him. The factor which came into play and allowed us to purchase him at the price we did, was the fact it was a relatively quiet sale on the day which comes down to the fact it was one of the last sales offering 3 year old store horses and plenty of orders would have already been filled at this stage of the sale season.

Our geldings sire ‘Norse Dancer’ was a top level performer throughout his racing career and proved to be a very consistent, tough and durable racehorse. He was trained by legendary trainer David Elsworth who rated him as one of the best he has ever trained. Norse Dancer has sired plenty of winners on the flat, and also over the jumps, which includes the extremely talented and multiple Grade 1 winner Yanworth who ran in the famed green and gold silks of JP McManus.

The dam of our gelding ‘Kizzy May’ has a lovely pedigree being a half sister to black type performer Strongpoint. She is by the sire Definite Article who has proven to be a very good National Hunt sire in his own right and has proven to be a extremely good damsire. Definite Article is the damsire of top level winners such as the Barry Connell trained Marine Nationale, JP McManus owned Champ and Great Field, Peter Fahey’s stable stalwart Peregrine Run and the very talented Dan Skelton trainers chaser Third Time Lucki, the list going on. Kizzy May as we know at Pioneer is also a proven broodmare having already produced Mars Harper who has been a star for Pioneer Racing and taken his owners to plenty of the big meetings including multiple trips to Cheltenham, Leopardstown for the big Christmas meeting, Down Royal, Punchestown and also to the much loved Galway Festival.

This gelding is a lovely moving horse and very athletic in his appearance, as mentioned before, he would be a stronger and bigger model of a horse than Mars Harper was when both were the same age. We view this gelding as one who has all the potential to emulate Mars Harper in the hands of Cullentra House Stables and believe he is a type who could be capable of showing up very well in a bumper before embarking on a career over hurdles, whilst also having the physique to go over fences down the line when required. He is currently going through his early stages of training which has gone very well and he is being taught the basics of being a racehorse and has been schooled plenty which has gone very well and will bode well for his jumping career going forward.

Gordon Elliott – ‘I’m very happy that Pioneer have purchased this gelding as your big supporters of the yard and we have had some great success with Mars Harper and all being well there will be more to come from him. I was very keen to train him based on what Mars Harper has done for us and the ability we know he has. Once we saw him at the sales he was one we were coming home with! He would be a nicer horse to look at than Mars Harper was at the same age (3 year old) and would be a bigger and stronger horse at that stage. I believe he’s going to be a great addition to the syndicate and he looks very well brought at the price.’

Aidan ‘Mouse’ O’Ryan – ‘When the catalogue came out for the sales he was one that we were going to have a look at where he is a relation to Mars Harper who we brought as a 3 year old store. Mars Harper has turned out to be a very nice horse for the yard and is very consistent. When we saw this horse at the sales, we liked him straight away and he has his similarities looks wise to Mars Harper however he would be a leggier and larger individual than Mars was as a store. He was one of the nicest store horses on the day and I’m delighted to have purchased him for the syndicate and hope he can take his owners to the big days out like Mars Harper has done for Pioneer.’

The following share prices include: Purchase price, sales house & associated fees, vetting, transport and training fees:

5% – €2,035 – upfront fee – €165 per month from 1st August 2023
5% – £1,850 – upfront fee – £150 per month from 1st August 2023

2.5% – €1,122 – upfront fee – €85 per month from 1st August 2023
2.5% – £1,020 – upfront fee – £77.50 per month from 1st August 2023

Should you be interested in getting involved or require any further information please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team who will be only to happy to help.

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