Irian (; foaled 9 May 2006) is a German-bred, Hong Kong–based retired

racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

. He was one of the nominees of 2010–2011

Hong Kong Horse of the Year Horse of the Year is the most prestigious honor in Thoroughbred horse racing given by racing organizations in a variety of countries around the world. In Hong Kong, the voting for Horse of the Year is organized by the Hong Kong Jockey Club as part ...

Background

Irian is a brown gelding bred in Germany by Gestut Schlenderhan. He is probably the best offspring of his sire, the German Group Three winner Tertullian.

Racing career

Irian was sent into training with J Hirschberger in Germany, where he raced as a three-year-old in 2009. He won three races, including the

Dr. Busch-Memorial The Dr. Busch-Memorial is a Group races, Group 3 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Germany open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of at Krefeld in April. History The event used to be held at Hoppegarten, ...

and the

Mehl-Mülhens-Rennen The Mehl-Mülhens-Rennen is a Group 2 flat horse race in Germany open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Cologne over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), every year in May. It ...

. In 2010, Irian resumed his career in Hong Kong, racing at

Sha Tin Racecourse Sha Tin Racecourse is one of the two racecourses for horse racing in Hong Kong. It is located in Sha Tin District, Sha Tin in the New Territories. It is managed by Hong Kong Jockey Club. Penfold Park is encircled by the track, and the Ho ...

. In November 2010, he defeated 10 opponents to win the

Jockey Club Cup A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...

.Racing Post
/ref> He has run notably in defeat, finishing second in the

Hong Kong Cup The Hong Kong Cup is a Conditions races, Group 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Hong Kong which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 2000 metres (about miles or 10 furlongs) at Sha Tin Ra ...

in both 2010 (to

Snow Fairy Snow Fairy (foaled 12 February 2007) is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse who was bred in Ireland and trained in England by Ed Dunlop. She made little impression on the racecourse as a two-year-old, winning only one race out of six. She started h ...

) and 2011 (to

California Memory California Memory () is an American-bred Hong Kong–based Thoroughbred racehorse. He was one of the nominees of 2010–2011 Hong Kong Horse of the Year. Background California Memory is a grey gelding sired by Highest Honor out of the mare Kal ...

References

The Hong Kong Jockey Club – Irian Racing Record
* The Hong Kong Jockey Club

{{The Most Popular Horse of the Year 2006 racehorse births Racehorses bred in Germany Racehorses trained in Hong Kong Hong Kong racehorses Thoroughbred family 4-n