After narrowing the Team Valor racing stable to one North American trainer, organization president Barry Irwin has shifted the company’s breeding operation to a single farm and sales consignor, aligning with Craig and Holly Bandoroff’s Denali Stud in Paris, Kentucky.
Denali sold 2003 Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) winner Ipi Tombe (Zim) for Team Valor and partners as the top price in the 2004 Tattersalls December sale at $1,690,127. The Bandoroffs also foaled and raised Pluck and were members of the Team Valor partnership that bred the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G2) winner.
“Team Valor is trying to consolidate its business and deal with those horsemen with whom we have enjoyed the most success,” Irwin said. “Last year, on the racing scene, we decided to put all of our horses in training with Graham Motion at Fair Hill Training Center. Now this year, we have decided to place all of our breeding stock and young horses to Denali.
“Craig and Holly Bandoroff have been family friends and business associates for several years and we have enjoyed a lot of success and fun together. As Team Valor has evolved, we are now doing a little more breeding and racing of homebreds and we have the utmost faith in the entire Denali operation and its staff.”
Among the mares boarded at Denali are Secret Heart, whose first foal Pluck won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last season, and Captain’s Lover, a Gr1-winning South African Champion Filly at 3 with major stakes wins in France and the United States. Team Valor owns 14 domestic broodmares.
