There was finally some joy for trainer Kelso Wood and prominent owner David Devine when Spirit Of Flatley won at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.

Spirit Of Flatley (5g 5y Invincible Spirit – River Dance Queen by Snippets) proved too strong for a convincing victory over Whateverwhenever and Brigadoon Star in the Lyndhurst  Stud Hcp (1200m).

Wood and Devine are still coming to grips with the loss of Zero Rock in the LR Lough Neagh Stakes (1350m) at Doomben last Saturday.  The Danzero mare tore pelvic ligaments and has been retired to stud.

Devine is a part of a syndicate, including AFL legend Leigh Matthews, that races Spirit Of Flatley.  He also owns star youngster Sizzling (Snitzel) who is one of the favourites for the 2012 Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast.

Jockey Chris Munce believes there’s more wins in store for Spirit Of Flatley.  “That’s probably the right sort of trip for him at the moment and he should strengthen up a bit more,” Munce said.  “It’s a great relief for everybody that Zero Rock was able to be kept as a broodmare.  Hopefully I can ride her progeny.”

Spirit Of Flatley is by Invincible Spirit who shuttled to Chatswood Stud in Victoria.  His Australian stock includes 114 winners and they have arrived at a 65% strike-rate.  His leading runners out here have been G1 winning filly Yosei and slick sprinter I Am Invincible who is now based at Yarraman Park.

Invincible Spirit (Green Desert) took the northern hemisphere by storm when a runaway winner of the 2006 European first-season sires’ premiership.  He shuttled to Victoria for four seasons but has remained at the Irish National Stud since 2007.

He tops the roster at the County Kildare stud at a 45,000 euros (AUD 65,875) service fee.

Spirit Of Flatley is a younger brother of LR Qld Tattersall’s Classic winner Conquering Queen.  Chatswood sold him for $125,000 at the 2008 Gold Coast Magic Millions.  Their dam River Dance Queen has a yearling colt by Rakti and a colt by Amadeus Wolf foaled in August.

Rakti and Amadeus Wolf also shuttled from the Irish National Stud to Chatswood.  Rakti struggled to make an impact in Australia before his death earlier this year.  Amadeus Wolf has his initial crop going great guns in Europe with 22 winners from 64 starters so far this year.