December, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Gwen Browne, Shane Loughnane Named Recipients Of Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarships To Irish National Stud

The board of the Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship Foundation is delighted to announce Gwen Browne and Shane Loughnane as recipients of two scholarships granted to Irish citizens for the upcoming Irish National Stud course in county Kildare. The award includes fully paid tuition including room and board for the 2024 breeding program.

Gwen hails from the outskirts of Tullow in county Carlow and has always found herself drawn to horses. From a young age her spare time was always equine related and after a week's work experience in a local point to point yard in secondary school, it was clear what path Gwen was going to take. Over the course of six years Gwen has immersed herself in the thoroughbred industry. From leading trainer Jessica Harrington's stables in county Kildare to Segenhoe Stud in the Hunter Valley, Australia, Gwen has had the opportunity to work under some of the best horse people in the world alongside some incredible horses.

Her passion for the early development of Thoroughbreds was sparked while studying Stud Management at KIldalton College in county Kilkenny, during which time she got to work under trainers, Mags Mullins and Pat Foley. This drive and passion have led Gwen to the Irish National Stud course which offers an exciting opportunity to learn from industry leaders as she pursues a career in the thoroughbred industry.

Prior to being accepted onto the Irish National Stud course, Shane Loughnane completed an Honours Bachelors Degree in Equine Science at the University of Limerick. During that four year period he spent summer holidays and college work placement at the famed Mount Coote Stud, where under the guidance of Luke Lillingston, he developed a passion for the breeding industry and gained valuable foaling experience. In his final year at college Shane joined Ballyphilip Stud where he gained further experience in all aspects of stud work, especially yearling prep and sales with renowned breeder and pinhooker Paul McCartan.

Shane's next goal is to gain experience abroad and work alongside industry leaders prior to returning back to Ireland with the aim of stud management. He feels that completing the Irish National Stud course is the next logical step to his career progression and achieving these goals.

Erin Dilger commented: “I would like to thank all our generous sponsors. We were delighted to be able to award a record number of seven scholarships for this year for our various programs and could only do it because of their support and contributions. We treasure our close relationship with the Irish National Stud which counts Gerry Dilger as a past graduate. The caliber of applications for all our scholarships continues to get stronger and stronger so the board felt it was appropriate to grant second scholarships to the Irish National Stud for 2024 instead of the initial single offerings. Earlier we announced Luis Ettedgui and Grace Hamilton as recipients of scholarships to the stud program for candidates from an American background. We therefore decided to grant four awards for the Irish National Stud scholarships in total instead of the two we had initially planned.”

For further scholarship details check out www.gerrydilgerequine.com

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McStay Extends to 220K Gns for Sea The Stars Filly at Tatts Online

Cloudbreaker (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}–Deveron, by Cozzene) realised a final bid of 220,000 guineas from Avenue Bloodstock's Mark McStay during Thursday's Tattersalls Online December Sale. The 3-year-old, who earned black-type in August when finishing second in the Listed Aphrodite S. at Newmarket, was also fourth in the King George V S. at Royal Ascot earlier in June. Out of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac placed Deveron, the Charlie Fellowes-trained filly is a half-sister to listed winners Lamar (Ire) and Haddaf (Ire).

“She's a lovely filly and has been extremely well trained by Charlie Fellowes,” said McStay of lot 59. “I inspected her [Wednesday] morning and was very taken by her–she's gorgeous looking with a great walk. It's a family I know very well from my days at Godolphin and Rabbah. I think it's safe to say that Sea The Stars is looking like being a very good broodmare sire. She's been bought for an Irish breeder with no mating plans yet, but we're delighted to get her.”

Fellowes added, “She was a very good racemare, she ran a massive race to finish fourth at Royal Ascot and got some black-type after that. We felt that the Online Sale worked really well for her because we felt she stood out, and we were delighted with the price we got for her. I am very much look forward to following her babies when they no doubt turn up at Tattersalls!”

Also included among Thursday's leading lots: 2-year-old Regal Defence (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) (lot 5), who finished an eye-catching third at Kempton on debut Wednesday night and realised 52,000 guineas to trainer Ian Williams. Recent Dundalk winner Never Cry Never (Ire) (No Nay Never) (Lot 52) was purchased for 21,000 guineas by Ger O'Leary from Fozzy Stack's Thomastown Castle Stables and the 4-year-old filly Reinitinruby (Ire) (Leading Light {Ire}) (Lot 125), a recent third in a competitive point to point, brought the same amount from Dan Astbury, acting on behalf of Stockton Hall.

At the close of bidding the Tattersalls Online December Sale realised a turnover of 566,800 guineas for the sale of 53 lots from 111 offered, at an average of 10,694 guineas. Almost 250 bidders registered for the sale from across Great Britain, Ireland, North America, Japan, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Greece, Italy, and the Gulf region.

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JP McManus Donates €1m To Every GAA County Board In Ireland

Legendary Irish owner JP McManus has pledged to donate €1m to every GAA county board. McManus, a multi billionaire whose green and gold hoops have been carried by some of the sport's brightest lights, such as Istabraq, has been a long-time backer of his own Limerick GAA.

Viewed by many as one of the greatest hurling teams of all time, Limerick have dominated the past four All-Ireland championships, and have won five of the past six Liam MacCarthy Cups.

On Thursday it emerged that McManus would extend his support to the remaining 31 counties in Ireland, to be distributed equally among the GAA, LGFA and Camogie organisations.

The move comes after McManus gave €100,000 to every GAA county board in Ireland five years ago which amounted to €3.2 million.

A statement released on Thursday read, “Clubs have this morning been notified of the news. The funds which will be distributed before Christmas will greatly help clubs as they prepare their plans for the 2024 season.”

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Goffs December National Hunt Sale: Zarkareva Leads The Way At 240k

Well-bred jumps mares dominated trade on the final day of the December National Hunt Sale at Goffs with Grade 3-winning chaser Zarkareva (Fr) (Authorized {Ire}) leading the way at €240,000.

The Gigginstown House Stud-owned Scarlet And Dove (Ire) (Jeremy), successful at Grade 2 level and placed at the Cheltenham festival, confirmed that the demand for high-class mares remains as strong as ever in the National Hunt.

However, similarly to the Flat breeding stock sales in Britain and Ireland throughout recent months, the middle to lower end of the market proved more of a struggle at Goffs, with the clearance rate dropping from 70% in 2022 to just 59% this week.

All told, 468 lots sold for turnover of €8,201,950 (-6%), an average of €17,526 (-4%) and median of €12,000 (+9%).

Goffs chief executive Henry Beeby said, “The two top priced National Hunt foals of the year anywhere together with the 10 highest prices for a National Hunt broodmare in Ireland and the United Kingdom this autumn clearly illustrate the progress this sale has made as such accolades would have been unthinkable a few years ago. Goffs December is now the clear first choice for so many National Hunt breeders which led to our largest ever catalogue for this sale and four days that witnessed some serious bidding duels for several outstanding young future jumpers and established broodmares. €120,000, our second highest National Hunt foal ever, and the €240,000 for Zarkareva are proper headline acts and we are delighted to have delivered consistently at the top of the market.”

Beeby added, “It must, however, be noted that the market has spoken loudly at the middle to lower end this week as evidenced by a clearance rate that makes for serious reflection. Goffs will always strive to provide the best possible marketplace for all categories and work tirelessly to deliver for every vendor but, when four in every ten fail to find a buyer, it must surely be a warning sign for breeders when making plans for next year and beyond. Indeed, this is a sobering statistic especially for the smaller entities and I can only state that Goffs will continue to work with everyone to create the best possible arena for each entry we receive. That includes the ITBA, HRI, ITM and individual breeders as our fortunes are indelibly linked to those of each vendor who chooses the Goffs service.”

Thursday's sale-topper is out of the placed Sendawar mare Zarkiyna, a half-sister to high-class Italian jumper Zarkali but also, more importantly, Zarkasha – better known as the dam of unbeaten Arc heroine Zarkava and her multiple Grade 1 hurdle-winning half-brother Zarkandar.

She was bought by Kieran Mariga's Coolmara Stables in Youghal, County Cork, which has been quickly gathering a band of top-notch National Hunt broodmare prospects in recent times.

“She was just a lovely mare,” said Kieran's son Cathal after the docket was signed. “No Risk At All is a great sire and had the highest priced National Hunt foal this year (the colt out of Hidden Harmony who sold for €120,000 at Goffs on Wednesday).

“We also loved that she's out of a mare by Authorized. We really like him, and we sold a foal by his son Santiago for €43,000 this week. We're big fans of Santiago. So to have a daughter of Authorized – and one from a brilliant Aga Khan Studs family-in foal to No Risk At All is quite special. Let's hope she's lucky, and the progeny make a bit back for us.”

Meanwhile, Scarlet And Dove, who was trained by Joseph O'Brien, was sold to Justin and Jackie Owens of Mount Armstrong Stud.

Beeby concluded on the sale, “In closing I repeat the pride all the team at Goffs feel when we reflect on the progress we have made in the NH sector in recent years as Kildare Paddocks now plays host to true market leaders in the Arkle and December NH sales, both of which enjoyed an atmosphere and vibrancy that are the envy of others as our passionate and experienced team go that little bit further on each occasion. These are backed up with the most viable alternatives across in Doncaster in May and November so ensuring that Goffs continues to offer and full and focussed service to the NH industry.

“For now we wish all Goffs clients a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and look forward to welcoming each and every one back to Kildare Paddocks in 2024 whilst thanking every one of them again for their support, as we know we are nothing without it.”

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