Tag: A Case Of You

Breeders’ Cup Presents Connections: ‘Ordinary Guys’ Beating The Odds

Hours after winning his first Group 1 race on the Arc de Triomphe undercard, trainer Ado McGuinness found himself waiting on a bus to take him and his crew back to their hotel in Paris.

“We're ordinary guys, coming from an ordinary place,” the Irishman explained. “We were finding it hard to get taxis, so we just decided we'd head for the bus, and we had great fun actually. It was one of those bendy busses, so the back of it was going all over the place because we were dancing and singing the whole way into Paris!”

That celebration was well-deserved: McGuiness has trained racehorses for 21 years, working his way up from the lowest ranks to become one of the top 10 trainers in Ireland. In addition, the win meant McGuinness would be making his first trip to the United States for a chance to run in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar.

The son of a vegetable farmer with a background in show jumping had never been one to shy away from hard work, and he found a solid niche in Ireland buying horses from the in-training sales and keeping them running consistently well. 

A partnership with his cousin, Darley Flying Start graduate Stephen Thorne, and the development of ownership syndicate Shamrock Thoroughbreds has helped McGuinness bring a higher class of horse into the stable over the past several years.

The trainer won his first stakes race in 2020 when Current Option captured the Platinum Stakes at Cork on Aug. 8; he sent out a first international winner with Bowerman in the G2 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup in Qatar on Feb. 19, 2021; and he progressed to the Group 1 level when A Case of You scored by a narrow margin in the Prix de l'Abbaye on Oct. 3.

A Case of You, the 3-year-old son of Hot Streak, was also McGuinness' first ever runner at Longchamp. The last time the trainer had been in Paris was for his honeymoon.

“The whole place just went mad,” McGuinness told Friday Night Racing on Off The Ball. “I got a great reception, [jockey] Ronan [Whelan] got emotional, we all got emotional, it was just brilliant. It's hard to describe the feeling really when it happens, your first time, especially in a place like that.

“You just sort of say to yourself, 'Am I dreaming, am I dreaming?' You never think it might happen to you. You'd often be sitting at home watching this race saying, 'God wouldn't you love to be there,' and I'm very privileged that I was.”

Ronan Whelan gallops A Case of You at Del Mar

Owned by McGuinness' longtime friend and owner Gary Devlin, A Case of You joined the stable in early 2021. The colt had been sold as a weanling for just €950 (about $1,100), then was picked up by trainer John McConnell as a yearling when after the 2019 Goffs Sportsman's sale, when bidding stopped at €3,000 (about $3,300).

McConnell trained A Case of You to win at second asking, then to capture a G3 race at The Curragh before he finished for the season. A deal was brokered to sell the colt to Hong Kong but it fell through, allowing McGuinness to step in.

“Going to Hong Kong, with all the x-rays and everything, it can be very hard to pass the vet,” McGuinness explained. “I think there was one little problem with something on x-ray, and we got him x-rayed again, and my vet was very happy with him, and he passed him. We brokered a deal and bought him. He's a very, very cheap horse now, compared to what we paid for him, but he was the most expensive horse I've ever bought.”

At first, McGuinness tried to put A Case of You on the trail for the Classics, but the colt quickly proved he was more effective at sprint distances. By September, A Case of You was facing off with the best sprinters in Ireland, and ran a great second at long odds in the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh. 

That effort, and post-race comments from his jockey Ronan Whelan insisting he would have won had he moved a bit sooner, inspired McGuinness to supplement the colt to the l'Abbaye. Whelan made his move earlier at Longchamp, and got up to win by a short head on the wire.

That success brought about an even more prestigious opportunity in the Breeders' Cup.


“We never thought he'd bring me here,” McGuiness said, watching A Case of You train over the dirt at Del Mar ahead of the Breeders' Cup. “I've been all over the world, but never to the U.S. I've been to Australia, Saudi, Dubai, but never the U.S. It's unbelievable.”

McGuinness chose to stick with Whelan, bringing the jockey over to California to ride.

“I've known Ronin since he was an apprentice, and he's a real hell of a good lad, a very underrated jockey,” said the trainer. “There's only very, very few jockeys in Ireland getting an opportunity to come over and ride in a place like this, so it's great for the likes of him. He can come out here, he proved it in Paris. People were saying, 'Oh, put an American jockey on him,' and I said, 'Not a hope!'”

Also of concern was the tight bend of Del Mar's turf course, as well as the turf itself. 

“The tightness, right, is a little bit of a concern, but he's a well-balanced horse so I think he shouldn't have a problem with it,” McGuinness said. “We have a nice draw; there'll be pace on our inside and we can just slot in behind them. When you walk out on it it's not too bad. There's a lovely sponge off it compared to home. When it's firm in Ireland, it's hard-hard, like it's like out there [pointing to the pavement]. We listened to the horses galloping by yesterday in the race, and if you were at home and you listened to the same bunch of horses galloping on firm ground, it'd be a lot harder than what you'd get here. But then, we don't get firm ground too often in Ireland with the weather!”

Jockey Ronan Whelan and trainer Ado McGuinness discuss strategy in the paddock at Del Mar ahead of the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint

A Case of You certainly did not disappoint in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, closing to finish fifth behind Golden Pal.

“He ran a massive race and going past the line would have been placed with a bit further,” McGuinness said after the run. “He's been invited for Hong Kong which is something we'll discuss over the weekend, and if he travels home well it's something we'll think about.”

McGuinness also has plans in the works to run A Case of You at Royal Ascot in 2022, and did not rule out a return to the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland next fall.

“He's just three, and he'll be better next year,” said McGuinness. “I think if he'd run out here even three to four months later, he'd have been much closer at the finish.”

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In the meantime, A Case of You is getting some down time in McGuinness' yard at Skylark House Stables, Hayestown, Lusk, Co. Dublin. He'll likely join a group heading to the local beach for a refresher, with McGuinness keeping a watchful eye on his stable star.

“We have a beautiful beach which is not too far away,” McGuinness said. “When the weather's not too bad, it's a beautiful place. It's great mind-wise for a horse just to take them. Usually when we race our horses we go there the next day, just to let them chill out and have a walk around the water. 

“The horses seem to really enjoy it. They love it. On the odd day we get a horse to go swimming, but very seldom. Just up to their knees, and if it's a real calm day, I even go farther with them, right up to their shoulders, and they just love it.”

The future definitely looks bright for McGuinness, who plans to continue to improve the level of his stock while staying as hands-on as possible. He'll still be the first one in the stable each morning, feeding his horses breakfast himself, and driving the trailer to haul them to their races.

“Ireland is probably the hardest country in the world to train horses because we have the best horses, some of the best trainers, and the biggest operations in the world to compete against,” McGuinness said. “I think we've proven that we can train good horses when we get them.”

The post Breeders’ Cup Presents Connections: ‘Ordinary Guys’ Beating The Odds appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘Rags To Riches’ A Case Of You Primed For Turf Sprint

Del Mar, CA–The celebration from trainer Ado McGuinness, his family and stable team reverberated far and wide across ParisLongchamp-and, quite possibly, beyond–on Oct. 3 when Gary Devlin's A Case Of You (Ire) (Hot Streak {Ire}) hit the line a short-head winner of the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye. And rightfully: after 21 years training racehorses, McGuinness had won his first Group 1.

“To win your first Group 1 and to win it on one of the biggest days in Europe was very special for everybody involved,” McGuinness said. “[Jockey] Ronan [Whelan] has been riding for me for a long time and to get a Group 1 like that, it was just so special. We can get very vocal sometimes and that's just the way we are no matter what type of winner we have. It was a very special day and something you'll remember for the rest of your life. Words can't really describe what it was like that day. I know what it's like now and hopefully I can experience it again.”

McGuinness could get that chance again on Saturday when he saddles A Case Of You in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Having arrived in Del Mar on Monday evening, McGuinness was trackside on Tuesday morning to supervise his stable star as the 3-year-old went through an easy canter over the dirt course.

“The horse traveled over very well,” McGuinness said. “He had two days in quarantine and he was very fresh [on Monday] morning and he had a go with his rider, but he had a nice canter this morning and he was more laid back. We're really happy that we have a really good draw and hopefully he'll run a nice race for us.”

That draw is six of 12, which McGuinness said gives Whelan options with A Case Of You.

“I think the six is good for him because he might not have the tactical speed really early, so they can jump and go forward and he can just sit right in behind them,” he explained. “I think it's an ideal draw for him that will leave us with two options, so we're very happy. We're a little concerned because it's a round track and it's tight, but he's handled Dundalk, our all-weather surface at home, and it's round so hopefully he'll put up a bold show.”

A Case Of You has been on an upward trend since joining McGuinness last winter, and he is the type of horse that keeps the smaller operator dreaming. Bought for 950gns as a foal by trainer John McConnell, A Case Of You failed to find a new home at the Goffs Sportsmans yearling sale of 2019, and was led out unsold at €3,000. When McConnell sent A Case Of You to the races in his own colours, it became immediately apparent that the horse had been far undervalued. Third first out at Bellewstown last August going a mile over heavy ground, A Case Of You promptly graduated next out when dropped down to seven furlongs at Down Royal before posting a minor upset when coming home the 6-1 winner of The Curragh's G3 Anglesey S. A Case Of You was then due to be sold to Hong Kong, but when that deal fell through, McGuinness swooped.

“We were looking for a horse at the end of the year and this horse was to be sold to Hong Kong, but the deal fell through so we went looking for him,” the trainer recalled. “We brokered the deal for him just before Christmas. It was a long time trying to get him and it was probably the most money I've ever paid for a horse, yet he wasn't expensive; compared to what he has done today, he was a very cheap horse. I think it's onwards and upwards. the horse is just thriving and he's a rags to riches type of horse. He's very talented and it's a privilege to have him.”

A Case Of You's first outing for McGuinness was a win in a Dundalk conditions race going six furlongs, and he trailed home last of 12 when hanging badly in the seven-furlong Listed 2000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown three weeks later. Dropping back to six, A Case Of You and Whelan took the G3 Lacken S. at Naas, but beat just four home in the G1 Commonwealth Cup, having lost a shoe in running over the heavy ground. After he finished third in the G3 Phoenix Sprint S. again over six furlongs on Aug. 8, McGuinness dropped A Case Of You back to five furlongs for the first time, a move which has transformed the horse. After coming from well out of it to finish second in the G1 Flying Five S. at The Curragh on Sept. 12, A Case Of You made a similar move at ParisLongchamp, sprinting away from the eventual third-placed Glass Slippers (GB) (Dream Ahead) to cut down the lead of Air De Valse (Fr) (Mesnil Des Aigles {Fr}) and hit the line a short head in front. A Case Of You re-opposes the defending Turf Sprint winner Glass Slippers, who he has had behind him his last two outings, at Del Mar.

“The Irish handicapper was sort of knocking him a bit on his two runs, but his first two ever runs over five furlongs were a second in a Group 1 and a win in a Group 1, so you can't get much better than that,” McGuinness said. “If Ronan had ridden him at The Curragh again he might have won the first Group 1 as well, because we were giving him a bit of time. We're learning about him every day, he's still a 3-year-old. It was a hell of a performance and a hell of a ride from Ronan on both days, and I think the second day was a fantastic ride because a lot of people would have given up when the French horse had gone so far clear, but Ronan knew the horse and knew what he could get out of him. It was a world-class ride.”

Today, McGuinness has just shy of 50 horses in his care, and he said the purchase of A Case Of You was part of a plan to focus on upgrading the quality of his stock.

“I'm training 21 years, and the last four or five years we've really upped the ante with regards to trying to buy a better horse,” he explained. “We've won a lot of big sprint handicaps in Ireland and we had our first group race winner last year and we've won two Group 3s since. My cousin Stephen Thorne works for me, he's a Darley Flying Start graduate, and we do a lot of work at the sales and sourcing nice horses in training. We've been lucky with a few yearlings as well that we've bought and we're trying to get more into the yearling market to try to get better owners in. It's not easy in Ireland because it's probably one of the most competitive places in the world to try and train young horses.

“We've definitely upped the ante on our stable the last few years. At the Galway Racing Festival we've won three of the big flat races in the last three years, and it gives us great advertising to try to get more owners into the yard. It's all about getting a better horse into the yard, and we've proved we can train them if we get good horses, so that's what it's all about.”

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Global Appeal At Tatts Autumn Sale

The Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale has become a key attraction for stables around the world looking to bolster their quality, and the latest renewal takes place at Park Paddocks in Newmarket from Monday through Thursday.

Demonstrating the global impact of the sale are 2020 Grade/Group 1-winning graduates River Boyne (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) and Fierce Impact (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who have this year taken top-level contests in the U.S. and Australia. Chris Waller selected Imaging (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) from the Juddmonte consignment last year and he rewarded his trainer with a victory in the G2 Ajax S. Down Under in March.

This year’s Derby favourite English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) goes through the ring as a wildcard (lot 1153A) and he is sure to appeal to the Australian market, or any other that relishes a quality middle-distance type. While English King could manage only fifth in the Derby, he did best the subsequent stakes-winning and St Leger-placed Berkshire Rocco (Fr) (Sir Percy {GB}) in the Listed Derby Trial S. at Lingfield.

Another with plenty of potential for the future that was added to the sale last week was John McConnell’s G3 Anglesey S. scorer A Case Of You (Ire) (Hot Streak {Ire}) (lot 1153C). The progressive 2-year-old colt was third at first asking in August before winning at Down Royal prior to the Anglesey. Gussy Mac (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) (lot 334A) is another black-type winning 2-year-old to be offered, he having taken the Listed Dragon S. at Sandown in July, as is the Listed Roses S. scorer Acklam Express (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) (lot 1172). Pattern-placed 2-year-olds catalogued include Devious Company (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) (lot 630), runner-up in the G2 Vintage S. and G2 Superlative S.

The sale features more than 90 stakes performers including 2020 stakes winners Dubai Station (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}) (lot 554), Maystar (Ire) (Mayson {GB}) (lot 331) and Royal Dornoch (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) (lot 713).

The Juddmonte consignment last year turned out Imaging, and shrewd buyers will be in the ring for the 25-horse draft that sells on Wednesday. This year’s offerings include the winning and stakes-placed 3-year-old Emissary (GB) (Kingman {GB}) (lot 1126), a half-brother to G1 Derby and G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Workforce (GB), as well as the three-time winning 4-year-old Derevo (GB) (Dansili {GB}) (lot 1130) and dual winning 3-year-old Society Lion (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) (lot 1132).

Shadwell has the largest consignment with 87 catalogued, while The Castlebridge Consignment brings 81 including the highly rated Lord Rapscallion (Ire) (Alhebayeb {Ire}) (lot 1020) and Bullfinch (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) (lot 1100).

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A Case Of You Added To Tattersalls Autumn Sale

This season’s G3 Anglesey S. winner A Case Of You (Ire) (Hot Streak {Ire}) (lot 1153C) is among seven wildcards added to next week’s Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale. Owned and trained by John McConnell, A Case Of You broke his maiden at second asking at Down Royal in September before taking the Anglesey S. nine days ago.

Another stakes-winning 2-year-old added to the catalogue is the Roger Teal-trained Gussy Mac (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) (lot 334A), who won the Listed Dragon S. at Sandown in July. Also among the 2-year-old wildcards are Ascot Adventure (GB) (Mayson {GB}) (lot 746B), a winner at Cork in his lone start, and the filly Choice And Chance (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) (lot 334B), a winner at Fairyhouse on Sept. 21 and a descendant of the influential broodmare Coup de Folie.

Godolphin 4-year-old Khagan (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}) (lot 746A) brings French group form, having placed in last year’s G3 Prix du Lys and G2 Prix Hocquart.

Click here to view all wildcards for the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale.

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