Heads were hurting but hearts were still soaring after an evening celebrating all that is great about the Irish bloodstock industry. And it was a truly great night, but one which naturally started on a sombre note as the gathered guests bowed their heads in a few moments of silence to reflect on the passing of the ITBA chief executive Una Tormey last month at the age of only 41.

It wasn't the only part of the evening to bring a lump to the throat. The Next Generation Award was presented a little later on to Amy Marnane, who is the embodiment of unbridled enthusiasm, just like her dad, Con. He was there of course, eyes welling with pride, along with Amy's sister Olivia and members of the extended Marnane family. The one absentee was Con's wife Theresa, who died in December and, like Tormey, is much missed by her many friends in the business and beyond. 

By 2am in the hotel bar, Con and Amy were taking turns on the microphone, and if her endeavours in the bloodstock world ever fail her (they won't) Amy could easily fall back on a career as a singer. It was a night of celebration, and people who know Con Marnane even only in passing, will realise that he takes that approach to life on most days. The recent months will surely have been tough on the family without Theresa in their midst, but there is no better way to honour her memory than by continuing to live life to the full. On Sunday night she would have been especially proud of her eldest daughter, who is a shining example to all young people coming into this industry.

“She was a sponge to soak up information. By five or six she knew every horse by their sire and dam,” said Con in the tribute video to Amy before adding with a grin, “I'm not really surprised…She learnt from the best.”

The best was what Sunday night was all about. From the top jumps prospects, many of whom will return to the Cheltenham Festival in a fortnight's time, to the potential breed-shapers of the future on the Flat, Ireland's equine stars and the people who made them were duly celebrated. 

“We are delighted to have Minister Pippa Hackett join us again for this year's awards and we thank her and her government colleagues for their continued support,” said ITBA Chairman Cathy Grassick in her opening address. 

“We are honoured tonight to recognise the outstanding achievement of Irish-bred horses, both Flat and National Hunt, during 2023. This is our opportunity to celebrate their outstanding successes in a year which Irish thoroughbred talent was on display to a global audience once more. It is also an opportunity to acknowledge those who have made a lifelong contribution to Irish thoroughbred breeding and our people awards are well deserved and a testament to the wonderful people we have working in our industry.”

Willie Austin, who will forever be associated with the brilliant, prolific jumper Danoli (Ire), claimed the Small Breeder Award for the year in which Danoli's relative Blazing Khal (Ire) heaped more glory on the family with victory in the G2 Boyne Hurdle.

We will hear more from David Bowe in tomorrow's edition of the TDN after the Littleton Stud manager was given the Wild Geese Award, which is annually handed out to an Irishman or woman who has forged a successful career in the bloodstock industry beyond Ireland's shores. 

Bill Dwan summed up what many people feel about Bowe when he said, “He's an absolute gentleman. I don't know anyone in the business who has a bad word to say about him. It's not ever about David; it's about the horses, it's about Jeff [Smith, Littleton Stud owner].”

Stitch-up of the year goes to the ITBA's awards organising committee, who managed to pull the wool over Leo Powell's eyes. For many years Powell, the former editor of the Irish Field, has been the compere on awards night. This year he was told that the recipient of the Special Contribution award had been kept top secret, and indeed it had been, to the degree that Powell had no idea that the award was coming his way until he was hijacked on stage, expecting to read out someone else's name. 

The warmth of feeling for Powell within the racing and breeding industry was summed up beautifully by Jacqueline Norris in another of the heartwarming videos that the ITBA team does so well. “He's incredibly interested in the people that make up this business. He's kind, he's considerate, he thinks about people,” she said. “Leo Powell is pure class.”

There was also widespread approval for this year's inductees to the ITBA Hall of Fame. Referred to regularly as a “power couple”, the husband-and-wife team behind Tinnakill House, Dermot Cantillon and Meta Osborne, are the worthy new names on that illustrious roll of honour, which also includes Meta's late father, Michael Osborne.

Their great friend Alan Byrne paid tribute to the couple, with plenty of leg-pulling in his humorous address. He said, “What a team, what a partnership: in business and in life. I'm in awe of what they do, and also the skills they bring to their partnership: expertise in pedigrees, conformation judgement, strategic thinking, commercial nous, rigour and an unwavering commitment to hard work – and, look, Dermot brings something to the partnership as well.

“Above all, I would say that Dermot is an enthusiast. With Dermot, the glass isn't just half full, there's about to be so much liquid in evidence that more glasses need to be bought as quickly as possible. He loves the life and he loves the game.”

In almost 20 years at Tinnakill House, the couple has bred four Group 1 winners in Casamento (Ire), Alexander Goldrun (Ire), Red Evie (Ire) and, most recently, State Of Rest (Ire).

Byrne also highlighted the time and devotion they have committed to the industry above and beyond their own farm and in many roles, including Cantillon's chairmanship of Naas racecourse and Osborne's stint as senior steward of the Turf Club, as well as their encouragement of young people starting off in the business. 

“They only ever want the best for the Thoroughbred industry in Ireland,” added John P Byrne.

As Leo Powell conducted an interview on stage with the 'wild goose' David Bowe, who was clearly choked with emotion at being honoured by his peers and countrymen, he asked Bowe for one parting piece of advice for young folk keen on getting involved in the bloodstock business. 

“Immerse yourself in it, get involved in it and stick with it,” offered Bowe.

They are words that can just as well apply to racing and breeding, or indeed the ITBA Awards evening. Don't go there thinking that you will be able to get an early night. Roll with the emotion, sing, dance and enjoy everything that is worth celebrating about this wonderful life. 

ITBA National Breeding & Racing Awards Winners

Chaser of the Year 2023
Shishkin, Breeder: CJ & EB Bennett

Hurdler of the Year 2023
Marine Nationale, Breeder: JB Bloodstock   

National Hunt Race Mare 2023
Marie's Rock, Breeder: Dan Breen

Young National Hunt Horse 2023
A Dream To Share, Breeder: Brucetown Farms

Small Breeder 2023
William Austin 

Two-year-old Filly of the Year 2023
Porta Fortuna, Breeder: Whisperview Trading Ltd

Two-year-old Colt of the Year 2023
Henry Longfellow, Breeder:  Coolmore 

Three-year-old Filly of the Year 2023
Mawj, Breeder: Godolphin 

Three-year-old Colt of the Year 2023
Auguste Rodin, Breeder:  Coolmore

Older Horse 2023
Mostahdaf, Breeder: Shadwell Estate 

Next Generation Award 2023
Amy Marnane 

Wild Geese Award 2023
David Bowe

Contribution to the Industry 2023
Leo Powell

Hall of Fame 2023
Dermot Cantillon and Meta Osborne 

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The event took place on Wednesday at The Lord Bagenal Inn, County Carlow, just a stone's throw away from where Willie Mullins, one of the greatest National Hunt trainer of all time, is based. 

The panel featured Anthony Bromley, Walter Connors, Bertrand le Metayer, Peter Molony, Charles O'Neill and Richard Pugh with Lorna Fowler the master of ceremonies. 

ITBA chief Cathy Grassick described herself as delighted by the huge turnout, and said, “I was delighted. Not just the number of people, but the calibre of attendees as well, and it made for healthy and important debate. If you want to make change or debate the future of our industry, it's important that the people who make the decisions are in the room, and they were. It's great that there will be some things that will be followed up on.”

Grassick added, “One of the key messages I took from the evening is that the panel were keen to point out all of the things we do right in this country and, while, yes, there are some things we could change, we need to make sure that we are not throwing the baby out with the bath water. There's an awful lot of good things happening and a lot that we can be proud of. That doesn't mean that we can't do some things better.”

Despite the weight of some of the issues up for debate, the evening got off to a light-hearted start with French bloodstock agent le Metayer revealing that, when Molony called him to see if he would be interested in sitting on the panel, he also asked for his jacket size. Why so? 

“It was for a bullet-proof vest,” he joked, while alluding to the current reign the French thoroughbred is enjoying over its Irish counterpart.

A scene from The Lord Bagenal on Wednesday | ITM

Le Metayer's sense of humour was once again on show when, paying the Irish breeders a back-handed compliment given their penchant for fashion compared to the French breeders, he said, “Historically in France, and obviously it's a big country, but, the guy from down the road in Burgundy is not going to drive six hours to get his mare covered by Saint Des Saints. 

“The reality is that [the success of the French breeding model], I wouldn't call it any brilliance or horsemanship, it's sheer luck. Overall, I think Irish people are better horse people than the French but you guys have got less common sense than us! You are thinking commercially and we are thinking of going 10 minutes down the road [to the local stallion master].”

The depth of the French broodmare band, and the sheer robustness of the mares that breeders in France can call upon, was also highlighted as a major advantage to the industry over there. 

Meanwhile, Molony made the point that too much emphasis was being placed on the stallion in Ireland these days and, in borrowing a line from the excellent Jamie Railton podcast with Roger O'Callaghan, where the Tally-Ho Stud man urged breeders to look themselves in the mirror, the Rathmore Stud boss did the same. 

Molony went on to give examples where broodmares with proven credentials have been sold relatively cheaply in recent times and identified an opportunity for National Hunt breeders to replenish their broodmare band in the current climate. 

Pugh addressed the issue of polarisation in the National Hunt market, which has been so heavily dominated by the progeny of Walk In The Park and Blue Bresil in recent times, by doing what he does best; wheeling out some cold, hard facts. 

He said, “We all know the story of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival where 28 races were won by 27 different stallions. But for the purpose of this evening, I looked back over the past 12 months of Grade 1 winners in Ireland. There have been 30 individual winners of Grade 1 races in Ireland in the past 12 months and 20 of them were French while nine were Irish and one was British. 

“That's what we're up against. Also, no Irish horse won two. Another thing that was interesting was that there were 23 different sires represented by those 30 Grade 1 winners so, for all of the polarisation, actually, when you get out there into those Grade 1 races, it's spread out a lot more.”

Pugh added, “I have huge sympathy for the Irish breeders because they are going where they think the market is. It's got to be commercial. I sympathise with the Irish breeder who sits down and says, 'this is the covering I would like because it would suit the mare, but that is the covering I feel that I have to choose to get paid.' If that is the case, it's disappointing.”

It was Pugh who summarised that the Irish thoroughbred is, on average, “a year behind” its counterpart in France and the panel agreed that the introduction of three-year-old bumpers or even two-year-old store sales could be an avenue worth exploring in an effort to meet the societal demands. 

Everybody wants things quicker, it was gleaned. And to deal with the demands, or in some cases dwindling patience, three-year-old bumpers and earlier store sales were put forward as ways in which the process of blooding a National Hunt racehorse could be fast-tracked, thus, providing answers to those paying the bills that bit sooner. Grassick confirmed that both ideas could be explored following the event. 

She said, “There has been a lot of study and a lot of historical evidence for slow and steady exercise across the whole range of development in the thoroughbred–so foals, yearlings, two-year-olds etc. Introducing horses to light exercise from a young age, the physiological benefits are proven to increase bone density, muscle memory, balance etc. That's what the studies are showing. When you look at some of the horses who were broken as Flat yearlings, the likes of Istabraq and Hurricane Fly who have come across and become great Champion Hurdlers and stood the test of time, it obviously wasn't any detriment to them to have begun their careers earlier than most.”

One of the more surprising developments of the evening was the criticism levelled at ITM by a number of people in the audience. It resulted in a passionate riposte from O'Neill, who defended the organisation, as did Bromley, who described ITM as “the envy” of everyone in Britain which resulted in a round of applause. 

It was at this point where le Metayer shared that the foundations set out by ITM, in terms of attracting buyers and promoting the Irish thoroughbred on an international scale, was copied in France. Shortly afterwards, Pugh urged breeders to examine the product and not to point fingers at the people, ie ITM, whose job it is to market the product. 

One thing that everyone in the room could agree on is that the cost of producing these foals has sky-rocketed in line with inflation. Such a point was explained in no uncertain terms by Connors. The introduction and development of the mares' programme in Britain and Ireland is another thing that had the majority of those in the room singing from the same hymn sheet. The success of that relatively recent development is also reflected in the numbers. 

Grassick explained, “It's staggering the success of the ITBA National Hunt Fillies Bonus Scheme. When you look at the figures between 2022 and 2017 for example, the turnover on fillies at the Tattersalls Derby Sale has more than doubled, even though they are offering roughly the same number of fillies. 

“In that time, the turnover has gone from €1.8m to €3.6m for 70 to 75-odd fillies sold. It has resulted in massive increases in the demand for fillies at the sales and proves that the scheme does work and providing a race programme with such opportunities works as well.”

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Entitled 'Jumping into the Future: The Challenges Facing Irish National Hunt Breeding', the debate will be led by trainer and breeder Lorna Fowler of Rahinston Farm and Stud. The panel consists of bloodstock agents Anthony Bromley and Bertrand Le Metayer, breeder and stud owner Peter Molony, vet and consignor Walter Connors, and Tattersalls Ireland director Richard Pugh.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. and attendees are encouraged to arrive early to take advantage of a networking opportunity prior to the start of the seminar at 6:30 p.m.

ITBA chair Cathy Grassick said, “I am excited at the prospect of hearing from our expert panel on all issues relevant to our industry. This is a crucial time for the market and an important event for everyone to voice their opinion.” 

William Flood, who chairs the ITBA National Hunt committee, added, “This is a very important time for the industry in light of recent results at the sales. Our National Hunt committee has gathered an expert panel to help talk through these important topics.” 

Those intending to attend the seminar must register via email on ddeveney@itba.ie or by calling the ITBA on 045 877 543. ITBA members and non-members are welcome to attend this free event, at which light refreshments will be provided. 

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The seminar featured a panel of top experts–Kevin Blake, Stuart Boman, Ado McGuinness, Jason Morris and John Oxx, with ITBA Chairman Cathy Grassick taking on hosting duties.

The discussion–Sprinters, Stayers and Everything in Between–analyzed breeding for different distances to suit market demands, as well as changes in trends over the past number of years and what the future might look like. The panel's lively discussion included points on varying trends within the Flat breeding and racing sector, international markets, balancing speed versus stamina and market demand.

“Distance horses are still speedy horses,” champion trainer and Staffordstown Stud Director John Oxx said. “Carrying speed for longer is what we are trying to produce. The superior athletic specimen.”

ITBA Chief Executive Una Tormey said, ”A huge thanks to the Curragh Racecourse for facilitating ITBA's Flat Seminar and to our great panel for giving up their time ahead of a busy Derby Festival weekend. The discussion provided some valued insights into all matters pertaining to the current trends around breeding for markets demands. Those in attendance provided plenty of comments and questions throughout the afternoon and the debate was well balanced and informative. There were lots of food for thought and plenty of key items were discussed. I would encourage those who missed the event to watch it back via ITBA website.”

The Seminar can be viewed in full by visiting the ITBA website or YouTube Channel.

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I trailed around sales after my father from a young age learning the ropes, but you couldn't really call that a job. My first job on a farm was in Mount Armstrong Stud in Co Kildare when it was owned by Noel O'Callaghan. I used to cycle there every day and learned to prep yearlings with Eddie O'Learys sister, Ashley.

The biggest influence on your career?

My father Brian and my grandfather Christy who taught me everything I could hope to know about horses. Eimear Mulhern and my mother, Sheila, who both showed me that women could be successful in business and encouraged me in my chosen career.

Favourite racehorse of all time, and why?

San Sebastian. I used to ride him out when I was starting to ride racehorses as a teenager for my uncle, Michael Grassick, and he was a 42-rated handicapper with a habit for disappearing out from under me. He got gelded and started a miraculous rise from there, winning six races and finishing second three times in nine starts, culminating with in victory at Royal Ascot. I followed him every step of the way and my passion for racing was ignited. I loved him even if he mostly only tolerated me.

Who will be champion first-season sire in 2023?

Wow, what a year to have to answer this question with so many high-class two-year-olds having their first runners. My heart will say Phoenix Of Spain as I was involved with buying his dam and selling him for his breeder, Arild Faeste, as a foal. My head says Blue Point as I have purchased a couple of very smart fillies by him. That said, I have been very impressed with the first crop of Invincible Army at the sales. It's such a tough year to call.

Greatest race in the world?

Oh a 50-50 between the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Melbourne Cup – incredible races with incredible horses and huge atmospheres. Going to either of them is a life-changing experience for a racing enthusiast.

If you could be someone else in the industry for a day who would it be, and why?

Ryan Moore: just for a day to be able to ride the best horses and to understand that level of talent and to see inside that incredible tactical racing brain. For me that would be heaven.

Emerging talent in the industry (human)?

I have two cousins who are really starting to make their mark in the training ranks – Michael Grassick in Ireland and Chris Grassick, in partnership with William Muir, in the UK. Another eye-catching young trainer is Kevin Philippart de Foy, who has also made a great start.

Horse TDN should have made a Rising Star and didn't?

Enable.

Under-the-radar stallion?

Gleneagles.

Friday night treat?

Dinner in a nice restaurant, usually the Brown Bear in Two Mile House, with my husband, Jamie Lowry.

Guilty pleasure outside racing?

Sport horses, riding, competing and judging them. Even when I'm not racing, I'm surrounded by horses.

Race I wish I had been there for…

Sea The Stars, Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe. I had only missed his 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in his three-year-old career as I was riding in a charity race that day at Punchestown and watched him win on the big screen. After that I was there for all of his other starts and he really was the most incredible horse to follow. I was at the sales in Tattersalls cheering him home in the Arc on television and I was sorry to miss his swan song.

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So much so, Fitzpatrick, full sure that either Cairde Go Deo (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) or Ladies Church (GB) (Churchill {Ire}) were going to do something special this weekend, had worked himself into a tizzy about doing a post-race interview with RTE's Brian Gleeson.

He needn't have fretted so much. Shortly after Ladies Church carried Dobbin's increasingly recognisable green silks to victory in the G2 Sapphire S. for Johnny Murtagh and Ben Coen, Fitzpatrick took to his media duties like a seasoned pro.

It was only after Cairde Go Deo earned Classic and Group 1 black type by rattling home for third in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks that Fitzpatrick could pause for breath but, even then, the achievements of his small but select owner had barely sunk in.

Fitzpatrick said, “I was dreading doing that interview with RTE all week. I said to my wife that, if they ask me, I am saying no. Brian Gleeson insisted so I'd no choice.

“I was expecting a big run from the fillies, more so from Cairde to be honest. Ladies Church was beaten in a handicap at Royal Ascot but Johnny said straight away afterwards that he'd aim her at the Sapphire and that she'd be better suited to a Group 2 than a handicap. I was thinking, 'how does that add up,' but he was right and I was wrong.”

An elated Fitzpatrick added, “I wasn't really expecting much from Ladies Church but Ger was really sweet on Cairde Go Deo. I was hoping that we'd be in the first three but then when Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) came out of the race yesterday I started to think it could happen for us.”

Dobbin, a native of County Down, who runs the Highline Construction company in New York, couldn't make it to the Curragh on Saturday. That's not to say he's not making his presence felt in Irish racing.

With a small but select approach to owning racehorses, he has quickly built up a talented team to go to war with, and the long-term dream of making the breakthrough at the highest level is fast becoming a reality.

Fitzpatrick explained, “I spoke to Mark and he's over the moon, he's absolutely delighted. When he got involved in racing back in 2017, he gave me a five-year plan, which was to win a Group 1 race within that time period. We have a Group 2 winner today and we have Group 1 and Classic black type now, so we're nearly there.

“He is from County Down and is big into his GAA. He was a very good footballer when he was in his early 20s and, when he went to New York, he captained them for five years.

“It was in 2017 when I got a phone call from a friend of his to say that he was interested in getting involved in horses. He asked me to get him a horse and luckily enough I had a store horse by Dubai Destination and I sold him that–didn't charge him enough, mind you! That horse turned out to do well for Joseph O'Brien.”

He added, “Mark's next idea was to buy foals. I went to the November Foal Sale at Goffs and, while he gave me a decent budget, I didn't buy anything for him. He was a bit annoyed about that and wanted me to go to Newmarket to buy a foal for him afterwards.

“I admired one particular bloodstock agent, Cathy Grassick, and always liked the horses that she bought, so I decided to give her a call. Cathy went to Newmarket and bought a New Approach (Ire) filly foal for 32,000gns and that turned out to be New York Girl (Ire) who won the G3 Weld Park S. here in 2019 before being sold.

“Cathy also bought a beautiful Champs Elysees (GB) filly, called Brook On Fifth (Ire), who won her maiden at the Curragh but got injured. So, from those two foals, Mark got two very smart horses and it took off from there.”

Fitzpatrick, whose late father John was a permit holder in Northern Ireland, enjoyed great days as an owner himself with Kempes (Ire) (Intikhab) before selling the horse to JP McManus.

Although there was a brief sabbatical when his brother Edward died in 1999, the self-labelled “small-time” estate agent returned to racing in 2005 and, through his association with Dobbin, has enjoyed some of his greatest days in the sport.

He said, “We spread them out between Ger Lyons, Johnny Murtagh and Joseph O'Brien and we also had a National Hunt filly, Lady Breffni (Ire) (Yeats {Ire}), who has done well with Willie Mullins. It's a very selective approach.”

Has there been a bad one?

“If there is a bad one, I usually blame the trainer! But, if we just stick to our plan and be selective–and Cathy has been a massive help–we can do well. I actually had a couple of question marks over Cairde Go Deo but Ger loved her so much that I said to go ahead and buy her. The same with Ladies Church, Johnny bought her for us as well, so sometimes trainers buy for us as well.”

He added, “Today has been an amazing day and hopefully there will be more to come. Johnny is always upbeat and he's looking at Group 1s for Ladies Church so maybe the Flying Five here on Irish Champions Weekend could suit. Ger absolutely loves Cairde. I've actually never seen a trainer love a horse as much as Ger loves Cairde. He thinks that she could be even better over further and may even be better next year. It's just an amazing team of people to be working with and it's great.”

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Those results were extra-special for Sheila, Cathy and Sally Ann Grassick because both Flotus and Shades Of Blue are descendants of mares purchased and cultivated by the stud's late patriarch, the highly respected horseman Brian Grassick.

“It was such an evening,” recalled Cathy Grassick, who runs Newtown Stud and Brian Grassick Bloodstock alongside her mother Sheila and sister Sally Ann. “Myself and Sally Ann were there together and it was such an emotional evening. It was really a culmination of a long effort with those families and to be able to do that with them was amazing.”

Fittingly in a year where buyers, including Grassick, clamoured to purchase mares from extra-large Shadwell drafts, both Flotus and Shades Of Blue descend from mares that Brian Grassick purchased from Sheikh Hamdan.

“I was still going back to the well this year buying mares from Shadwell,” Grassick said. “My father always said, 'buy from people who breed their horses well, because they are the families that keep coming back.'”

The sequence began when Brian Grassick purchased the winning Mathaayl (Shadeed), for a client, out of the Goffs November sale in 1999 for 42,000 Irish pounds. Mathaayl's first two foals had been winners, but she went through the ring off an unfortunate run of four blank years. Sent to Unfuwain the following spring, Mathaayl produced a filly that was bought back by Shadwell for 180,000gns as a yearling. Named Sahool (Ire), she reversed Mathaayl's fortunes by giving her a first black-type foal with a win in the Listed Chalice S. and placings in the G2 Ribblesdale S. and G2 Lancashire Oaks.

Mathaayl's fortunes temporarily reversed thereafter, her next six foals either unraced or unplaced. She was offered again by owner John Davis at the 2006 Tattersalls December Mares Sale, where Brian Grassick purchased her for himself for 29,000gns.

“Mathaayl came back up in the sale carrying to Alhaarth, and my father was just besotted by this mare, and always had been, and he decided he was going to buy her,” Cathy Grassick said. “He wanted to buy her to get a filly from her because he really loved this mare. Unfortunately, my father never lived to see a filly.”

Mathaayl produced a colt by Alhaarth (Ire) in 2007 and, in 2009, a colt by King's Best that was born about a month after Grassick's premature passing from cancer, aged just 54. Mathaayl's 2010 foal by Jeremy died, but at last in 2011, along came Brian Grassick's filly out of Mathaayl, a daughter of Verglas (Ire).

“My father so much longed for a filly [out of Mathaayl], and she didn't arrive until just after my father passed away,” Cathy Grassick said. “That was tough, but it was lovely, and she's by Verglas and she's called Enjoyable.”

Enjoyable went into training, Grassick explained, but was ultimately kept unraced after suffering a minor injury. She was covered by Kodiac at the age of four.

“My mother decided it wasn't worth risking her because she was so planned for and so longed for that we didn't want to risk racing her,” Grassick said. “So we kept her unraced and her first foal is Shades Of Blue.”

Shades Of Blue was bought by Rathbarry Stud for 105,000gns as a Tattersalls December Foal, and was a 110,000gns buyback when re-visiting the Park Paddocks ring the following autumn for Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. Racing for Alison Jones and trainer Clive Cox, Shades Of Blue won on debut at Ascot in May of 2018 before finishing third in the G2 Queen Mary S. Traveling to Maisons-Laffitte for the five-furlong Listed Prix Hampton the following June, Shades Of Blue earned a first black-type victory before stringing together second-place finishes in the G3 Summer S., Listed Flying Fillies' S. and the G3 Prix du Petit Couvert, the last of those when she was beaten a short neck by the future multiple Group 1 winner Glass Slippers (GB) (Dream Ahead). Returning to Tattersalls last December, Shades Of Blue was picked up by BBA Ireland for 320,000gns and put in foal to Frankel before her latest, and most lucrative, turn through the ring. She is set to visit Peter Brant's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass (Fr) for her second mating.

“It's been really lovely to be so well-rewarded; my father really wanted that filly [Enjoyable] and to have her come out and produce a black-type horse with her first foal was amazing,” Grassick said. “Then to have that foal go on and turn up at the sales in foal to Frankel looking amazing-I have to say all credit to Bill Dwan, she looked a million dollars at the sale. And to have her come into the ring in foal to Frankel and make 850,000gns, it was spectacular.”

And despite her sometimes frustrating produce record, Brian Grassick was ultimately proven correct about Mathaayl by more than just Shades Of Blue. Today, seven of Mathaayl's daughters are stakes producers, and her descendants include the Group 2-winning sire Gutaifan (Ire); the dual G2 Hardwicke S. winner and multiple Group 1-placed Maraahel (Ire); the G1 Lockinge S. winner Mustashry (GB); this year's G2 Premio Gran Criterium scorer Don Chicco (GB); G3 Cumberland Lodge S. winner Laraaib (Ire); and G1 Premio Jockey Club winner and G1 St Leger second Ventura Storm (Ire). Enjoyable's yearling colt by Invincible Spirit will run in America after being purchased by Klaravich Stables for 170,000gns at Tattersalls in October, and Enjoyable is back in foal to Invincible Spirit, having not had a foal in 2021.

The Grassicks had to wait little more than an hour after Shades Of Blue's turn to see Brian's legacy once again honoured through the sale of Flotus. The foundations for her story were laid nearly 20 years ago, in the autumn of 2002, when Brian Grassick purchased the 9-year-old Naazeq (GB) (Nashwan) from Shadwell for $115,000, in partnership with Tim Pabst, at Keeneland November in foal to Elusive Quality. Naazeq had three foals of racing age at that stage, but it would still be almost two years before her filly Tamweel (Gulch) would win the Listed Mariah's Storm S. and finish second in the GI Spinster S. at Keeneland.

“My father was very enamoured with Elusive Quality,” Cathy Grassick said. “Naazeq was by Nashwan, whose influence as a broodmare sire needs no explanation. My dad really wanted an Elusive Quality filly.”

Unlike Mathaayl, Naazeq didn't make the Grassicks wait for their filly. She foaled a daughter of Elusive Quality five months later, and the filly was retained to race for Sheila Grassick and Joe Higgins. She was named Sharapova after rising tennis star Maria Sharapova.

“Mum and dad were away and they were watching tennis, and dad asked me to reserve the name Sharapova,” Grassick recalled. “We reserved the name and it was on the back of Joe Higgins having a very good horse called Dimitrova, who was very lucky, and dad liked the Russian-sounding name.”

Put into training with Brian Grassick's brother Michael Grassick at Fenpark Stables just down the road from Newtown Stud, Sharapova broke her maiden at The Curragh in her first start at three, and was retired back to the Newtown paddocks after an abbreviated 4-year-old campaign. Brian Grassick had been pivotal in the purchase of Invincible Spirit (Ire) to stand at the nearby Irish National Stud, and he and Sheila were shareholders in the Group 1-winning sprinter. Thus, Sharapova-now owned by the Grassicks in partnership with Matt Duffy–visited Invincible Spirit for her first covering in 2007 off the back of the horse's excellent first year with runners, a start that he would continually build on to become a perennial leading sire.

Sharapova produced an Invincible Spirit filly, later named Floriade (Ire), in the spring of 2008 and she was sold to Dick O'Gorman on behalf of Godolphin for 130,000gns at the Tattersalls Craven Sale. After Brian's death, Sharapova was sent through the sales ring to dissolve the partnership, with Duffy buying out Newtown.

“My mother really wanted to get back into the family, but we didn't have any of the other daughters and Naazeq had since retired as a broodmare,” Cathy Grassick said. “So I went looking for another daughter and found Floriade in the [December] sale in Arqana [in 2011] and we purchased her there for €15,000, back from Godolphin, and we started breeding from her.”

Floriade, now owned in partnership with the Grassicks' longtime friend and business associate Tim Pabst, started out with a touch of bad luck, losing her first two foals, but she soon began to show promise with colts by Nathaniel (Ire) and Iffraaj (GB) fetching €50,000 and 75,000gns at the sales. Floriade produced a filly by Starspangledbanner in 2019, and there was a feeling, Grassick said, that she was exactly what her father had had in mind when he bought Naazeq almost 20 years ago.

“Floriade then bred Flotus, and that was the result of generations of my father wanting an Elusive Quality mare,” Grassick said. “Flotus was beautiful from the moment she was born. It's one of the reasons that the mare is already back in foal to Starspangledbanner. When we were deciding who to send the mare to, having seen Flotus as a yearling, you couldn't but want to breed her back.”

Offered by Newtown Stud at Goffs November, Flotus was purchased for €65,000 by Glenvale Stud, which pinhooked her for 125,000gns at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale when she was purchased by Arthur Hoyeau on behalf of a partnership. Sent to Simon and Ed Crisford, Flotus won by 4 3/4 lengths on debut at Goodwood in May, earning 'TDN Rising Star' status. She added the Listed Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy S. in August before finishing second to Tenebrism (Caravaggio) in the G1 Cheveley Park S., leading for all but the final five strides when caught late on.

“Simon Crisford's team have been so lovely and involved us, and Arthur Hoyeau, who bought her as a yearling-they have been so nice to us as breeders,” Grassick said. “Quite often that doesn't happen, but they've been so nice to us all and let us be slightly involved along the way. It's been such a pleasure and I really hope that Flotus gets to stay with the Crisfords, because they've done such an amazing job. Interestingly Simon Crisford also trains a filly called Miss Marble, who is by Iffraaj and has won her last two starts and who is out of a full-sister to Floriade. So he knows how to handle the family.”

Floriade has a yearling colt by Camacho that has been retained and will most likely race for Sheila Grassick and Tim Pabst. Like Enjoyable, Floriade didn't have a foal this year but is back in foal to Starspangledbanner and, unsurprisingly, already booked back to him for 2022. Sharapova, for her part, has also been a very useful producer, with Miss Marble's Group 1-placed dam Lottie Dod (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and the dual group-placed 2-year-old Rockaway Valley (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) in addition to Floriade.

Making Tattersalls all the more special was the fact that it came on the heels of an excellent foal sale for Newtown Stud at Goffs. Newtown brought eight foals to Kildare paddocks and sold all eight including the sale-topping Frankel (GB) half-sister to Classic winner and sire Sea The Moon (Ger) to Juddmonte Farms for €550,000. The Frankel filly, who was born and raised at Newtown, was sold on behalf of breeders Heike Bischoff and Niko Lafrentz of Gestut Gorlsdorf. Grassick got to know Bischoff and Lafrentz when they brought Sea The Moon to Tattersalls as a yearling in 2012.

“We met because of Sea The Moon; I fell in love with him as a bloodstock agent at the sales,” Grassick said. “They knew I was a big fan of his and that's how I got to know them.”

Sea The Moon was a 230,000gns buyback by his breeders.

“Unfortunately I didn't have enough money to buy him for my clients, but they retained him and we got to know each other then,” Grassick continued. “We kept in touch and not long after that they sent [his dam] Sanwa to Newtown. She was coming back to see Sea The Stars when Sea The Moon was a 2-year-old, and she boarded with us then and she's been back to visit us a few times. She's here with us still at the moment, which is a very big honour to be entrusted with something so precious. They've been great supporters of us and great friends.”

Grassick was quick to acknowledge, too, the contribution of the entire Newtown Stud team.

“For a small farm to bring eight foals to the sale and have the week we had at Goffs was a great result,” she said. “Caroline Hannon, who is our manager here, puts a huge amount of work into it, and we wouldn't be able to do what we do without her. It's been a real testament to the effort we've all put in and for myself, Sally Ann and mum it's great to be able to carry on dad's legacy. That's really important to all of us.”

This latest success, and everything that has come along the way, has, of course, been the realization of Brian and Sheila Grassick's vision all those years ago.

“My parents bought the farm together in 1996,” Grassick said. “They set it up together. And grew it from being their own personal broodmare band into a real commercial entity. When my dad passed away myself and my mum were running the farm until Sally Ann came back from France, and now the three of us work together with Caroline Hannon. The three of us work really well together with Caroline and it's gone from strength to strength. After my father passed away we increased the size of the farm; we purchased more land, which was very brave of my mother at the time. She's been amazing. She's put a lot of work and effort into the farm and it's really paid off now.

“It will be exciting to see what they go on to do now,” Grassick said of Flotus and Shades Of Blue. “It's great with those families going forward, and we have a lot of other young mares on the farm that we're hoping we can do the same with.”

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The Sportsman's Sale, like the Orby, was relocated last year to the Goffs UK headquarters in Doncaster with the pandemic making it all but impossible for visitors to travel to Ireland, and back at its rightful home in Kildare on Thursday the first session returned positive figures. Whereas in 2020 during the first session 104 yearlings had grossed £1,404,000, 186 were sold on Thursday for €3,945,000. This year's average of €21,210 was up 43% on last year's figure of £13,500, and even improved on the 2019 first-day average of €17,954. The median likewise climbed 45% to €16,000; it was £10,000 last year and €14,000 on day one in 2019. The clearance rate was 90%.

Topping trade on Thursday was a Dark Angel (Ire) filly from Lumville Farm knocked down to Cathy Grassick of Brian Grassick Bloodstock for €140,000. Bred by Shadwell, Lot 475 is the first foal out of the listed-placed Ghazawaat (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), whose dam and half-sister Simply Striking (Fr) (Kheleyf) were both stakes-placed.

“In terms of this sale she was a standout and we're delighted to have gotten her,” said Grassick. “I've bought horses this week for a new client and ones from America and Australia and they are going to keep their purchases in training here which is great to see.”

There was one Siyouni colt offered on the day, and Tom Whitehead of Powerstown Stud swooped to get him at €105,000. He is likewise a first foal; lot 577 was bred by Sunderland Holding and is out of the placed Dawn Approach (Ire) mare Miss Aiglonne (GB), herself a daughter of the G3 Prix Fille de l'Air victress Aiglonne (Silver Hawk) and a half-sister to four stakes winners including G1 Prix d'Ispahan scorer Mekhtaal (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and G3 Prix Thomas Bryon victor Normandy Bridge (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}).

Bungle Inthejungle (GB) has been in the news of late thanks to his G1 Nunthorpe S. winner Winter Power (Ire), and a filly by the Rathasker Stud sire found favour with Rodrigo Goncalves and Robson Aguiar at €90,000. The filly (lot 630) offered by Rathasker is out of the listed-winning Princess Janie (Elusive Quality), and a half-sister to the listed-placed Lundy (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), and she will be raced by Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing.

“She has been bought in partnership with Robson Aguiar for Amo Racing and she is a lovely filly,” said Goncalves. “She looks a really sharp and early type and she is by the same sire as Winter Power so hopefully she can progress like her. She looks a filly with a real future.”

First-crop sire US Navy Flag enjoyed good results at Orby, and a filly by him bred by Peter and Hugh McCutcheon sold for €82,000 on Thursday to Montgomery Otto.

Cotai Glory has enjoyed good results with his first runners this season, and he accounted for three of the top 10 sellers on Thursday, including a filly (lot 497) picked up by Joe Foley for €68,000.

All yearlings purchased at the Sportsman's Sale are eligible for the €100,000 Goffs Sportsman's Challenge, which will be held over six furlongs at Naas next September.

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