Con Marnane | Horse Racing Free Tips

Seven Days: Four Hundred

On December 3, 1995, the G1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle was won by the Aidan O'Brien-trained Thats My Man (Ire). It is unconfirmed, but those may well have been the words uttered by John Magnier when he decided to appoint O'Brien to uphold the good reputation of his surname at Ballydoyle. This he has done with aplomb.

From that December day at Fairyhouse until Sunday at the Curragh, A P O'Brien has been the name printed alongside 400 Group or Grade 1 winners. From his roots in National Hunt, he quickly set about conquering the Flat world. In O'Brien's first year at Ballydoyle, Desert King (Ire) became his first Group 1 winner in the 1996 National Stakes in the colours of Michael Tabor, with Walter Swinburn up. The son of Danehill later became his second Classic winner, but only by 24 hours, when the trainer signalled the manner in which he intended to continue his Flat training career by saddling the winners of the Irish 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas in the same weekend. Classic Park (Ire) struck in the fillies' contest and, like so many top-class fillies trained from Ballydoyle, became influential in her stud career as the dam of Derby runner-up and sought-after National Hunt sire Walk In The Park (Ire).

Desert King went on to win the Irish Derby and later that year we would see just how well recommended by John Durkan was the brilliant Istabraq (Ire), when he posted the first of 23 wins for O'Brien and JP McManus.

O'Brien's first triumph in an Epsom Classic came in 1998, when Shahtoush (Ire) won the Oaks. Giant's Causeway was perhaps his first real superstar, with his imperious run through the high summer of 2000 foreshadowing the appearance of the horse with whom O'Brien's name will be forever entwined: Galileo (Ire).

He was of course the first of his trainer's eight Derby winners in 2001. By the end of this week it's not impossible that O'Brien will have brought his tally of Classic wins at Epsom to 20. He has six of the remaining 15 entries in the Oaks, led by Savethelastdance (Ire), a daughter of his old friend Galileo, and four of the 16 for the Derby, including the winter favourite Auguste Rodin (Ire), looking to bounce back from the disappointment of the 2,000 Guineas.

Over last weekend, it was Paddington (GB) and Luxembourg (Ire) who brought his tally of Group 1 wins to the 400 mark, with the former sparking an Irish Guineas double for Siyouni (Fr) which was completed by Tahiyra (Fr) for the Aga Khan and Dermot Weld on Sunday.

The Older Guard

Luxembourg's triumph over Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}) and Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}) in the Tattersalls Gold Cup brought to a close a treat of a week when it came to action from the older-horse brigade.

There was the rare, if not unique, spectacle of last year's Coronation Cup and Derby winner, Hukum (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), returning in the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. after neither had been seen in public since their respective Epsom wins. Hukum's turn of foot in the closing stages was a sight to behold as he reeled in Desert Crown as the post loomed to win by a half-length. His trainer Owen Burrows kept the ball rolling with another of his older inmates, and another grandson of Cape Cross (Ire), when the five-year-old Anmaat (Ire) became the first Group 1 winner for this sire Awtaad (Ire) in Monday's Prix d'Ispahan.

The aforementioned Luxembourg perhaps doesn't get the recognition he deserves. Like the previous weekend's Lockinge winner Modern Games (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) , he is a Group 1 winner at two, three, and four, which is no easy feat and is the mark of a proper horse.

Luxembourg's sire Camelot (GB) surely holds a place in Aidan O'Brien's heart for providing his son Joseph with a first Derby triumph as a jockey. As we head into the Derby weekend it is worth reflecting on the influence of Camelot's sire Montjeu (Ire), whose sons Motivator (GB), Authorized (Ire), and Pour Moi (Ire) also won the Derby in a seven-year-period, to be followed by Pour Moi's son Wings Of Eagles (Fr) in 2017.

The quirky but brilliant Montjeu was often derided when it came to his record as a sire of fillies, but he is currently performing well in the broodmare sire table, some 11 years after his death at the age of just 16. On Saturday, he featured as the damsire of Classic winner Paddington, while previous group winners around the world this year out of Montjeu mares include Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) and Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). He has already featured as the broodmare sire of an Oaks winner, courtesy of Meon Valley Stud's 2019 victrix Anapurna (GB) (Frankel {GB}), and he could enhance that record further if Heartache Tonight (Fr) were to oblige on Friday for David Menuisier. The daughter of Recorder (GB) has been produced on the same pattern of 3×3 inbreeding to Sadler's Wells as Anapurna, and they respectively have the half-brothers Unfuwain and Nashwan in the bottom half of their pedigrees.

It was also a big week for some of the star juveniles of 2022. Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) pulled up lame after the 2,000 Guineas but put that firmly behind him with a resolute win in the G2 Sandy Lane S. under Frankie Dettori. In the second of two cracking sprints at Haydock, Steve Parkin's homebred G2 Queen Mary S. winner Dramatised (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) returned to lift the G2 Temple S. She heads to the G1 King's Stand S., while Little Big Bear is now a warm favourite for the G1 Commonwealth Cup.

Whitsbury World

When it comes to golden geese, Whitsbury Manor Stud appears to have one of both the male and female variety. The stud record of last year's leading freshman sire Havana Grey (GB) goes from strength to strength, and on Thursday his son Elite Status (GB) emulated his dad by winning the Listed National S. for the Karl Burke stable, becoming the first stakes winner of Havana Grey's second crop. Among those from his debut crop of three-year-olds, Mammas Girl (GB), Great State (GB) and Shouldvebeenaring (GB) are all black-type winners this year, with the last two named, along with Elite Status, having been bred by Whitsbury Manor Stud.

The stud also features this year as the breeder of 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}), whose half-sister Get Ahead (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) gave Whitsbury Manor yet another Listed win on Friday in the Cecil Frail S. The four-year-old thus became the fourth stakes winner for the increasingly celebrated mare Suelita (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}).

Stand By To Party

When Con and Theresa Marnane's Different League (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) appeared at Royal Ascot in 2017 with two wins under her belt and promptly took the G3 Albany S., the revelling continued not just late into that night but for several months. Stand by then to join the party if Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {Ire}) should follow suit for the Marnanes in the G2 Coventry S. Similarly unbeaten so far in his two starts, the Airlie Stud-bred €11,000 yearling consigned two six-figure rivals to the minor placings when winning the G3 Marble Hill S on Saturday. Like the aforementioned Chaldean and Get Ahead, he is out of a mare by Dutch Art, in this case the 1m4f winner Dromana (Ire), a half-sister to the G3 Henry II S. winner Lismore (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}).

It was a good day for the Marnanes' Bansha House Stables, which sold Salisbury debut winner Reveiller (Ire) at the Goffs UK Breeze-up Sale last month. The Archie Watson-trained colt took the tally of wins for Soldier's Call (GB) to 11. Ballyhane Stud's young sire was also trained by Watson and triumphed as a juvenile at Royal Ascot, where a number of his first-crop members will surely be heading.

Incidentally, Different League, who went from being an €8,000 foal to a 1.5 million gns in-training purchase, was represented by her first winner at the Curragh on Friday when her three-year-old son Subzero (Ire), who has borrowed his name from a Melbourne Cup winner, won the three-year-old maiden for Peter Brant and the Coolmore team.

Premierisation and Injunctions

It is generally the preference in this column to sail on and celebrate all that is good about the sport. There are, however, two looming issues which cannot presently be ignored.

It is a desperate measure for a racecourse operator to have to apply for a High Court order in an attempt to prevent disruption at a major meeting, but this is exactly what the Jockey Club has been forced to do in the wake of overt threats from the protest group Animal Rising. On Friday, an injunction was granted for Epsom Downs, which could lead to fines and/or imprisonment for anyone attempting to prevent the smooth running of races during the Derby meeting.

The group has been offered a spot near the entrance to the racecourse to conduct a peaceful protest, but it remains a chilling prospect that this will not be taken up, and instead the safety of the horses, which the protestors claim they want to protect, and their jockeys will potentially be put at risk by those intent on halting proceedings.

As well as facing outside threats, racing is not immune to acts of self-harm, and it remains to be seen how well the British Horseracing Authority's 'premierisation' experiment works. In announcing some of the details of this scheme on Thursday, the BHA stressed that this is a two-year trial. Its key element revolves around restricting Saturday afternoons to two premier meetings and one of lesser status, referred to as a core meeting, in order to drive betting turnover. Data supplied to the BHA by the betting industry is said to imply that a clearer schedule during the 2pm to 4pm slot will encourage punters to bet more. It seems a dubious claim, but time will tell.

What is not in doubt is that staging fewer meetings on a Saturday afternoon will have a negative affect on racecourse attendances, which are already on the wane. There are few better ways to introduce new people to the sport than through an enjoyable day out at the races, and for many working people, a weekend afternoon presents the perfect opportunity for this.

Other racecourses beyond the three with the selected meetings can still race on a Saturday, but they must either start early enough for their races to be concluded by 2pm, or stage a twilight or evening meeting. Both options are less convenient for most racegoers (not to mention owners, trainers and racing staff).

Enhancing the current fare on offer on Sunday afternoons in Britain has also, sensibly, been suggested, and along with that will be staged a trial of Sunday evening racing. It is no surprise that the prospect of the latter has been greeted with widespread dismay.

As stated, however, it is a trial. If owners and trainers don't like the idea, they can simply not enter to run. It has to be said that some of the language used in reference to this pilot scheme sticks in the craw a little, with the fixtures described as betting sessions rather than race meetings. These six test sessions are, of course, for “lower-grade horses” and will take place between January and March.

The meetings are clearly not aimed at encouraging racegoers–more for the punter at home during what has been identified as a time when “betting activity tends to be strong”. But the horses and the travelling staff still have to get there and, more importantly during the winter months, get home safely in the cold and dark. The same goes for the owners of those lower-grade horses, plenty of whom enjoy actually going racing to see them run. It is up to them and their trainers to decide whether this is a step too far, or whether the rewards on offer will be enough to entice them away from Countryfile on a Sunday evening.

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‘Top Strong But Everything Else Was Tough This Year’ – Breeze-Up Market Reflections

Alice Haynes and Ado McGuinness, who have emblazoned the value on offer at the breeze-up sales by hitting the ground running with their respective purchases this season, have described shopping in that market as a hugely important aspect of their business.

Well-known breeze-up consignor Eddie Linehan of Lackendarra Stables agrees with Haynes and McGuinness that the value has favoured the buyer when it has come to shopping at the middle to lower tiers of the market due to the amount of choice in that sector.

However, Linehan, who admitted that a lot of consignors were forced to overspend on yearlings last year, reported the top end of the European breeze-up market to be as lucrative as it ever has been after selling a Land Force (Ire) colt at Arqana for €250,000.

Eddie Linehan | Tattersalls

He said, “The top end was good but everything else was tough this year. The middle to lower end of the market is very selective because buyers have so much choice and people are gone so time-based that, if you are not in the top 20 times, it's very difficult to get paid for a horse no matter how well you recommend it or like it.”

Linehan added, “We'd a couple of nice sales, sold some nice horses and horses who I think will turn out to be nice for small money, and then we'd a couple in between. But from our perspective, it's definitely a numbers game. I worked it out, four horses have basically paid for our year. Four out of 14 made a profit so far.”

There have been eight juvenile winners in Britain and Ireland who have been sourced at the breeze-ups already this season. Of the eight, Haynes has been responsible for three, including her Royal Ascot bound Golden Arrow (Ire) (Havana Grey {GB}) and Majestic Beauty (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}).

McGuinness is the sole Irish trainer to have registered a winner with a juvenile purchased at the breeze-ups this season with Tiger Belle (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) successful on debut at Cork last week.

One of three juveniles that McGuinness picked up along with his nephew and assistant trainer Stephen Thorne for a new commercial arm of the Shamrock Thoroughbreds syndicate, the £70,000 purchase from Con Marnane's Bansha House Stables will run at Royal Ascot if she's not sold beforehand.

McGuinness said, “We've had someone come to look at her already and, if we can sell her to keep her in the yard, that would be brilliant. We also had a call about the Goffs London Sale before Ascot, and that's a great sale, so all options are open at the minute.

“Stephen runs the Shamrock Thoroughbreds syndicate and it was his idea to set up an investments syndicate to target the breeze-up sales. We didn't buy many yearlings last year, purely because we haven't had much luck at that down through the years, whereas we were very lucky with the few breezers we bought last year. So there has been a bit of a change of plan.

“Out of the three breezers we bought last year, we won with two and got one [Ti Sento (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire})] away for an awful lot of money within a very short space of time.”

Ado McGuinness (left) and Stephen Thorne (right) | Tattersalls

He added, “We are looking for the very sharp two-year-olds and Donny and the Craven is where you'll find them. Everybody has the Ascot dream in their heads when they go to these sales and we're the same.

“But we have a limit on what we are going to spend–like, €300,000 on a breeze-up horse, sure if he wins a maiden he might not be worth that. We haven't got the clients who are going to give that type of money for a horse where, win, lose or draw, it makes no difference to them.

“We have to try and buy the horse that will be a realistic price and one we can sell on afterwards. When you set up an investment syndicate, you have to sell when the money is on the table and, if the next person makes more money than you afterwards, the best of luck to them.

“It's important for business because, say if you win a premier handicap worth €100,000, the trainer's share is only about €7,000. Then you have to go and pay tax on that. There's not a lot of money left over. We will still have our premier handicap horses and they are extremely important for our yard but selling is where it's at.”

While McGuinness admits that the backward three-year-old type is a much more valuable prospect in the long run, he described the earlier and speedier two-year-olds who are ready to rock and roll a much easier sell to owners.

He said, “In our situation, we want to get in and get out. That's our angle and it seems to be working so far. Don't get me wrong, I'd love a nice big immature horse for the backend, and you'd get well-rewarded if you can produce a nice horse that way, but it will take time. A lot of owners are not prepared to put in that time and money into a later developing type of horse and the Ascot dream is a much easier sell.”

Like McGuinness, Haynes goes looking for the horses who are ready to run at the breeze-ups. She also buys at every level and is therefore in the unique position to comment on the overall strength of the market this year.

“It was nice to get Golden Arrow, who was an expensive breezer at Goffs UK for £200,000,” the trainer said. “You're not always that fortunate to get that type of an order. Normally I try to look at horses who haven't breezed as well as that because of the ground, or maybe they finished a little jarred up from the breeze, so I am usually finding a way in to secure a better price.

“I find buying from the breeze-ups relatively straightforward and I like to buy the horses who are ready to go. That's been our policy and we've definitely done that this year, especially with our horses from Doncaster, with Hala Emaraaty (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) winning as well.

“He was the opposite end of the spectrum to Golden Arrow given he cost just £14,000 and then we had one in the middle in Majestic Beauty, who cost £90,000 from that same sale.”

Alice Haynes | Tattersalls

She added, “Day one at the Craven felt like a good time to be buying. There were also a few bargains to be had in the first few hours of the Guineas Sale as well. I know that a few consignors were at a loss because they had spent so much money on the yearlings that the value probably was with the buyers. Looking back now, I think there were too many horses in the Craven and it was the nice horses who made the money.”

Given the success Linehan enjoyed at Arqana, the Cork native admitted that he would love nothing more than to recruit a team of Arqana-type horses, but he knows that is an unrealistic business model. However, Linehan has vowed to be more selective at the yearling sales this year.

He said, “We were happy with the year as a whole. Having said that, I was banking on Arqana going well for us. Whether we were to finish up or down for the year, it all depended on the Arqana horses selling well, and I was just lucky that one of them clicked.

“But, to be honest, the Land Force was as good a horse as I've ever had anything to do with. He breezed well and he's a gorgeous-looking horse. I'd say he's very good.”

Linehan added, “You'd love to be buying Arqana types at the yearling sales every year but, if you did that, you'd have some amount of money on the line and it would only take one bad year to break you.

“But looking back on last year, I think everyone overpaid a little for yearlings. We probably gave 10 or 15 grand for too much for some horses last year but, at the time, you probably thought that they were worth it because everyone else was doing the same.

“The main thing I have in my head going forward with the yearlings is that you have to be very selective. You have to really want the horse and pay as little as you can for it. That's the basic law of it all.”

The year is far from over for a lot of buyers and consignors with the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale taking place at Fairyhouse this week and Linehan is expecting a good trade. McGuinness and Haynes also reported that they plan on being active.

Linehan said, “I think Goresbridge will be a good sale. I was speaking with Paul Harley, who works for Tattersalls Ireland, and he said that there will be a lot of buyers from Scandinavia at the sales.

“They played at that sale last year, so hopefully they will be back again, and that should help the middle to lower level and ensure a good clearance rate, which is needed.

“A few very good horses have come out of Goresbridge and we sold a very nice filly called Coralillo (Ire) (Havana Grey {GB}) so hopefully it goes well. I'm looking forward to it.”

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Freshman Sire Donjuan Triumphant Off The Mark At Moulins

Haras de la Barbottiere resident Donjuan Triumphant (Ire) (Dream Ahead) became Europe's latest first-crop sire to get off the mark when Florian Guyader trainee Snow Ghost (Fr) (Donjuan Triumphant {Ire}–Snow Spirit {GB}, by Verglas {Ire}), an €8,000 Osarus purchase last August, graduated over five furlongs in Saturday's €23,000 Prix de Gennetines at Moulins.

Handily placed behind the leaders after an alert getaway in this second start, the 24-1 outsider quickened smartly to challenge inside the final furlong and was ridden out to deny stablemate Gotta Skedaddle (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) by a short head.

1st-Moulins, €23,000, Mdn, 4-15, 2yo, 5fT, 1:01.05, sf.
SNOW GHOST (FR) (c, 2, Donjuan Triumphant {Ire}–Snow Spirit {GB}, by Verglas {Ire}), a Mar. 26 debut seventh over this trip at La Teste in his only prior start, was handily placed behind the leaders after an alert getaway in this straight dash. Shaken up with 350 metres remaining, the 24-1 outsider quickened smartly to challenge inside the final furlong and was ridden out in the closing stages to deny stablemate Gotta Skedaddle (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) by a short head in a bobbing finish, becoming the first winner for his freshman sire (by Dream Ahead). Snow Ghost is the latest of seven reported foals and second scorer produced by a multiple-winning half to dual MGSW G1 Gran Criterium third Pearl Flute (Ire) (Piccolo {GB}), Listed Prix Solitude victrix Secret Pursuit (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) and G3 Prix Texanita second Milord's Song (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). The January-foaled bay's second dam, G3 Stuten-Meile winner Secret Melody (Fr) (Inchinor {GB}), is a granddaughter of MGSW G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Prix Saint-Alary runner-up Secret Form (GB) (Formidable). Sales history: €8,000 Ylg '22 OSAAUG. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, €11,500. Video, sponsored by TVG.
O-Mme Theresa Marnane; B-SCEA Barbottiere (FR); T-Florian Guyader.

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Top Consignors Focus On Dirt-Breds For Goffs Dubai Breeze Up Sale

The demand for American dirt-bred horses for next month's Goffs Dubai Breeze Up Sale has, according to Eddie O'Leary and Con Marnane, two titans of the game, provided consignors with a clear framework about what will and won't ring buyers' bells in the sales ring.

While Tom Taaffe, the client relations agent at Goffs, described last year's inaugural Dubai Breeze Up Sale as “a very good start,” there is a growing confidence among consignors that next month can be even better, with Marnane admitting to have 'upped his game big time.'

The sale, which takes place on Mar. 21, will also feature a new name on the catalogue, with Shane Power of Tradewinds Stud offering a Yoshida (Jpn) colt that he and his partners in the horse sourced specifically for this sale.

O'Leary sold both of his American-bred colts under his Lynn Lodge Stud banner at this sale last year and is back again with one by Collected and another by City Of Light, which he hopes will be a timely offering given the stallion sired G3 UAE Oaks winner Mimi Kakushi on Friday.

He said, “I thought last year's sale provided everyone with a good platform to build on. We are bringing bigger and better dirt-bred horses in general this year which will suit their programme that bit better, so hopefully it works.

“The programme in Dubai does not kick off until October onwards so there's no point in bringing a sharp Showcasing (GB) colt thinking it will suit because it won't. Their programme is all about good, big scopey dirt-bred horses who will come into their own next year. That's what they want.”

He added, “Looking through the catalogue, you may as well be in Keeneland. We went to buy horses last year that we thought would suit Dubai and the programme that they have over there. We've two for the sale this year and one is by City Of Light. He's the only City Of Light colt in the sale, which is great, because a City Of Light sired the winner of the UAE Oaks at Meydan on Friday.

“Let's hope this sale can build on last year. We're bringing the horses that we think will suit the programme in Dubai and we hope that the trainers take the sale to heart. The horses are there on their doorstep and they don't have to travel halfway around the world to go and buy them. Let's see what happens.”

Tom Taaffe | Goffs

Taaffe shares O'Leary's optimism. Having seen a lot of the 73 catalogued horses in the flesh, he says that the physicals match up with the pedigrees and expects that to be reflected in the sales figures.

“Most of these consignors are taking their best horses to this sale,” he said. “The catalogue is made up of roughly 85% dirt horses and there are some very good physicals and pedigrees in the sale. There are three tiers and we hope to cater for every type of buyer. I would be confident that we have gone up a gear from last year.

“I'm more than happy with the quality of the horses in the three tiers and the response that we are getting from the clientele that will be attending the sale from various different countries has been good.”

Reflecting on the inaugural Dubai Breeze Up Sale, he added, “As I said last year, it was a very good start. From the outside, people felt it was fabulous but, internally, I know in my own heart that there are things that we will all learn from. That includes the Dubai Racing Club, Goffs, vendors and purchasers. I think we've made a lot of progress in the year and hopefully we can see that in a month's time.

“Most importantly, for a first sale, we already have 13 individual winners and these horses were predominantly bought to be more 3-year-olds and upwards types. So, at this stage, to have that many winners is fantastic, not to mention the Group 1-placed Labeling (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in Japan. For a small sale of 69 catalogued last year, that's pretty good.”

One of those winners was a Night Of Thunder (Ire) colt, consigned by Marnane's Bansha House Stables, who went on to be named Desert Man (GB) and scored impressively on the dirt in Saudi Arabia.

However, Marnane has refined his approach to this year's sale, and offers a Le Brivido (Fr) half-brother to G1 Dubai World Cup winner Prince Bishop (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and an Audible colt who is very much built for the dirt.

Marnane said, “We've upped our game big time for this year's sale. We've an incredible Audible colt. Goffs told us that we needed to bring American-bred horses that will handle the dirt, but we've a Le Brivido (Fr) going down there as well, and he's a brother to Prince Bishop (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who won the Dubai World Cup. You don't get a better pedigree for Dubai than that.”

He added, “I'm bringing a nice grass horse and an American dirt horse. A racehorse is a racehorse and there's loads of grass races in the Middle East and the American programme is now split 50-50 between the dirt and the turf as well.

“Amy bought the Audible at Fasig-Tipton but sure the prices at the yearling sales in America were cuckoo. We had to up our game big time to buy a horse for this sale. The prize-money is so good in America that people can justify buying a yearling for what they are making over there. It was tough to buy them.

“The standard of horses that is coming through the breeze-ups is excellent. Proper horses. We've over 100 black-type and group horses sold and three Royal Ascot 2-year-olds as well. That's fair going. We've been very lucky.”

And, with that sort of track record, the famous 'Bansha Bullets' phrase was coined. But, tell us Con, has it been hard getting used to preparing these bigger dirt-type horses for the breeze-ups compared to the lightning-quick 2-year-olds?

Con Marnane | Goffs

“By Jesus, these two are fast! But I'll tell you one thing, hats off to Sheikh Mohommed, who looks after the staff who go down there very well. His generosity is fantastic. There has been good success from last year's sale and it's only going to get better.”

He added, “It's a work in progress but Goffs did a wonderful job last year in getting the buyers there and I've no doubt that they will do the same again this time round. It's a mammoth task, getting 69 horses on the plane out of Shannon down to a sale in Dubai and then for it to go well after that. You've got to take your hat off to them.”

Like O'Leary and Marnane, Power set out to buy an American dirt-bred horse, and explained why he wanted to be a part of the action in Dubai.

“It's an interesting concept. It's a new outlet for us and is totally different to what we are used to doing so it's good to explore something different. I own the Yoshida colt in partnership with Jerry Horan, who bought him in Keeneland last year. Yoshida is obviously a Grade I winner on dirt and the market seemed to gravitate towards these big horses with dirt pedigrees last year. You need to bring a two-turn dirt horse and you definitely need something with a bit of size. This fella is just over 16hh, is a big scopey horse, so he should fit the bill physically and on pedigree as well. Hopefully it all comes together.”

He added, “My brother Alex was at this sale last year and said that a lot of the horses who sold well came up the middle of the track. Rather than coming up the rail, it looked more impressive if a horse could breeze straight up the middle of the track, so we've had that in the back of our minds in preparing this lad.

“As well as that, this sale comes up pretty quickly after Christmas. You don't have a lot of time from Christmas to the sale. They are big horses, so it's a different sort of challenge in preparing them for a breeze.

“While they don't have to break the clock, and they can come up the track three-quarter pace, it's been at the forefront of my mind to try and be a step ahead of where I needed to be with him, just because the sale comes up so quickly.

“To be fair to the horse, he has a great appetite for feed and work, and he has been telling us all along that he can take the workload which was great because this was always the sale we wanted to go to with him.”

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