In the hot seat | Horse Racing Free Tips

In the Hot Seat: Hubie de Burgh

The bloodstock agent's dinner guests include a Benedictine monk and an Olympic gold medallist, but don't tell Harry Eustace that Hubie de Burgh no longer considers him a youngster.

Proudest moment of 2023?

Reaching 160 stakes races won by de Burgh Equine purchases since setting up the agency.

What is your biggest ambition for the new year?

Keep on the bright side of life.

Give us one horse to follow and why?

No Knee Never (Ire) (No Nay Never), purchased for Bronsan Racing.

And a young person in the industry to keep an eye on…

Ollie Sangster. A great first season in 2023 without the ammunition of the large stables. Harry Eustace was a close second but I wasn't sure he qualifies as a 'young person' anymore.

Who do you think will be champion first-season sire this year?

If it's European first-season then Hello Youmzain (Fr). If it's just Ireland and the UK then Earthlight (Ire). He was a good two-year-old, and there's plenty of them to run and in good hands.

And the best value stallion in Europe?

Camelot (GB) at €50,000 – a sire who consistently gets real Group-class horses. At a lower end, Bated Breath at £10,000 – a great value sire who upgrades his mares.

What's the one horse you wish you'd bought in 2023?

The Siyouni (Fr)-Lucerne (GB) yearling filly from Arqana. We were underbidder with Craig Bernick to his good friend Ramiro Restrepo of Mage fame.

Biggest regret?

Not being able to sing… I knew I was bad when once at a karaoke night in Hong Kong when I had finished my rendition of American Pie my host jumped up and clapped and then asked me to sing it seriously!

Biggest influence on your career?

My father. Not only a successful breeder but a thinker ahead of his time. He also advised me to take the job with Sheikh Hamdan when I was about to take another.

If you could sit down for dinner with three people (dead or alive) who would they be and why?

Mark Todd: great company and an even greater equestrian Olympian. Dom Perignon: the benedictine monk whose influence on the early development of champagne production is recognised worldwide. He will guarantee the quality of what we will drink. Sacha Baron Cohen of Borat fame: for a bit of humour if he hasn't already been shot by a disgruntled citizen of Kazakhstan.

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In The Hot Seat: Adam Ryan

Adam Ryan, who assists his father Kevin at their Hambleton Lodge yard in Thirsk, has high hopes for Shamardal colt Inisherin and a rising star on the pony racing circuit.

Proudest moment of 2023?
Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) winning the Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot. He was a horse who we'd always held in the highest regard and it was a proud achievement to not only achieve a Group 1 win but to do it on the biggest stage. He also went straight there without a run and I believe that did elevate that performance.

What is your biggest ambition for the new year?
Setting goals is quite difficult but to continue our success is probably the most important thing. All winners are important but to be competitive on the biggest stage is what everyone is trying to achieve. It's always a goal to find that Group 1 winner which is so important.

Give us one horse to follow and why?
Our horse to follow would be Inisherin (GB). He has a wonderful pedigree, being by the late Shamardal and out of a Group 1-winning dam. He ran very well on his debut at Newmarket where the front two pulled a long way clear and always looked the type to progress into a nice three-year-old.

And a young person in the industry to keep an eye on…
A young lad called Mason Paetel. He isn't actually in the industry just yet, but we saw him win a pony race at York last season and met him and his family afterwards. He looks like he could be a bright star in the future.

Who do you think will be champion first-season sire this year?
This is always a difficult one and it looks to be a very good crop this year. Obviously, Pinatubo (Ire) would be very hard to look past, a wonderful racehorse with the pedigree to match. Hello Youmzain (Fr) has also produced some good-looking stock. He was a very good sprinter and also had a great mind. I'm sure he can make a very positive start to his stallion career if passing that on to his progeny.

And the best value stallion in Europe?
We've had a lot of luck with Kodi Bear (Ire) and last season Room Service (Ire) proved to be a cracking two-year-old, winning the valuable sales race at Doncaster. We are hopeful he could continue his progression this year and potentially take the step into pattern company.

What's the one horse you wish you'd bought in 2023?
I think Vandeek (GB) was very impressive in a short space of time. It will be interesting to see what route he goes down this year, but he could potentially be a sprinting superstar.

Biggest regret?
I don't really believe in having regrets, but I would say one of the biggest disappointments was The Grey Gatsby (Ire) just getting touched off in the Prince Of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot in 2015. It was agonisingly close and he was a star for us throughout his career, but if he was to lose then there was no better man to beat us than Pat Smullen.

Biggest influence on your career?
Obviously, my father and being able to witness first-hand all the intricacies of the sport and business. To work as part of a team alongside him is very special. Stephen Hillen would be a big influence, too. He works alongside my father at the sales. It has been invaluable experience to shadow him and see what it takes to source the right horse.

If you could sit down for dinner with three people (dead or alive) who would they be and why?
I would probably say some absent friends and family. To have one more evening with them would be the most important dinner to me.

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In the Hot Seat: Ed Sackville

Bloodstock agent Ed Sackville, a graduate of the Godolphin Flying Start and Highclere Stud, is hedging his bets by choosing “a son of Shamardal” to be leading first-season sire

Proudest moment of 2023?

Attending the Godolphin Flying Start 20-year anniversary event. I think I had completely failed to acknowledge what an amazing course the Flying Start is. It wasn't until I looked around the room and saw my fellow graduates that I appreciated the legacy the Flying Start has created within the Thoroughbred industry.

What is your biggest ambition for the new year?

To convert from my paper catalogue to an iPad. I think it will make lists and time management at the sales more streamline.

Give us one horse to follow and why?

River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). I don't think we ever really saw the best of him. He had a setback before the Morny and couldn't run in the Breeders' Cup. However, he looked very good at Ascot and ran with credit in the Middle Park having taken a strong hold.

And a young person in the industry to keep an eye on…

I'm going to go with young people. I am consistently impressed by the yearlings sold by Tradewinds, Evergreen and Aughamore. I think the young lads behind these studs do a fantastic job and have a great understanding of the industry.

Who do you think will be champion first-season sire this year?

It's very open this year and could be any one of them, so I'm going to choose a son of Shamardal.

And the best value stallion in Europe?

Chaldean (GB). He's a Guineas winner, a Dewhurst winner, a son of Frankel (GB) and an absolute beauty. What's not to like?

What's the one horse you wish you'd bought in 2023?

Big Evs (Ire) is a horse that really captured my imagination. He was so cool and consistent and capped the year in such fine style in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. The Juvenile Turf Sprint has added a whole new dimension to the Breeders' Cup two-year-old races and is something I'd love to win.

Biggest regret?

I wish I had spent a year working with a vet. I'd then spend less time asking them to translate vet reports into layman's terms.

Biggest influence on your career?

I spent 11 years working for John Warren and he put a tremendous amount of time and effort into educating me. I will be forever grateful to both John and Carolyn for giving me so much of their time.

If you could sit down for dinner with three people (dead or alive) who would they be and why?

Richard, Duke of York. I'd like to be able to ask him who killed him and his elder brother whilst they were imprisoned in the Tower of London. Everyone assumes it was their uncle, Richard III, but the jury is out. My second choice would be Ayrton Senna. I've just re watched the Senna documentary film and I'm fascinated by him and his success. My third choice would be a member of the Tattersalls staff. I generally find they are incredibly generous with their hospitality allowance and if I'm going out with a murdered Prince and a dead Formula 1 star I imagine they are going to want to go somewhere fancy, so it'd be nice for someone else to pick up the tab.

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In the Hot Seat: Harry Eustace

He's moved yards over the winter, across town from Park Lodge Stables to Highfield Stables, and Newmarket trainer Harry Eustace now faces the question master.

What are your goals for 2024?

Carry on our trend of more winners and more prize-money than the previous year.

Give us a horse to follow…

Modern Times (GB), a three-year-old by Too Darn Hot (GB).

And a young person in the industry to keep an eye on…

Jack Jones, trainer on the up.

Who do you think will be champion first-season sire in 2024?

Pinatubo (Ire)

And the best value stallion in Europe?

Golden Horn (GB)

Your best buy of 2023?

Time For Sandals (Ire), a filly from the first crop of Sands Of Mali (Fr) out of Days Of Summer (Ire), bought from Rathbride Farm at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale.

The best yearling/weanling you saw at the 2023 sales (that someone else bought)?

The filly by Sea The Stars (Ire) out of Waila (GB), bought by Coolmore for 650,000gns.

Who is or was the perfect Thoroughbred?

Toss of a coin between Frankel and Sea The Stars.

Your biggest professional regret?

Not having the chance to see Sea Of Class (Ire) have a four-year-old campaign (while assistant to William Haggas).

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