In the hot seat | Horse Racing Free Tips

In the Hot Seat: Tim Donworth

Chantilly trainer Tim Donworth is the latest to face the TDN question master.

What are your goals for 2024?

To train more winners than 2023. More winners each year while maintaining the strike-rate has to be the goal really.

Give us a horse to follow…

Fathom (Ire) (Almanzor {Fr}), a big, tall filly who got black type for me last year I think she will be nice three-year-old.

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

Joe Callan of Whitsbury Manor Stud.

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

Earthlight (Ire).

And the best value stallion in Ireland, England, and France?

Sealiway (Fr) for me looks good value for his profile.

Your best buy of 2023?

I guess we won't know until I get them to the races. However, I got a lovely Galiway (GB) filly at Arqana October called Galway Bay (Fr) that seems nice.

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

The Sottsass (Fr) filly out of Up in Time (GB) was was a nice buy (bought by Howson & Houldsworth Bloodstock for Chris Stedman for 110,000gns). She had a lot of class.

Who is or was the perfect Thoroughbred?

Frankel (GB)

Your biggest professional regret?

Too young and not enough time for regrets yet. I just keep going forward and try to always take the positives.

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

Ah, I'm not sure who but a day with a big breeze-up operation or a big stud would be interesting as something different, but I'm pretty happy being me.

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In the Hot Seat: Luke Lillingston

Breeder, agent and syndicate manager Luke Lillingston of Mount Coote Stud is next in line to face the questions.

What are your goals for 2024?

Trying to figure out opportunities that will arise from the downturn in the bloodstock market, while trying to keep our heads above water.

Give us a horse to follow…

Dragon Leader (Ire) (El Kabeir) did us proud in 2023 winning over £300,000 as a two-year-old and should give his Kennet Valley owners plenty more fun.

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

Charlie Dee works with me in Lillingston Bloodstock and is steadily building a good reputation both at home and around the world which will stand him in good stead for a bright future.

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

Hello Youmzain (Fr).

And the best value stallion in Ireland, England, and France?

Naval Crown (GB), Mostahdaf (Ire) and Vadeni (Fr).

Your best buy/sale of 2023?

I was excited to buy True Scarlet (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) at the Tattersalls December sales as her half-sister Shuwari (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) was second in the G1 Fillies' Mile and could be a contender for the 1,000 Guineas. On the yearling front I couldn't pick one but I think the group of five yearlings we bought for Kennett Valley are the most exciting ever.

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

The St Mark's Basilica (Fr) filly out of Talent (GB), bought by Jill Lamb, was a deserving sale-topper at Tattersalls, and I believe still good value at 575,000gns.

Who is or was the perfect Thoroughbred?

We have been and are all very lucky to witness the almighty Frankel (GB).

Biggest professional regret?

Not taking the opportunity to buy and bring back Sir Prancealot (Ire) from America to Ireland. He would have been an excellent sire for small breeders looking to afford a proven stallion.

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

Nick Luck, but I might need four days to get through what he regularly achieves in one. His work rate is quite extraordinary.

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In The Hot Seat: Denise Callanan

Next to face the questions is Denise Callanan, who manages her family's commercial breeding operation at Nanallac Stud.

What are your goals for 2024?

To produce good racehorses on the track and in the sales ring, make profits on our pinhooks and breed a black-type horse from our 2023 yearling draft.

Give us a horse to follow…

Phoenix of Spain (Ire). I think for a stallion whose progeny didn't look like two-year-old types, he still produced nearly 40% winners to runners in his first season, which is impressive, and I am interested to see what is in store for his progeny in 2024.

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

Jack Jones in Newmarket looks to be a very talented young trainer.

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

I'd say Earthlight (Ire) but I wouldn't rule out Far Above (Ire) as they also look like runners.

And the best value stallion in Ireland, England, and France?

Havana Grey (GB). He produces class racehorses and very saleable types in the sales ring.

Your best buy/sale of 2023?

We sold a Blue Point (Ire) filly for €300,000 at the Goffs Orby Book 1 Sale. We also bought a lovely Blue Point filly for €82,000 at the Goffs November Foal Sale. Blue Point looks to be the real deal.

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

A filly by Palace Pier (GB) out of Quixotic (GB) at the Goffs November Foal Sale. She was bought for €145,000 by Elton Lodge Stud. She was way out of our budget though.

Who is or was the perfect Thoroughbred?

Dubawi (Ire). He is perfect physically, as a racehorse and as a stallion

Biggest thing you've learned in your career?

With horses you learn something new every day. No one is an expert.

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

Paul McCartan. I think he is very shrewd and is also the most down-to-earth person in the industry, and always stops for a chat.

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In the Hot Seat: Ronan Burns

Breeder, consignor and pinhooker Ronan Burns of Herbertstown House Stud is first up in our series of mild interrogations to start the new year.

What are your goals for 2024?

To jump out of bed keen and excited every day.

Give us a horse to follow…

Zaphod (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}).

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

George Connolly.

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

Earthlight (Ire).

And the best value stallion in Ireland, England, and France?

Not much value this year: Awtaad (Ire), Harry Angel (Ire), Galiway (GB).

Your best buy of 2023?

We'll see in a few years…Irish Rookie (Ire).

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

Of what I saw I'll be excited to see the Kingman (GB) half-brother to Dragon Symbol (GB) on the racecourse in a couple of years.

Who is or was the perfect Thoroughbred?

Galileo (Ire) in the early 2000s.

Your biggest professional regret?

Not listening to my gut (and my wife) and selling Libertarian (GB) for a big loss rather than racing him (he was then sold privately in training for a life-changing amount). Always trust your gut!

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

Rory Mahon, just to be able to wander through the fields of Juddmonte weanlings everyday and spot the next potential superstar(s).

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