Imagine the horror of it. The Flat season is almost upon us and you wake up one morning and realise you have misplaced your jockey. You know the routine. Car keys.. I know I just had them in my hand…Raybans…I know I left them beside the keys…cap, raincoat and shoes, I know I left them inside the back door. Ever growing frustration, swearing, stomping, retracing steps, back upstairs, what did I come up here for? Outside for a look in the car and finally relief when all are gathered together and you can leave the building. But no jockey. 

You know he will turn up, but after a day or two and still no sign there comes the growing realisation that you need a replacement. Now these teak tough and talented little lads and lassies are hard to come about. Where to start? You could ask Kia the way to the shop or you could look at the jockeys' table, but either way you know you can't afford the one you want. How about narrowing it down geographically?

Number one criterion is of course size. That rules out South Sea Islanders, shopping malls, and the Dutch, who are supposedly the tallest race on earth. We need to find a lasting solution and too many these days are undone at their height by their height. So small folk it is. 

I've got it: Lilliput. Published in 1726, Gulliver's Travels was written anonymously by Jonathan Swift, Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin and one of the great political satirists of any age. He once published a perfectly serious article on how Irish peasants might sell their children to the rich as food, even going so far as to give their optimum age to be eaten for nutritional purposes. 

Upon landing in Lilliput, Gulliver is first restrained, but then taken into their hearts by the little Lilliputians. Everything goes swimmingly until he refuses them world domination and they turn nasty. Probably best avoid them. 

Actually, I'm going to let you into a little secret. I know exactly where to go: Rathmullan, Co Donegal. Where? Are you mad?

Rathmullan is a small seaside village in North Donegal on the shores of Lough Swilly, which is a sea fjord separating the Inishowen peninsula from Fanad Head. Rathmullan Pier sits at the southern end of a two- or three-mile beach, depending on the tide. It has acted as a local training centre for as long as I have been going there. 

Four of Ireland's current crop of jockeys learnt their trade on Rathmullan Beach. Twice Champion apprentice and Richard Fahey's number one Oisin Orr; his brother Conor, who plies his trade over jumps; Luke McAteer, who rides for Jim Bolger, and another dual champion apprentice and probably Ireland's next superstar, Dylan Browne McMonagle. Go on to YouTube and look at Five Stone of Lead. It's worth five minutes of anyone's time. 

Dylan Browne McMonagle, age 15 at the Dingle Derby | Racingfotos

So how do you get there and where to stay? The latter is easy. Rathmullan House Hotel, which sits a hundred yards from the beach, has been in my wife's family since the early 1960s. It is a haven of tranquility where a couple of Bangladeshi brothers make magic with the produce of the cold waters of the North Atlantic. 

How to get there? It is exactly three hours from Dublin Airport. By car you head north on the N1 following the signs for Derry. Donegal was cast adrift when the island of Ireland was partitioned in 1920. It has no railway and had pretty much no infrastructure of any sort until relatively recently, and it's still fairly rudimentary. You will cross the border at Aughnacloy in to 'The Occupied Territories'. At that point Derry ceases to exist and you must follow the signs to Londonderry which is apparently the same place. 

You have now exported yourself from the EU in to the utopian land of milk and honey that is post-Brexit Britain. You re-enter the 'Free State' at Lifford. Without the Northern Irish Protocol, if you had brought a horse with you and were intending to bring it back, you would have had to physically produce 44 separate pieces of paper at the borders.

Northern Ireland has two racecourses Downpatrick and Down Royal. Although both are situated in a foreign country with a separate currency they are run under the auspices of the Irish Regulatory Authorities and prize-money, which is provided by the government in Dublin, is paid in euros not the local currency sterling. Gaelic games know no border. We have an all-island rugby team, but two separate soccer teams. There is a lot to Northern Ireland that defies logic. 

Rathmullan has its own little place in Irish history. As a country we have never fought a war or won a rebellion. However, we do glorious defeats well. After all, they produce a better class of ballad. Now I am going to tell you a story of a dastardly deed and a plan so cunning that you will understand at last how the small wet island of Britain conquered the world.

In 1597 Red Hugh O'Donnell, the 16-year-old son of a rebellious chieftain, was having a drink in the local hostelry in Rathmullan when he was joined by a couple of strangers. After numerous gregarious gargles he was asked if he would like a couple more free pints on their ship anchored in the Swilly. Upon boarding the vessel, he was promptly kidnapped and imprisoned in Dublin Castle. How did the English figure out an Irish teenager would fall for such a devious plot?

Red Hugh escaped four years later and headed off to Spain to try and garner support for another rebellion. Unfortunately he died in Valladolid in 1602. To this day the locals still parade an empty coffin through the streets on the anniversary of his death. A couple of years ago with huge excitement, à la Richard III in his Leicester car park, a skeleton was found in a city street which was proclaimed to be the remains of Red Hugh. A little like being told your finding of a two-armed skeleton was probably not the authentic Lord Nelson, it was pointed out the real Red Hugh had lost two toes during his escape and this poor soul was fully endowed with all ten. Bubble burst and the search goes on. 

Rathmullan House Hotel

However, it was the Flight of the Earls in 1607 that has given Rathmullan its lasting 15 minutes of fame. Another glorious defeat (cue ballads) resulted in Red Hugh's brother Rory and Hugh O'Neill, the two great Earls of Ulster, fleeing to continental Europe with 90 followers to bring their grievances to the Pope and the King of Spain and raise yet another army for yet another rebellion. Their luck went from bad to worse in the Alps when the donkey that was carrying all their money fell down a ravine and was lost. They never returned to Ireland.

During the Napoleonic wars three Martello towers were built on the Swilly to deter invading French. The one beside the pier in Rathmullan now serves as a lovely little museum to the 12th century Abbey as well as being the Flight of the Earls centre. 

A 'correction' is a long way from a crash. Barefoot and pregnant, we fled from London to Rathmullan in 1991 after the financial meltdown and bloodstock bloodbath of the late 1980s. Isolated but never backward, village life rocked to a different rhythm. 

Owned by Luke McAteer's grandparents, the White Harte was central. Gerry and Mary kept Philip Morris profits at an artificial high for many a year. They also sold the papers, but not much before 10am which is when they arrived on the bus from Letterkenny.  There was only ever one copy of the Racing Post which local fish broker Michael Boyce allowed me to read in return for which I was expected to find him a suitable horse for the Dingle Derby every year. Angela ran the post office and along with taxi driver John Kelly knew all that was needed to be known. 

A third in a handicap hurdle in Sligo was celebrated wildly in the White Harte, while future Don Quixote-like forays against the bookies were never dimmed by reality.

Straight out of Leprechaun central casting, Francie was the barman in the Cellar Bar in the hotel. He would sit on his hunkers behind the bar puffing on his pipe and, provided you were prepared to listen to the one about Delhi and Londondelhi, could pull a mean pint.

Pat Patton sold the finest spring lamb in the county and Jim Morrison was both the bin man and local sulky-driving champion. His wife Betty was in charge of breakfast at the restaurant in Rathmullan House pursuant to which Jim's champions developed a taste for left over stale bread. Wednesday was the dreaded May Day because on Thursday my mother-in-law's cleaner May would come and it was deemed unacceptable for an Irish country lady to have the house anything but spotless upon the arrival of their cleaning lady.

Tom McLaughlin was the local trainer and the other of Luke's grandfathers. A scallywag would be an apt description. He also provided hirelings for those wishing to go for a more leisurely ride on the beach. Thoroughbreds or battys, you were as likely to end up atop one as the other. A third in a handicap hurdle in Sligo was celebrated wildly in the White Harte, while future Don Quixote-like forays against the bookies were never dimmed by reality. 

Not much has changed. The wonderful Trish McAteer runs the White Harte. Tom is gone, but his brother sells the finest chips on Rathmullan Pier. Emily still bosses the hotel and the mighty Maurice, whom I am assured speaks English, keeps the gardens immaculate. Jim Barker's petrol pump has been made redundant by the ubiquitous service station, but he still runs the bus to the 'Sectarian Derby' which would be a more appropriate moniker for the Old Firm clash between Rangers and Celtic in Glasgow.

Regatta week in August is the social highlight of the year. 'No problem' is the answer to all requests. 'Donegal Time' pays only passing lip service to Greenwich Mean Time and the car park at the pier is still a hive of activity in the not-so-early mornings as local trainers unload their charges and leg up the next youngsters aiming to emulate those four young men who have made it. 

Fifty per cent of the five million people who live in the Republic now live in the Greater Dublin catchment area. The rest of the country is empty and emptying. Yet here we have a small seaside village producing four professional sportsmen. Four professional sportsmen earning themselves a living in one of the toughest professions of them all. 

Down in Moone, Jessica Harrington employs 60 or 70 people and through the drip system keeps the local economy oiled. The next biggest employer in Moone outside of Church and State (school) is the charity shop which employs no one. Who knows how many the O'Brien family employ in Piltown, or the Mullins family in Bagenalstown, or indeed the Magnier family in Fethard. But you can be sure that if the Industrial Development Agency, which is Ireland's state body in charge of procuring foreign investment, had found these kind of jobs they would be shouting from the rooftops. 

We are badly in need of voices with gravitas inside Dáil Éireann (Irish government). We have an increasingly Dublin-centric press with little understanding of racing and a political class for whom the countryside is but for two weeks a year. In this year of elections we need to remind them that there is a wonderful way of life outside the M50 and it needs looking after.

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It was last February when Halford, who had sent out almost 500 winners from Copper Beech Stables in 16 full seasons, including Group 1 scorer Casamento (Ire), announced that he had taken the decision to combine forces with Tracey Collins under the banner of Conyngham Lodge. 

Farrell, a respected trainer in his own right but perhaps best known for trading horses at the point-to-point and breeze-up sales, bought the property alongside business partner and well-known owner Douglas Taylor shortly after that announcement. 

The new owners are already up-and-running at Copper Beech Stables after Farrell sent out two winners on the track in recent months. However, the trainer explained that he will be concentrating predominantly on trading at the point-to-point and breeze-up sales rather than running horses from the famous yard for the foreseeable future.

He said, “Douglas and I are lucky that we were able to come in and buy Copper Beech Stables. It's an incredibly exciting venture and the facilities here are second to none. We have put our own stamp on the place and upgraded some of the facilities further with a schooling strip and a Wexford sand gallop to train the point-to-point horses. It's hugely exciting for us.”

Farrell, who used to form part of Leamore Horses alongside Anna Calder, enjoyed something of a banner first year when consigning under his own name as CF Bloodstock in 2023. He topped the Tattersalls Guineas Sale when his Zoffany (Ire) colt, later named Bracken's Laugh (Ire), sold for 200,000gns to Ted Durcan and Richard Hughes on behalf of Bernadine and Sean Mulryan. 

Bracken's Laugh: sold for 200,000gns | Tattersalls

Along with Bracken's Laugh, who was a stylish winner of his maiden on debut at Newbury and wasn't beaten far in a Group 1 on his only other start, Farrell secured some notable results at the Tattersalls Craven Sale when three horses sold for a combined figure of 510,000gns. 

“We've had some good horses through our hands and topped the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale last year,” he said. “That was my first year operating under my own name as CF Bloodstock so that meant a lot. Bracken's Laugh was bought by Ted Durcan and Richard Hughes and he could be a very nice horse going forward for connections.”

He added, “When Anna [Calder] and I had Leamore Horses, we met Douglas and have just been very lucky together. Douglas is rowing in alongside me on this venture and has invested in Copper Beech Stables. We've had some nice Jet Aways (GB) together and, the first one we bought, Jet Plane (Ire), has gone on to win plenty of races. Jet Powered (Ire) is another and, while he has had his issues, he could be a nice horse for Nicky Henderson.”

Farrell is said to have almost 60 horses fully moved into Copper Beech Stables, with the lion's share of those being prepared for the breeze-ups and the remainder for point-to-points. There are just a handful of horses to run on the track, but that is not to say the trainer would be against adding more numbers for that sphere in time.

He explained, “It's working well and, as I said, last year was my first operating under CF Bloodstock so hopefully we can build on it in 2024. Douglas is involved in many of our horses but we have lots of other investors, too. 

“We have a mixture of point-to-point and breeze-up horses here and, while we do run a few on the track, invariably they would be horses that either missed a sale or failed to sell for whatever reason. 

“I like to trade horses, predominantly, and, while we'd be open to taking more horses to train for the track, we're always looking at those who have some upside and might be traded on at some point. You have to do that in Ireland in order to survive.”

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Studying Stud Management at Kildalton College in county Kilkenny while apprenticing under trainers Mags Mullins and Pat Foley, Browne subsequently worked for leading trainer Jessica Harrington's stables in county Kildare followed by a stint with Segenhoe Stud in the Hunter Valley, Australia.

Prior to being accepted onto the Irish National Stud course, Loughnane completed an Honours Bachelors Degree in Equine Science at the University of Limerick. During that four-year period, he spent summer holidays and college work placement at Mount Coote Stud, where under the guidance of Luke Lillingston, he gained valuable foaling experience.

“I would like to thank all our generous sponsors,” said Erin Dilger. “We were delighted to be able to award a record number of seven scholarships for this year for our various programs and could only do it because of their support and contributions. We treasure our close relationship with the Irish National Stud which counts Gerry Dilger as a past graduate.”

Click here for more information.

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The collection is a collaboration of the best writers and photographers with the leading protagonists in all spheres from breeding to sales, from point-to-point tracks to the racecourse.

The cover story is written by Donn McClean, providing insight from three-time Gold Cup winner Paul Townend, who outlines what it means to be Willie Mullins' retained jockey.

Also featured, the rise of Honeysuckle in NH racing is analysed, as is the continuing, evolving Frankel phenomenon. There is also an acknowledgement of the remarkable achievements of the likes of Wesley Joyce in returning to the saddle from injury and Liam Burke riding a bumper winner a few days after his 66th birthday.

The analysis extends to the horses to follow in the 2024 flat season as well as a crunching of the numbers with regard to the bloodstock sales and stallions, as well as what we might expect from next year's freshman sires and those that will be getting their stud careers under way.

The Irish Racing Yearbook also provides GO RACING vouchers, provided in conjunction with the racecourses of Ireland, offering free admission to more than 90 race days throughout the year, at a total value of €2500. That constitutes just more than 70 times the price of purchase of €35.

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There were 390 fixtures scheduled for 2023. All of the 2024 fixtures have been allocated barring four, and horses-in-training numbers are up 2%. Six turf fixtures have been added to the 2024 fixture list, initially on a one-year basis, and will held at Punchestown (Bank Holiday Monday, Feb. 5), the Curragh (Saturday, Apr. 6), Bellewstown & Down Royal (both Sunday. Apr. 14), Wexford (Wednesday, Aug. 7) and Roscommon (Monday, Oct. 14). In addition, The Flat winter break has been extended by nine days, from Dec. 22-Jan. 12. The summer break in the National Hunt season has also been extended by two days. The six blank Sundays will be on Apr. 28, June 23, July 14, July 28, Sept. 8 and Dec. 22.The Flat season will also begin slightly earlier at the Curragh on Mar. 18 and will end at that racecourse on Nov. 3. Some of the major racing festivals are as follows:

• Dublin Racing Festival: Feb. 3-4
• Cork Easter Festival: Mar. 30-Apr. 1
• Fairyhouse Easter Festival: Mar. 30-Apr. 1
• Punchestown Festival: Apr. 30-May 4
• Killarney Spring Festival: May 12-14
• Curragh Guineas Festival: May 24-26
• Down Royal Ulster Derby: June 21-22
• Curragh Derby Festival: June 28-30
• Bellewstown Summer Festival: July 4-6
• Killarney July Festival: July 15-19
• Curragh Oaks Festival: July 20-21
• Galway Festival: July 29-Aug. 4
• Tramore August Festival: Aug. 15-18
• Killarney August Festival: Aug. 22-24
• Irish Champions Festival: Sept. 14-15
• Listowel Harvest Festival 22-28
• Down Royal NH Festival: Nov. 1-2
• Navan Racing Festival: Nov. 16-17
• Punchestown Winter Festival: Nov. 23-24
• Fairyhouse Winter Festival: Nov. 30-Dec. 1
• Leopardstown Christmas Festival: Dec.26-29
• Limerick Christmas Festival: Dec. 26-29

Jason Morris, HRI's Director of Racing and Strategic Projects, said, “HRI is very conscious of the extra demands being placed on all those working in the industry by the increasing fixture list and hence why, following consultation, the Fixtures Committee has extended the break periods under both codes. There will now be a three-week gap over the Christmas and New Year period for the Flat, and a full two week break for the National Hunt sector in June/July. We have also retained the number of blank Sundays at six.”

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Attendances have climbed 7.6% to 544,147 for the first six months of the year while sponsorship rose 4.8% to €4.4m with horses winning overall prize money of €30.6m. That is up 1% on last year's corresponding figures, despite a reduction in the number of race meetings by two to 176.

Eade commented, “I welcome these figures as a testament to the resilience of the Irish racing and breeding industry. On the back of consistent Government support, our industry continues to be a key contributor to rural communities in virtually every county, providing direct and indirect employment at every turn and a vital social outlet to so many people.

“Despite the increases in the cost of living, it is noticeable how well the number of horses-in-training is holding up and the increase in the overall attendance figure by 7.6% is certainly to be welcomed. Pushing for increased attendances at all 26 racecourses is a key aspect of our ongoing marketing campaigns and the undoubted interest in racing is again resulting in a greater number of racegoers, a trend we hope to see continuing into next week's Galway Festival and the key early autumn meetings at Irish Champions Festival and the Listowel Festival.”

Total Tote Betting (excluding World Pools) for the first half of the year is up 6.3% at €33.9m. The World Pool was incorporated at the Curragh on Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day for the first time with 28 pool betting operators from around the globe wagering an additional €25.8m across the eight races. Total on-course betting reached €36.1m with on-course bookmakers handling €32.1m and on-course shops returning an overall figure of €4.4m.

The total number of horses-in-training during the period rose by almost 300 to 8,614 (up 3.3%), but the number of active owners fell by the same percentage to 3,843. The number of new owners registered in the first half of 2023 was 455.

While the Goffs Punchestown Sale and the Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-up Sale performed well and there was a strong demand at the store sales, the figure for bloodstock sales at public auction overall fell by 2.4% to €61m.

Eade continued, “Field sizes, whilst still bearing very healthy international comparisons, are down marginally and it is vital that there is continued investment in the racing programme and prize money to ensure that we continue to attract and retain owners.

“The increase in the betting, both with Tote and the bookmakers, is a further boost for the industry.  For the first time, we have two World Pool days, one in each half of the year, and on the back of the success of the initiative at the Curragh on Derby Day, we can look forward to Irish racing being back in the international spotlight for the opening leg of the 2023 Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown in a little over six weeks' time. These days both raise awareness of the Tote and deliver a significant return to Irish racing.

“Another vote of confidence in the industry is provided by the numbers relating to the sale of horses at public auction. While an overall spend of €61m is slightly behind the same period last year, it is heartening that demand for Irish bred and reared horses continues to be strong across the board.”

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This figure represents a rise of 34% since 2016, while the number of jobs supported by the sector has also increased during that time, by 1,450, to a total of 30,350.

Of that total economic impact, €819m is generated by the breeding industry, €264m is spent by owners in the training and running of horses, and a further €193m comes through on- and off-course spending by racegoers.

The report, which was published on Thursday, also states that Ireland is second only to the USA in the amount of money generated by bloodstock sales, with €538m in turnover during 2022.

“Ireland's global position in racing, from fledgling status a few short decades ago, is today a strong one,” said HRI chairman Nicky Hartery. “Last year the industry was responsible for over €550m of foreign direct investment, which points to the stability this industry offers to international investors.

“With the continued investment, expertise, and passion of Ireland's racing sector, we aim to expand the global market for Irish thoroughbreds, create an even bigger domestic footprint to continue to deliver for the rural economy, and demonstrably lead the sector on key measures of equine welfare and sustainability.”

The number of registered owners in Ireland has also increased over the last six years, to a current level of 4,757, which is up from 3,663 in 2016.

HRI CEO Suzanne Eade, added, “The figures from the research carried out by Deloitte on behalf of HRI demonstrate the significance of racing and breeding to the rural economy and is testament to decades of consistent government support.

“Behind the significant economic impact and our global reputation is a hugely skilled workforce, dedicated to the horses in their care. Our industry supports in excess of 30,000 FTEs, 9,400 of those in the core industry, making their living as a direct or indirect result from the racing and breeding industry.

“We are acutely aware that racing and breeding is a very competitive and mobile industry. We will continue to work with government and all stakeholders to maintain our competitive advantage and Ireland's reputation as global leaders at breeding and training racehorses.”

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At a groundbreaking general meeting of the Association of Irish Racecourses (AIR) held at the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge, the five members of the United Irish Racecourses (UIR) voted against the five-year deal worth €47 million.

That means that the five tracks–Kilbeggan, Limerick, Roscommon, Sligo and Thurles–are now free to negotiate their own separate deal, presumably with Arena Racing Company, which could pave the way for Irish racing to return to Sky Sports Racing in 2024. 

The current deal, which is due to expire at the end of this year, is with Sports Information Services [SIS] and Racecourse Media Group, which sees all Irish racing broadcast on RTV. 

It is understood that UIR received “an unsolicited offer” of €100,000 per fixture from Arc last year, but the five tracks now have to request HRI's media rights committee to negotiate another contract for them 

The new deal with SIS and RMG was given “preferred bidder” status last year by the Media Rights Committee, which consists of five executives from AIR and Horse Racing Ireland. 

However, the five tracks expressed their dissatisfaction with the deal back in January and formed UIR. The discontent stems from how the media rights are distributed by HRI and how the funding model favours the bigger tracks. 

Conor O'Neill, chairman of HRI's media rights committee, focused on the positives of the deal on Tuesday.

He said, “It's a fantastic deal and I'm delighted for the 21 racecourses who have signed up to secure it today. I would like to thank the board of AIR and our CEO Paul Hensey for their hard work and support. I would also like to especially thank our former CEO Paddy Walsh who has worked tirelessly on achieving the best possible deal for our members and the HRI media rights committee whose commitment has been extraordinary throughout the entire process.”

O'Neill added, “Although it's disappointing that it was not approved by all, today is a very positive day for the future of Irish racing, let's not take away from that. I look forward to continuing our partnership with SIS and RMG for the overwhelming majority of Irish racecourses, subject to the approval by the HRI board on Friday.”

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But a yard as big as Owning Hill needs a conveyor belt of youngsters coming through the ranks and O'Brien can boast just that.

Last season's stats back up such a statement. With 31 juvenile winners on the board in that campaign, O'Brien recorded a tally better than every other trainer bar his father Aidan, who was out on his own on 55.

O'Brien has a typically-strong batch of youngsters to look forward to this term and welcomes quality owners like Al Shaqab Racing, Yuesheng Zhang and Kia Ora Stud to the roster.

He commented, “Every year we are trying to increase the quality of horses we have in the yard. The way to do that is by having owners who have the same lofty ambitions that we have. Our owners want to compete at the top level and we are very lucky to have the support of some ambitious and successful people. Hopefully we can justify their support in us.”

O'Brien will not be represented in the opening 2-year-old maiden of the year at the Curragh on Saturday but describes himself as happy with the progression his youngsters are showing at home on the gallops and says that he expects them to be ready to rock and roll in the coming weeks.

He explained, “I think we are pretty much where we usually are with our 2-year-olds. We usually have our first runners in the mid to second half of April and will be aiming to have them in full swing for the summer. We like to think that our 2-year-olds would be better on their fourth run than on their first run and we like to get them to progress throughout the season.”

The 29-year-old has identified 31 juveniles below that have been showing up well at home on the world-famous gallops ahead of the new season.

Al Riffa: a major Classic contender | Racingfotos.com

2-Year-Old Colts
Unnamed
Pedigree: Acclamation {GB}) colt out of Ramone (Ire) (Marju {Ire})
Bought by: Qatar Racing and China Horse Club from Lynn Lodge Stud for €190,000 at Goffs Orby
Owner: Qatar Racing and China Horse Club
Comment: Looks a pretty mature horse and shows plenty of pace. We think he will be one of our earlier colts to run this year.

Unnamed
Mehmas (Ire) colt out of Box Of Frogs (Ire) (One Cool Cat)
Bought by Joseph O'Brien from James O'Mahony from Springwell Stud at Tattersalls Book 2 for 95,000gns
Jassim Bin Ali Al Attiyah
A hardy colt who came from Book 2 at Newmarket. He's owned by Jassim Bin Ali Al Attiyah and was purchased by Khalifa Bin Ahmed Alattiyah, so it is the same ownership as Al Riffa, who we are really looking forward to this year. Again, he'd look to be one of our earlier types at this stage and we're very happy with him. We've had a few by the stallion, the best of which was Magnanimous (Ire), who won the Glencairn S. for us before being sold to Hong Kong. I wouldn't have had a lot of horses by Mehmas but he was quite a good one and achieved a rating of 111 over here before doing well in Hong Kong, where he [now called Circuit Stellar] actually won again a couple of weeks ago.

Unnamed
Magna Grecia (Ire) colt out of Byron Bay (Fr) (Showcasing {GB})
Bought by Stride Racing at Goffs Orby for €65,000 from Camas Park Stud
Stride Racing
This horse is owned by Stride Racing, which was founded by Johne Murphy. He is showing us plenty at the moment. He'll run in the first half of the season and looks a nice six/seven-furlong type. Magna Grecia's first runner was a winner in France on Thursday. There hasn't been as much chat about his juveniles compared to some of the other first-season sires but I certainly couldn't fault anything we have seen from them and I think this horse in particular looks to be a pretty smart and mature colt by the stallion.

Unnamed
Gleneagles (Ire) colt out of Apache Storm (GB) Pivotal {GB})
Bought by Joseph O'Brien from Moyns Park Stud for 55,000gns at Tattersalls Book 2
We've been very lucky with Gleneagles and this guy is out of a Pivotal mare. We're pretty impressed by what we have seen from him to date. He could be a nice horse for a seven-furlong maiden.

Celestial Reign (Ire)
Zoffany (Ire) colt out of Sarawati (Ire) (Haafhd {GB})
Bought by Jim Cockburn and Richard Ryan for €200,000 from Pigeon Park Stud at Goffs Orby
Teme Valley
We've obviously had a very successful partnership with Jim and Richard Ryan of Teme Valley over the past number of years and we're hoping that this guy could follow in the same footsteps of some of the good horses we've had for them in the past.

Unnamed
Frankel (GB) colt out of Midnight Crossing (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire})
Bought by BBA Ireland off Kirtlington Stud for 330,000gns at Tattersalls Book 1
Yuesheng Zhang
It's nice to have a horse for Mr. Zhang and the Yulong team. He was bought by Mick Donohoe and will be a horse for the second half of the season but we're very pleased with him. He's our first horse for them and it's great to have a well-bred colt for them. Hopefully we can have some success together.

Al Mudhaffar (Ire)
Wootton Bassett (GB) colt out of Fairly Fair (Fr) (Sinndar {Ire})
Bought by Joseph O'Brien for 145,000gns off Corduff Stud at Tattersalls Book 2
Al Shaqab Racing Partnership
He looks a nice colt and is one of the first runners I have for Al Shaqab which is exciting. I have a couple more for them so it's great to have that support. We're excited about the season ahead with them.

Unnamed
Ten Sovereigns (Ire) colt out of On Ice (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
Homebred
Coolmore partnership
A very nice homebred. We have been impressed by what we have seen of the progeny of Ten Sovereigns and this guy in particular looks to be smart. He is a brother to the stakes-winning Galleria Borghese (Ire) (Caravaggio) and is exciting. I have a bunch of horses by Ten Sovereigns and I'm quite impressed by them. They appear to have plenty of pace and look as though they will get six and seven furlongs. This is just one that I picked out by the sire but there are quite a few by him who are working nicely. This guy is going to be 16.1hh, he's a big strong horse.

Unnamed
Teofilo (Ire) colt out of Alnaas (GB) (Dansili {GB})
Bought by Joseph O'Brien for 300,000gns from Pier House Stud at Tattersalls Book 2
Lloyd Williams
A nice horse and one for later in the season. He's owned by Lloyd Williams and obviously he has been lucky with Teofilo, most notably with Twilight Payment (Ire). This looks to be another nice colt and is one for the second half of the season.

Unnamed
Camelot (GB) colt out of Wholesome (Lemon Drop Kid)
LECH Racing and Annus Mirabilis Racing
He's a lovely, quality horse. Being by Camelot, he'll be a seven furlong to a mile type of horse and we've been quite pleased by what we have seen from him. We've had lots of winners over both codes for LECH Racing and Annus Mirabilis Racing so hopefully this is another to do them proud.

Unnamed
No Nay Never colt out of Height Of Elegance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
Bought by Philip Antonacci and Joseph O'Brien for €235,000 from Glenvale Stud at Goffs Orby
Euro Liny Syndicate
He's a brother to Queenship (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}), a filly who did well for us a few years ago, and Shadowed (Ire) (Caravaggio), who runs at the Curragh on Saturday. He's owned by the Euro Liny Syndicate and is a very nice colt.

Unnamed
Churchill (Ire) colt out of Summerseat Flyer (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire})
Bought by Stride Racing for €50,000 from Camas Park at Goffs Orby.
Stride Racing
This looks a lovely colt. He's going to start off over seven furlongs and we really like what we are seeing from him. He'll be ready to run in May or June.

Unnamed
Invincible Spirit (Ire) colt out of Uleavemebreathless (GB) (Tiger Hill {Ire})
Bought by MyRacehorse from Lynn Lodge Stud for €100,000 at Goffs Orby
MyRacehorse
He could be a six/seven-furlong type and we're quite pleased with everything we have seen of him.

Unnamed
Wootton Bassett (GB) colt out of A Mist Opportunity (Aus) (Foxwedge {Aus})
Bought by Blandford Bloodstock and Joseph O'Brien at the October Yearling Sales at Arqana for €135,000
Nick Williams and partnership
He was bought with Stuart Boman in Arqana and looks a nice colt for the first half of the season. He's trained up nicely.

Unnamed
Wootton Bassett colt out of Zalia (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB})
Bought by Alex Elliott for €165,000
Nick Williams and partnership
He came from Baden-Baden in Germany and was bought by Alex Elliott. Again, he is owned in a partnership with Nick Williams and is a nice colt for the second half of the season.

Joseph O'Brien | Tattersalls

2-Year-Old Fillies
Unnamed
Advertise (GB) filly out of Treeline (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB})
Bought for €300,000 by Dan Hayden for Blue Devil Racing from Rathbarry Stud at Goffs Orby
Blue Devil Racing
This is a very nice filly and was bought by Dan Hayden for Mark Holiday of Blue Devil Racing at Goffs. She was an outstanding physical and, at the moment, looks pretty smart. She's going to be an early filly.

Sioux Me (Ire)
Sioux Nation filly out of Emerald Isle (Fr) Exceed And Excel {Aus})
Bought by Bronson Racing for €72,000 from Mountarmstrong Stud at Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale
Bronson Racing
We've had some success with Sioux Nation already and this is a particularly forward filly by him. She shows lots of speed and is owned by Bronson Racing, which is Neil Sands and family, so it would be great if she turns out to be nice for them. She will be one of our earliest fillies.

Unnamed
Zoustar (Aus) filly out of Madernia (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire})
Bought by Kia Ora Stud for 110,000gns at Tattersalls Book 2
Kia Ora Stud
It's great to have horses for Kia Ora Stud. She will run in the first third of the season. We had a nice colt called Alexis Zorba (GB) by Zoustar last season and hopefully this filly can show up well as the season goes on.

Unnamed
Karakontie (Jpn) filly out of Kodiak West (Ire) (Kodiac {GB})
Bought by Justin Casse for $75,000 off Gainesway at the Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale
Magnolia Racing
She looks a pretty forward type of filly. She's a Karakontie out of a Kodiac mare which is an interesting cross and we're looking forward to her this season.

Unnamed
Dark Angel (Ire) filly out of Summer Daydream (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB})
Bought by Hanshen Tham of Pattern Bloodstock for 85,000gns from Grangemore Stud at Tattersalls Book 2
Hanshen Tham
She was bought by Hanshen Tham, who had Thornbrook (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) with us last year and is obviously a very good judge. We've had quite a bit of success together and hopefully this filly can continue that. Thornbrook will run in the Guineas trial at Leopardstown on Apr, 2, all being well.

Unnamed
Zoffany (Ire) filly out of Kiss Me Daily (Fr) (Reliable Man {GB})
Bought by Badgers Bloodstock for 75,000gns from Ballyhimikin Stud at Tattersalls Somerville Sale
Dean Reeves and Sven and Carina Hanson
She looks to be very nice and is very natural in her training. She will be a mid-summer filly but she is doing things particularly easy.

Grand Job
Justify filly out of Sure Route (GB) (Ishiguru)
Bought for $105,000 by Fergus Galvin off Four Star Sales at Keeneland September Yearling Sale
Coolmore partnership
This filly is showing up well and is showing a lot of pace. We won't run her too early but we like what we see from her.

Unreasonable (Ire)
No Nay Never filly out of Silent Thoughts  (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
Newtown Anner Stud
She is a sister to Neptune Rock (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), who won a stakes race for us last year. She was bought by PJ Colville on behalf of Newtown Anner Stud for 375,000gns at Tattersalls Book 1 and is a very natural filly. She's done everything very easily and looks pretty smart at this stage.

Promptly (Ire)
Kingman (GB) filly out of Amser (GB) (Frankel {GB})
Homebred
Scott Heider
She is a homebred of Scott Heider's, who we have had a lot of success with. Ted Durcan and David Lanigan bought the mare in foal to Kingman for 160,000gns and it's a lovely Juddmonte pedigree. She is a filly for the mid-season but has done her training very nicely to-date.

Bonbon (Ire)
Footstepsinthesand (GB) filly out of Under Offer (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB})
Glamour And Glory Racing
She's a sister to Basil Martini (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), who is a smart filly for us. She is owned by the Glamour And Glory Syndicate, which is headed by Tamso Doyle. This is a forward type and could be one of our first fillies to run this year. She shows plenty of speed.

Kelbelle (Ire)
Inns Of Court (Ire) filly out of Ziggy's Secret  (GB) (Sakhee's Secret {GB})
Bought by Highflyer Bloodstock for €100,000 off Tally-Ho Stud at Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale
Simon Munir and Isaac Souede
She was bought by Anthony Bromley for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede who we have had quite a bit of luck with. Anthony is a great judge and this is a lovely filly. She will be a mid-season type but looks a lovely prospect.

Unnamed
Invincible Spirit (Ire) filly out of Faay (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire})
Made 80,000gns from Whatton Manor Stud at Tattersalls Book 2
Shapoor Mistry
Bought by Anthony Stroud for Shapoor Mistry, who we had a lot of success with courtesy of Thundering Nights (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). We also have a nice 3-year-old filly for them as well. This is a nice prospect for them.

Unnamed
Kodiac (GB) filly out of My Brunette (Ire) (Arcano {Ire})
Bought by Philip Antonacci from Wardstown Stud for €32,000 at Goffs Orby
EuroLindy Syndicate
She looks quite forward and gets into those auction races as well. She looks an early runner and is precocious.

Unnamed
Kessaar (Ire) filly out of Chellalla (GB) (Elnadim)
Bought by John McCormack for €110,000 off Galbertstown Stables at Goffs Orby
Healthy Wood Company, Ltd.
She is a lovely filly and will be one for the middle to second half of the season. We've been lucky with John before and we're looking forward to seeing what she can do in the second half of the season. I have two Kessaars this year, the first I have had by the stallion, so we will be learning about them this year.

Unnamed
Starspangledbanner filly out of Balakera (Ire) (Dansili {GB})
Bought for €330,000 off Glenvale Stud at Goffs Orby
John Oxley
She was bought by Justin Casse for Mr. Oxley, who owned Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}) with us. She looks to be a pretty forward type of filly and shows plenty of pace. She will run in the first half of the season and we like what we have seen from her.

Unnamed
Exceed And Excel (Aus) filly out of Sa Mola (Ger) (Dabirsim {Fr})
Bought by Justin Casse from Killourney Mor Farm at Goffs Orby for €130,000
Eric Long
This filly is owned by Eric Long, who also owns Zoinnocent (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) with us. She is another nice-moving filly who we are excited about. She'll be out in the first half of the season.

The post ‘She Looks Smart And Will Be Early’ – Joseph O’Brien Stable Tour appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Brian Sheerin: You are not long home from the Saudi Cup where you have been working as the chief starter since its inception in 2019. How did that come about?
Joe Banahan: Tom Ryan was keen to find an English-speaking starter because of the amount of international runners at the Saudi Cup and he approached Denis Egan who was the chief executive of the IHRB at the time. When Denis mentioned it to me, I told him that I would be delighted to do it. Tom would have known me from his time in Naas and was aware that I would have been starting all of the big races over here. They were looking for someone with experience of starting the big races so that's how it came about. We got through the first year okay, although it didn't go like clockwork, but we got through it anyway and it was a good learning curve for everyone involved. I have been asked back every year since and Tom has assembled a good team. He has Michael Prosser, the clerk of the course at Newmarket, who brings a wealth of experience, stewards secretary Adrian Sharpe and Phil Tuck, the resident stewards secretary who knows all the locals and how the system works.

What has been the biggest challenge? As you said yourself, it hasn't all been smooth sailing and, like anything new, there are always going to be teething problems.
The language. Without question. The biggest barrier is the language. We would have different sets of requests coming through right throughout the week from different connections of horses all over the world. Maybe it's to do with a horse being blindfolded at the start, going in early or late, that sort of thing. That needs to be communicated to all of the stalls handlers, who don't have a lot of English, but the two starters who are out there on a regular basis are a great help in getting the right information across. It's a huge challenge and it's not comfortable, I have to say, as I don't have an English-speaking assistant who is fluent in Arabic. That's one thing I mentioned to Tom when I was leaving this year that, if we could get someone who could speak both languages going forward, it would be a massive help.

Horses have been a constant in your life. Your late parents enjoyed a lot of success from Moortown House Stud and you are keeping the legacy going.
I don't think my father ever had more than three mares at one time. He was rooting away at the bargain end of things but I took a big interest when I bought a mare the time I was working down with Dessie Hughes on the Curragh. She was lucky enough for me, in that I got a few quid for the first foals, but I was seeing more and more that you needed a bit of quality to be going to war at the sales. When you are dealing with basement mares, it's never going to happen for you, so I suggested to my father that we go over to the December Sales at Newmarket and look for something. We spent the three days going around looking at all of these mares with beautiful pedigrees and our mouths were open. I suppose, back in those days, forty or fifty thousand would get you something decent, but now it wouldn't get you a ticket in the door. We came across a filly with a great pedigree but she was quite refined and light. Her name was Almaaseh (Ire) and she was a first foal out of Al Bahathri (Blushing Groom {Fr}) by Dancing Brave. Tom Jones had trained her but she wasn't much good–I think she was third in a four-horse race. She'd a fantastic pedigree and a good friend of my father's, Joe Clarke, a renowned breeder and vet, had a look at her to see if she'd enough bone to breed from. He felt that she did so we got her bought. Our maximum was forty thousand but Philip Myerscough bid the forty thousand for the mare. Not to be outdone, my father put up the hand and bid one more, and he got her.

And she became a notable breeder for him.
My father had bought a share to Dancing Dissident, who'd just retired to the Irish National Stud and, given they had burned up all their money on the mare, they sent her to him and got a colt foal [Almaty]. They sold him as a yearling and he ended up being the top-rated Irish two-year-old for Con Collins in 1995. He won the Molecomb S. and another Group 3 at the Curragh–it was enough to make him the highest-rated two-year-old in Ireland that year. That was the start of it and we subsequently sold some high-priced stock out of the mare. Now, he got foal-shares to some of the best stallions who were standing at that time, but it never really worked out for him. She actually had a Galileo (Ire) filly who died roughly six weeks before what is now Book 1 but was called the Houghton Sale back in those days. As a result of that Galileo filly dying, Coolmore let my father into Oratorio (Ire) at a reduced fee and the resulting colt didn't make that much money but he turned out to be a good racehorse. He turned out to be Military Attack (Ire) and Amanda Skiffington bought him on behalf of John Hills at the Orby Sale. He won at Ascot and, as a result of that, got sold to Hong Kong for major money. He became a champion out there. There was another filly out of the mare, Artisia (Ire) (Peintre Celebre), who went to William Muir, and while she wasn't much good as a racemare, she ended up breeding Red Cadeaux (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}). He was a brilliant globetrotter. Then there was another filly out of the mare, Miss Brown To You (Ire) (Fasliyev), who again was no superstar, but she ended up breeding Big Orange (GB) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}).

You retain an interest in the family with Empowermentofwomen (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}).
I bought back into the family through Empowerementofwomen, a half-sister to Big Orange. Bill Gredley bred Big Orange and, a year or two before that horse had come on the scene, I bought the mare. Listen, she hasn't been that lucky for us in that there was a nice Teofilo (Ire) filly in France who broke her leg the week before she was supposed to run. Tina Rau was the agent who bought that particular filly off me and she told me that she was held in good regard. Noel Meade has had a couple out of the mare, Zoffman (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Sheishybrid (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), and they have won their races. Hopefully one of them will bag a little bit of black-type this season. We lost a Churchill (Ire) colt out of the mare last year but she has a nice Saxon Warrior (Jpn) yearling this year. All didn't go according to plan with her foaling this year and, while the foal is alive, it's an ongoing situation. It's been a little bit up and down with her so far so hopefully we can have a bit more luck with her going forward.

Have you got mating plans done for your mares yet?
Empowermentofwomen could go to Gleneagles (Ire). I think he's an underestimated sire and gives you a fair chance of getting a black-type horse. He was an exceptional racehorse himself and I think he could represent value. He has had 11 black-type horses and Royal Scotsman (Ire), who is in training with Paul Cole, could be deemed a slightly unlucky loser in the Dewhurst so who's to say what he might achieve this year. That's the way we're thinking anyway but, it's just in the past few days I started to entertain the idea of something like Sioux Nation or even Magna Grecia (Ire). We have gone back to the drawing board a little bit but it's in situations like this where you are probably better off going with your gut.I have a daughter of Empowermentofwomen by Cape Cross (Ire) and she is only starting off. She has a very nice Ten Sovereigns (Ire) yearling and is in foal to Gleneagles. She's going to go to Minzaal (Ire) this year.

What else have you got on the farm?
There are two other mares who I own in partnership with a guy; one is a Shamardal half-sister to Jacqueline Quest (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), who won the 1000 Guineas but lost it in the stewards room. She's been a bit of a slow burner but we have a nice Starspangledbanner (Aus) filly out of her called You Send Me (Ire), who is in training with Fozzy Stack. She ran very well on debut at the Curragh and they think she is quite nice. We're hoping that she will do okay this year and bring the mare into a different level because she has a nice New Bay (GB) yearling filly this year. She's in foal to Space Blues (Ire) but is not due to foal until April. The other mare is called Lisanor (GB) and she's by Raven's Pass. We bought all of these fillies out of training and she was owned by Anthony Oppenheimer and in training with John Gosden. She is a lovely-looking filly and cost 26,000gns, which we hoped would represent a bit of value at the time. We bought her the same time that Olympic Glory (Ire) was retired to stud and I liked the idea of a son of Choisir (Aus) so we flew over to Al Shaqab in France to have a look at him. We liked what we saw and sent the mare to him in her first year and she produced quite a decent filly in Mintd (Ire). She might not have been your typical sales filly but Willie McCreery loved her and he bought her. She was a smart two-year-old–finished second to Fairyland (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), won her maiden at Listowel and finished second to Land Force (Ire) in a Listed race at Tipperary. After she finished second to Land Force, Willie got her sold to America, where she won a Grade 3 for Brendan Walsh. Lisanor has had a few foals since and, while they've all won, there are no superstars. She has a Calyx (GB) with Yeomanstown and that is going to the Doncaster breeze-up sale so I am hoping that can do something. She has a nice Lope De Vega foal on the ground and I dropped her down to Starspangledbanner there last week. Obviously Olympic Glory is by Choisir so we're trying to pick up that link by going to Starspangledbanner. We were very impressed by her Lope De Vega foal so we said we'd take a chance with Starspangledbanner. We also have a daughter of Lisanor by Oasis Dream (GB) who turned out to be disappointing. She ran a few times but never managed to do anything–I think she had a mind of her own. We believe that she had a level of ability and are going to send her to Arizona (Ire) this year. He's by No Nay Never and won his maiden by eight lengths and won the Coventry as well. At a relatively small fee, he should give us a chance.

What is it that drives you?
I suppose I had a little bit of luck from day one. I used to rent a flat off Mrs Cuddy on the Curragh when I was working for Dessie Hughes. Her husband Mick had a good bit of success with fillies who were all trained by Liam Browne. Daness and Ridaness won the Moyglare Stakes for him in the '70s. When Mrs Cuddy's husband died, she got fed up with the horses and happened to say to me that she wanted to get rid of them. Knowing the pedigrees, I bought one of the mares [Royaltess (GB) (Royal And Regal)] off her for five thousand and sent her to Fairy King. Her first foal [Makbul (Ire)] was very nice and I brought him to Goffs that November. I'll never forget, Philip Myerscough came down to look at the foal and he was very impressed with him. About a half an hour later, he comes down with another gentleman, none other than Vincent O'Brien! Well, Vincent spent 20 minutes looking at this foal. He gave him an awful lot of time. They bought the foal for €18,000. For me, it was like winning the lotto. I bought the mare for five, spent the same on the nomination and had eight grand left over. I was addicted after that.

That's a dream start.
It planted the seed firmly in my mind. Around the same time, we bought a mare [Chaturanga (GB) (Night Shift)] from the Godolphin dispersal, a mare out of Game Plan, who was second in the Oaks. Game Plan was a half-sister to Shahtoush (Ire) (Alzao), who went on and won the Oaks a couple of years later. The best Chaturanga bred was probably Mooretown Lady (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), who was very temperamental but had loads of ability. I sold her to a friend of mine, Michael Smith, who still has her today and, while she wasn't a successful broodmare, she did breed a good broodmare by Fastnet Rock (Aus) called Fastnet Lady (Ire). Michael has bred I Am Superman (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) and Fastnet Crown (Hallowed Crown {Aus}) out of that mare. It's hard to breed any sort of a winner and then to get a black-type winner, it's not an easy thing to do. When you do achieve it, you really have to enjoy it, and it gives you huge confidence going forward because you think that, if you've done it once, you can do it again, and maybe even at a higher level. I spend ages on the matings plans for the few mares I have. You'd swear I have hundreds of them! You just lose hours and hours going through pedigrees to see what might work and what is coming through. It's a real passion.

And what would be your aim when you set out about choosing a stallion?
The first thing I try to do is find a horse who I think will be popular at the yearling sales. Now, that's two and half years down the line and a lot of things can change after you cover your mare. Obviously you try to eliminate as many risks as possible. I suppose, by going to a proven sire, it gives you a good chance of getting a racehorse on the ground. The thing about that is, the proven sire is normally pretty expensive so, for a lesser mare, it doesn't justify spending that sort of money. I try to find something that has got off to a good start and hopefully it can build on it. For us, it's a balancing act. You need to try and make money out of it but you also want to try and breed a horse of some note. The first-season sire is a safe bet in that nobody knows what they are going to be like and they can't judge them apart from the fact that their foals or yearlings are nice because they haven't done it on the track. If in general they are nice, and the pinhookers latch onto them, that's normally the first hurdle crossed. There are other sires that you can get at good value in their third year but it's a very tricky year because, if their first two-year-olds are no good, your foal is written off before it arrives on the ground. That can be rather sickening. But, equally, if they are successful, and for example we took a chance on Saxon Warrior last year, it can work out well. Obviously in the case of Saxon Warrior, his fee has jumped up dramatically off the back of the success he enjoyed with his two-year-olds. But it's a gamble and the whole thing is a gamble. Breeding horses is a gamble.

What would your main philosophy be?
I like a stallion with a bit of quality, a good mover, but he doesn't have to be an extravagant mover. The majority of horses, they're not the best walkers in the world, but they are good racehorses and you see that when they come out of training and retire to stud. You like to see a horse with movement. At the same time, I'm not looking for a horse with a big lopey walk because that's nearly a sign that they are a bit on the slow side. You see all these big bumper and maiden hurdle horses and they'd walk for Ireland but sure they'd be as slow as a boat. A nice athletic horse with a good shape, good back end, good hip and nice short cannons with a good quality head. That's what I like. I also like them to be Group 1 winners. Indian Ridge (Ire) had no pedigree at all and he turned out to be a very good sire so there's always an outlier but I like using horses who were Group 1 winners themselves.

And I was interested to learn that you consign all of your own horses as well as breeding them.
Having a nice foal or yearling, it gives me great satisfaction working with that horse and bringing it along. Even if it's not the best model in the world, I would try and have it looking better than anyone else's going to the sales and we have always been complimented by how well our animals look at the sales. I'd go overboard and try and have a skin on them that you'd nearly shave through. Pristine condition. I get great satisfaction out of preparing them like that and, while a lot of people like to use a big name, at the end of the day, the majority of the horses the big consignors bring to the sales are prepared by the owner. Some are done poorly and some exceptionally well but, for whatever reason, they like to use these people to consign their horses. I'm not saying these consignors don't do a good job, because they do an exceptional job, but I do all the hard work with these horses and I know their quirks or their personalities so it doesn't make sense for me to hand it over to a big name for the sale after doing the majority of the work the whole way through.

You clearly have a huge passion for it all.
Some people are interested in golf or whatever but breeding is what fascinates me. Another reason why we like consigning our own horses is because we like to promote Moortown House Stud and I think we have done. I get tremendous satisfaction out of it. The other thing is, if you do it yourself and something goes wrong, well then you can blame nobody other than yourself. I spent a little time working with the big consignors in America when I was younger and learned the right way to show a horse. It's all about presentation. Again, if you're handing it over to someone else, you'd be looking on from the sidelines. That would drive me mad. One thing that I love about the sales, you get to meet new people the whole time, depending where you are stationed around the complex. We've become great friends with some of the people we have been stationed beside and there's a great social element to the thing. The buzz when you have a good foal or a yearling, it happened us a few years ago when we had a foal who got 15 vets, and we barely had time to eat all day. You're just completely revved up over the potential of what might happen. That doesn't happen very often so it's a great place to be when it goes well. But it wouldn't be possible without the help of my wife Edel who does a lot of the hard work at home while I am working at the races. I get to do a lot of work in the mornings but Edel is with them most days and it's very much a joint effort.

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