‘We Were Willing To Work – And To Take A Risk’

Year after year, the thread of his horsemanship snags another big prize in the web of his many different interests. And this spring Gabriel Duignan is back on the GI Kentucky Derby trail—this time as breeder, his Springhouse Farm near Lexington having started Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah) along the road that has already taken in two of the big Californian trials, latterly the GII San Felipe S. at Santa Anita last weekend. 

Before you ask: disappointingly, there's no real story behind the nickname. When he started as a kid at Airlie Stud, his predecessor had for some reason been known as “Spider”, and the guy in charge just couldn't keep his real name in his head. On the third day he gave up, and announced that Duignan might as well be Spider too. “Though I was a skinny, leggy young guy, so it suited a bit as well,” notes Duignan.

But if that particular line of inquiry turns out to be something of a wild goose chase, then at least we can now formally acclaim Duignan and his wife Aisling as the ultimate such quarry.

Last week they were profoundly touched to return to their native land to be jointly saluted by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association with the “Wild Geese” Award, made to compatriots who fly the tricolour in exemplary fashion on foreign fields.

They were amused, too, by some of the themes of a video tribute. Repeated reference was made by friends and colleagues, with an air of perplexity, to Duignan's roots in rural Co. Leitrim. (“Okay, so there wasn't a huge horse culture,” he concedes. “But surprisingly enough, there were always a few horses around.”) Paramount's Lesley Campion noted how well the couple complemented each other: “Aisling's smart, hard-working, astute; just a lovely, decent, kind, welcoming person. And, um, Spider is a good dancer. And is tall. And is from Leitrim.”

But the real cornerstone was a contribution from John Magnier, who employs Aisling as Director of Bloodstock at Ashford Stud.

“Spider, I knew you were clever from the time you were working for Tony Ryan and did so well for him,” the Coolmore boss said. “But when you got married to Aisling that confirmed how clever you were.”

Magnier recalled Aisling leading the mares out “as a kid” in all weathers: “Dressed up in rain gear so you could hardly find her. But she always stood out, really, and it's not a surprise to me that she's reached the heights that she has.”

“Those were lovely words he said,” her husband says. “To be fair, I think they've always had a great relationship. Look, it was a beautiful award to receive, the ITBA did a great job putting on the whole night, and the whole thing is very gratifying really. It's always nice to be recognised by your peers.”

Over the years, of course, Kentucky has become something close to a 33rd Irish county. But when Duignan first arrived in 1985, recommended to Bill O'Neill at Circle O Farm, he was only just behind a pioneering wave of migrants led by the likes of the late Gerry Dilger, himself winner of the Wild Geese Award in 2018. It's fitting, as such, that the bursary fund collected in Dilger's memory should be devoted to fresh cycles in that ongoing, transatlantic exchange of enthusiasm and experience, with two young women from Ireland set to arrive for their belated stint at Springhouse.

“Because of lockdown, unfortunately we weren't able to bring them over as planned last year but we're looking forward to the two girls coming over in the spring and that'll kick it off,” Duignan says. “An American student is also being sent to the Irish National Stud. It's a great thing to give young people the kind of experience that we had. Gerry was such a super guy, kind of the godfather to us all over here, and I'd like to think his fund will be around a long time into the future.”

Opportunities like this, and of course the Godolphin Flying Start, were not available when this wild gosling first took wing, and the Irish expatriate community in the Bluegrass duly owes a great deal to the informal impetus provided by John Hughes, in Duignan's own case, and Michael Osborne, in so many others.

“I'll forever be indebted to John Hughes,” Duignan stresses. “He was head vet at Airlie while I was there, and took a personal interest in sending me over here and setting me up with a job at Circle O. He was a great guy. Himself and Dr. Osborne were the two that looked after a lot of young Irish people at the time, and sent us on our way.

“None of us had very many dollars in our back pockets when we got here. But I guess Ireland was in pretty bad shape at the time. We arrived with very little expectations, but we were willing to work and grateful for any opportunities we got. And then there was a little of that entrepreneurial spirit as well. When we did make a few dollars, we were prepared to take a risk and invest in a horse. It's a fantastic community: a great bunch of people, very close, almost like family really. Everybody pulls for each other.”

For all the banter about his upbringing in a relative backwater of the Turf, Duignan came from a farming family and, like so many compatriots, exported an engrained, instinctive stockmanship.

“I was just one of those kids born with a love of horses,” he says. “My brother Cahill was the same, and we were sent to a local guy who broke horses. I started with the ponies and gymkhanas, but figured out pretty early on I wasn't good enough to make a living out of that. So I transferred over to Thoroughbreds at Airlie Stud. I do think a stockman is a stockman, absolutely: if you've an eye for a horse, you'll have an eye for cattle, for any animal really. And that love for the land is very closely related too. You can learn, you can help yourself, but I see American kids that grew up on a farm, and it's just the same: it gives you a little edge.”

That raw material couldn't have been better shaped than by O'Neill, who had managed Bwamazon Farm for Millard Waldheim before taking on Circle O.

“He was a great mentor to me,” Duignan recalls. “He was a proper, old-fashioned Kentucky hardboot. It was hard work, no messing around, but I learned a lot off him. And actually I've just been lucky through life, working with a lot of good people. Like David Garvin, who gave me the opportunity to start buying horses for him at Ironwood, a beautiful farm I managed for him at Bowling Green. And then Dr. Ryan took me on [as president of Castleton-Lyons]. Another great man: he pushed you, he had great foresight. I learned a lot of the business part of things through him.”

And that element would be critical to Duignan's development of such a diverse portfolio: farm owner, breeder, pinhooker and, in 2001, founding partner of Paramount with Pat Costello. They had already been the core investors, along with Ted Campion, in a pinhooking partnership they called The Lads.

“I've always been lucky to have great partners,” Duignan says. “Gerry. Ted and Pat. Charlie O'Connor. Back then, I guess a good bit of it was trial and error. But we all learned a lot from each other. And our timing was good. The market had been a bit more closed before, but as things became more commercial you had more opportunities for striking out and selling on your own.”

His association with Costello now goes back some 30 years. He suspects that they first met in a pub.

“Believe it or not!” he says with a chuckle. “Yeah, we met shortly after coming here and just hit it off and have been friends ever since. Obviously we think a lot alike, as far as a horse is concerned. You do need to have give and take, if you're going to do partnerships, but to be honest we've never had any differences.”

The ultimate partnership, however, is naturally that with Aisling herself. Duignan submits willingly to all the facetious inferences of their friends in the ITBA video.

“She's been huge help,” he says. “It's lovely to have somebody you can bounce things off that's smarter than yourself. She has unbelievable energy, has to juggle lot of balls in the air, and I don't know how she does it: she's a very sharp businesswoman, but also a wonderful mother and just a fantastic person.”

All ribbing aside, however, everyone acknowledges Duignan himself as an outstanding horseman. Wearing his various hats, he has processed too many good horses for there to be any doubt about that. During his time at Castleton-Lyons, Duignan assisted in the rise of Malibu Moon, while young stallions No Nay Never and Gormley are among the graduates of the Paramount consignment. If forced to identify one dimension of his portfolio that gives him most pride, however, it would probably be the mares that have found their way to various farms under his supervision.

When Point Given (Thunder Gulch) was a weanling, for instance, Duignan brought his dam to Ironwood for $160,000; she was sold for $2 million in the same ring five years later. He bought the dam of Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat) for Castleton Lyons. Then there was dual Grade I winner Brody's Cause, co-bred with William Arvin Jr. and Petaluma Bloodstock after the $130,000 acquisition of his dam.

Just last year two juveniles to have been through Duignan's hands scored at the elite level: GI Starlet S. winner Eda (Munnings) was sold by Paramount as a Keeneland September yearling for $240,000, while GI Breeders' Futurity S. winner Rattle N Roll (Connect), pinhooked as a $55,000 weanling via Rexy Bloodstock, was sold in the same consignment for $210,000. And now, from the same crop, Forbidden Kingdom is advertising the alert recruitment of his dam Just Louise (Five Star Day) for just $150,000, despite her GIII Debutante S. success in a light career.

“That's what it's all about, at the end of the day,” Duignan says. “The buzz of good horses. I think the biggest thing, looking back, was the day I started investing in the game rather than just working in it. In life, you always need luck and thank God I've had my share of that too. But there are always risks involved, so you do need the mentality to take the ups and downs. If things go wrong, you have to be able to take it and move on; you don't look back, only forward.”

In raising a horse, equally, he feels you have to let things flow; to expose horses to the challenges that help them mature into fighters on the track—very much, he suggests, part of a culture shared by his fellow “wild geese”.

“I do think we try to let them be horses,” he says. “They're kept outdoors as much as possible, kept in the herd as much as possible. I think it's very important you don't hothouse horses, because I think it's been proven through the years that you just make a softer individual that way. I think probably all the Irish guys are a bit like that.”

Duignan rejects the pessimism expressed by many for the American industry. Purses in some states are very strong, he notes, while that even the pandemic yielded reasons to be cheerful in increased handle, and a remarkably robust bloodstock market.

“No doubt the business has shrunk over the last 20 years,” he admits. “But it's very resilient. At the end of the day, there is that bond between humans and horses. It's a great game, and I often say that I probably never worked a day in my life. If you love what you do, there's no better way to go through life. So long as you're able to take a few knocks along the way, it's a lovely way to make a living.”

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Tony and Anne O’Callaghan Inducted To ITBA Hall Of Fame

The cream of Irish Thoroughbred breeding was recognised on Sunday night, with the headline act being Tally-Ho Stud's Tony and Anne O'Callaghan, who were inducted into the ITBA Hall of Fame.

Last year's ITBA National Breeding & Racing Awards provided one of the bloodstock social media events of lockdown, but after two years of virtual presentations, the prestigious awards ceremony returned to its rightful home of The Heritage hotel in Co Laois.

The O'Callaghans also took home one of the main Flat awards when being named the joint-winners of 2-year-old colt category with Ben Sangster. This was in recognition for breeding Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}), winner of the 2021 G1 Middle Park S. and G1 Prix Morny and the co-top-rated Irish-bred juvenile colt along with the unbeaten Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who landed the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy after winning the G2 Beresford S.

Tally-Ho Stud, based in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, is currently home to seven stallions, among them the much respected Kodiac (GB), as well as Mehmas (Ire) and Cotai Glory (GB), who have been the leading first-season stallions of the last two years. A video produced by the ITBA to commemorate the induction included tributes from the O'Callaghans' two sons, Roger and Henry.

“They've worked hard to get here and everything they've got they've earned,” said Roger. “Mum did the night-watching for 25 years. She did all the foaling–mum did the nights and dad did the days.”

Henry also acknowledged his mother's role is the successful business. He said, “When it's a small operation everyone does everything. My mum was up during the night and when my dad got up she would give him a hand with the feeding. Even now, when we are watching the mares, she has an innate ability to predict when they are going to foal.”

In addition to Perfect Power, who was recognised with an award on the night and is himself by Ardad, a stallion bred by the O'Callaghans, the Tally-Ho team was also responsible last year for breeding the Group 1 winner Ebro River (Ire) by another of their stallions, Galileo Gold (GB). Further success came through the G2 Gimcrack S. and G2 July S. winner Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), as well as Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who won the G1 Commonwealth Cup in addition to her 2020 victories in the G1 Prix Morny and G2 Queen Mary S.

Patrick Burns of Newlands House Stud was recognised with the ITBA Small Breeder Award, with his crowning glory of 2021 being the G1 Nuntorpe S. victory of Winter Power (Ire), a daughter of Bungle Inthejungle (Ire) who stands at Rathasker Stud, owned by Burns's brother Maurice.

“Patrick is the epitome of a successful high-class small breeder,” said ITBA chairman Joe Foley. “From the small number of yearlings that he produces every year he seems to produce a really good horse from every crop. That success rate is really remarkable.”

Burns has never had more than six mares on his farm in Kildare, and recent graduates have included the G2 Lowther S. victrix Living In The Past (Ire), who is also a daughter of Bungle Inthejungle, as well as G2 Lanwades Stud S. winner Devonshire (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) and Listed winner Hurryupharriet (Ire) (Camacho {GB}).

Another hugely popular category is the Wild Geese Award, which honours Irishmen and women who have carved out successful careers in the bloodstock industry worldwide. Added to an impressive roll of honour this year are the names of Gabriel and Aisling Duignan. Based in Kentucky for more than 30 years, Gabriel 'Spider' Duignan is a founding partner of Paramount Sales, along with his fellow Irishman Pat Costello. Aisling Duignan, née Cross, is Coolmore's director of bloodstock at Ashford Stud.

Addressing the couple via the ITBA's video tribute, John Magnier said, “Spider, I knew you were clever from the time you were working and did so well for Tony Ryan, but when you got married to Aisling that confirmed how clever you were.”

He continued, “I remember Aisling from the time she was a kid really, leading out the mares in all kinds of weather and dressed up in this rain gear so you could hardly find her, but she always stood out and it's not a surprise to me that she has reached the heights that she has.

“She has been the utmost help to all of us. She keeps everybody on the straight and narrow and keeps everybody's morale up.”

The Special Recognition Award was presented to Julian Lloyd, a former trainer with rock star Eric Clapton among his owners, bloodstock agent, and, until his retirement last year, the manager of Kirsten Rausing's Staffordstown stud in Ireland. 

“I think he is defined by his enthusiasm for all matters racing and breeding, and also his professionalism, attention to detail, and great horsemanship in general,” said Rausing, who met Lloyd when they both worked for Captain Tim Rogers at Airlie Stud. 

“Julian, Paddy Moloney and I were the three that started up Staffordstown in early 1991, so Julian and I have been working and establishing Staffordstown with Paddy for exactly 30 years.”

The Grassick family's Newtown Stud and Tim Pabst received the award for breeding the top-rated Irish 2-year-old filly of 2021 in Flotus (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), who is now owed by Katsumi Yoshida after selling for a million gns at the Tattersalls December Mares' Sale. 

In the 3-year-old filly division, the award was also shared, this time between the Gaffney family's Churchtown Horse Stud, breeders of Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never), and Tom Cooke's Thomastown Farm, which bred French-trained sprinter Suesa (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). Godolphin received the 3-year-old colt award for their Derby and King George winner Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

Brothers Michael and Laurence Gleeson, young pinhookers based at Aughamore Stud in Co Westmeath, were recognised with the Next Generation Award. Among their early successes has been Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}), who was bought by the brothers as a foal for €12,500 and sold on for €28,000 to Johnny Murtagh, who trained her to win the G1 Matron S. 

ITBA Award winners for 2021

Small Breeder
Patrick Burns, Newlands House Stud

Special Recognition
Julian Lloyd

Next Generation
Michael and Laurence Gleeson

Novice Hurdler
Appreciate It
Breeder: Barmakin Ltd & South Lodge Stud

Novice Chaser
Shishkin
Breeder: C J & E B Bennett

Leading National Hunt Mare:
Colreevy
Breeder:  Niall Flynn

Hurdler
Flooring Porter
Breeder: Sean Murphy

Chaser
Minella Indo
Breeder: Mrs R H Lalor

2-Year-Old Filly
Flotus
Breeder Newtown Stud & T J Pabst

2 -Year-Old ColtJoint award
Luxembourg
Breeder: B V Sangster

Perfect Power
Breeder: Tally Ho Stud

3-Year-Old FillyJoint award
Alcohol Free
Breeder: Churchtown House Stud

Suesa
Breeder: Thomastown Farm Ltd

3-Year-Old Colt
Adayar
Breeder: Godolphin

Wild Geese
Gabriel and Aisling Duignan

Contribution to the industry
David Minton

Hall of Fame
Tony and Anne O'Callaghan

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ITBA Awards Honour Todd Watt Among Top Breeders

Dolphins swimming in the Venetian canals may have been pandemic fake news, but that the world will have benefited environmentally is one of the few upsides to the coronavirus crisis. What is not fake news is that many heads and livers will have been feeling better on Sunday morning than would otherwise be the case following the annual ITBA Awards, but that is the only benefit to missing out on what is always one of the social highlights of the racing year.

Attendance at this event is not for the faint-hearted or the early-to-bedders. Traditionally, gongs are still being handed out past midnight and then the celebrating begins, on the dance floor, in the residents' bar and often through to the breakfast table. Like pretty much every other event of the past year, the ITBA Awards, celebrating the best performances by Irish-bred horses on the Flat and over jumps, was forced into a virtual format, but that didn't stop it being a memorably emotional evening.

Ireland's reputation as a country of Thoroughbred breeders of the highest calibre has long been a cause for celebration but before we toast the best in show for 2020, the award which will have lightened the lockdown gloom the most among the tight-knit breeding community was the Rathbarry Stud-sponsored ITBA Special Recognition Award for Todd Watt. The masterful Tattersalls auctioneer has been absent from the sales for the last few years since suffering a stroke but, with the awards presentations posted in individual video segments across social media channels throughout the evening, viewers and followers were able to see Todd receive his award from Niamh Woods. That he is missed as much as he is loved was clear from the many deserving tributes from his friends and colleagues, both in the moving film and subsequently on Twitter.

“All through his career in Tatts, he was our go-to guy, not just for me but for all the Irish,” said Eddie O'Leary of Lynn Lodge Stud, summing up the regard in which Watt is held by many vendors at the sales.

Fellow Tattersalls auctioneer John O'Kelly added, “Todd Watt is the great ambassador. A lovable character; everybody in the industry has huge respect for him. He sold horses with a smile on his face, he made people feel good, and no stone was unturned to ever get somebody an extra bid for a horse.”

Horseracing and breeding are not immune to the financial concerns generated by the Covid pandemic but in Ireland some comfort must be taken in the close links between the industry and government, which is doubtless the envy of other racing nations. This was evident in the fact that the Taoiseach Micheal Martin gave a video address at the start of awards evening, recognising the  major contribution of the bloodstock world to Ireland's economy.

“The tumultuous events of 2020 and the continuing pandemic have had a significant impact on your industry,” he said. “An important pillar of government policy is to ensure that the horseracing and Thoroughbred industry achieves its maximum potential and, in so doing, continues to contribute to economic and social development across a wide geographic swathe of the country. It is estimated that the Thoroughbred industry has an annual economic impact of €1.9 billion, with direct and indirect employment of up to 29,000 people. Additionally the industry brings a high level of international investment into Ireland. The Irish racing and breeding industry is extremely competitive at a global level. We are the third-biggest producer of Thoroughbred foals in the world and estimates place Ireland behind only the United States as the biggest public seller of bloodstock globally.”

Three of those foals produced in 2018 led to Derek and Gay Veitch's Ringfort Stud being named Breeder of the Year. The Co Offaly-based farm had a year to remember with its 2-year-olds in particular, with Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and Miss Amulet (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) winning the G2 Gimcrack S. and G2 Lowther S. at York's Ebor meeting, followed by the G2 Flying Childers S. win of Ubettabelieveit (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). The latter and Miss Amulet both went on to be placed at the Breeders' Cup, and Minzaal was the second consecutive Ringfort-bred winner of the Gimcrack following Threat (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}).

“The best 2-year-olds that we had in 2020 were all by stallions out of Tally-Ho. I love it because they were cheap horses to produce, just farm costs and running costs, and they've ended up great racehorses which has helped us immensely with the mares,” said Derek Veitch. “The couple of days in York was amazing. To have the Lowther winner and then the Gimcrack winner for the second year in a row was just incredible and very satisfying for us.”

Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was the toast of the Longines World's Best Racehorse ceremony last week and he was recognised again in the award to his breeder Dermot Weld's Springbank Way Stud in the Older Horse of the Year category. Ghaiyyath's former stable-mate Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) earned the Three-Year-Old Colt of the Year award for his breeder Godolphin, while the Two-Year-Colt of the Year was the G1 Middle Park S. winner Supremacy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), bred by The Hon. Kenneth Lau of Kangyu International Racing at John Tuthill's Owenstown Stud. 

“It is very exciting to have bred Supremacy from one of the first mares I have owned,” said Lau. “Thank you to Owenstown Stud for raising Supremacy and to Ed Sackville for buying [his dam] Triggers Broom (Ire). We sold her very good Cotai Glory (GB) colt at Book 1 to King Power and we have a lovely Cotai Glory filly to race. Tiggers Broom now visits Frankel (GB).”

It is overseas that the best Irish-bred fillies excelled in 2020. Trained at Ballydoyle by Aidan O'Brien, the Coolmore-bred Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was unbeaten in her three starts, all in England, in the 1000 Guineas, Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks. Farther afield, the 2-year-old Aunt Pearl (Ire) was also unbeaten in three races in America, culminating in her becoming the second daughter of Lope De Vega (Ire) to win the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf after Newspaperofrecord (Ire). Aunt Pearl was bred in partnership by Ballylinch Stud and the French-based Ecurie Des Charmes.

A highlight of Saturday's afternoon's racing was the success of Shishkin (Ire) (Sholokhov {Ire}) in the G2 ITM Lightning Novices' Chase but it was his victory in last March's G1 Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival which sealed his Best Novice Hurdler award for breeder Clive Bennett. 

Philip and Jane Myerscough received the award for the Best Novice Chaser, another Cheltenham winner in Champ (Ire) (King's Theatre {Ire}), while Hurdler of the Year was Paisley Park (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}), who won the title for the second year for breeder Michael Conaghan. The Chaser of the Year was another multiple winner, the great Altior (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), bred by Paddy Behan who has now won five consecutive ITBA awards. 

One of the most popular prizes given at this event is the annual Wild Geese Award which recognises the success of Irish men and women overseas. Recent recipients include bloodstock agent Mags O'Toole, Keeneland's Geoffrey Russell and the late Gerry Dilger of Dromoland Farm. 

As awards host Leo Powell said, this year's winner has ventured just about as far from home as it is possible to be: New Zealand. Gordon Cunningham may have settled a long way away but his Irish roots are not forgotten, as the name of his successful Curraghmore Farm in Waikato suggests.

The Waterford native is a grandson of legendary Irish trainer Michael Collins, and thus cousin to current trainer Tracey Collins, who succeeded her father Con at Conyngham Lodge on the Curragh.

“We were always excited to go to the Curragh for the summer and of course Uncle Con was an icon for our family and we were inwardly very proud of just being in his presence or being able to visit Conynhgam Lodge, where mum was raised,” said Cunningham in a video made at last week's Karaka yearling sale.

He added, “I know there are many people around the world who are worthy of this award and I feel very privileged to be considered worthy of it. I'm very grateful to the ITBA and would like to congratulate all the other recipients of awards thought the evening. I would like to acknowledge my late Uncle Dick Collins and my Aunt Bernie, who took my younger brother and I under their wing when our father passed away when I was pretty young. They brought us up to the Curragh every summer. From my first summer at Lisieux [Stud] I knew horses were going to be my life.” 

Among the notable graduates of Curraghmore Farm are Melbourne Cup winner Efficient (NZ), Australian champion 3-year-old Fairway (NZ) and Hong Kong champion stayer Liberator (NZ).

Andrew Seabrook of New Zealand Bloodstock said, “Gordon takes it to another level. He's more focused on breeding quality and good horses than getting the top price in the sale ring. He's so focused on just getting the very best out of a horse and he reads the market so well.”

The wide world of bloodstock boasts many graduates of the Irish National Stud breeding course, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary. Further celebration is due in that the government-owned stud itself has now become the first organisation to be inducted to the ITBA Hall of Fame.

“The Thoroughbred industry in Ireland is something which we are justifiably proud of as world leaders, and having an organisation like the Irish National Stud that essentially belongs to the people is very important,” said Goffs Group chief executive Henry Beeby. 

In accepting the award, the Irish Minister of Agriculture John McConalogue acknowledged the stud's “continued determination for excellence” and said, “I am delighted to be accepting the 2020 Hall of Fame award on behalf of the National Stud. This is in recognition of the stud's invaluable contribution to the Irish Thoroughbred industry over many decades, from the stallions it stands to the world-renowned breeding course and the impact it has as a national tourist attraction. This award sees the Irish National Stud join an august group which includes JP McManus, David and Diane Nagle, Jim Bolger, Sadler's Wells and Michael Osborne.”

While Ireland and Britain remain under strict lockdown, with racing continuing behind closed doors and sales online, there are currently few opportunities for the industry's participants to meet in person. What the ITBA successfully pulled off on Saturday night was bringing people together, albeit virtually, in recognition and celebration of one of Ireland's best attributes: its deserved reputation as a centre for equine excellence. Congratulations to the ITBA team and to all the award winners.

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ITBA Award Winners Honoured

The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association honored the human and equine stars of 2020 during a virtual ceremony for its National Breeding and Racing Awards on Saturday evening.

The ITBA Hall of Fame inductee for 2020 was the Irish National Stud. Ireland's Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue accepted the honor on behalf of the Irish State, while President Michael D Higgins wrote a personal message to the Irish National Stud in recognition of its national importance.

The popular Wild Geese Award, honoring an Irish national who has made an impact on the industry abroad, went this year to Gordon Cunningham of Curraghmore Stud in New Zealand. Cunningham has been based in the Southern Hemisphere for over two decades and has welcomed and helped nurture many young Irish that have gone to those shores.

Tattersalls's Todd Watt received the Special Recognition Award, while Clare Manning was honored with the Next Generation Award and Derek and Gay Veitch's Ringfort Stud received the Breeder of the Year award.

The equine award winners were as follows: Shiskin (Ire) (Sholokhov {Ire}), Novice Hurdler of the Year; Champ (Ire) (King's Theatre {Ire}), Novice Chaser of the Year; Paisley Park (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}), Hurdler of the Year; Altior (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), Chaser of the Year; Aunt Pearl (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), 2-year-old filly; Supremacy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), 2-year-old colt; Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), 3-year-old filly; Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal), 3-year-old colt; and Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Older Horse of the Year.

See Monday's TDN for more on the ITBA Awards.

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