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Frankel’s Tour de Force Brings French Champion Honours

Having provided the winners of this year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Prix de Diane, Prix Jacques le Marois, Grand Prix de Paris and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Frankel (GB), unsurprisingly, has been named the champion sire of France in 2022. He ceded his position as champion in Britain and Ireland to Dubawi (Ire), whom he finished in front of when it comes to overall European earnings.

Of the winners of the above named Group 1 races–Alpinista (GB), Nashwa (GB), Inspiral (GB) and Onesto (Ire)–all bar Alpinista remain in training in 2023 giving Frankel an impressive battalion of older horses, which should also include 2021 Derby hero Adayar (Ire) and Irish Derby winner Westover (GB). Then of course in the Classic division for next season there's Chaldean (GB), who is in the running to be named European champion 2-year-old when the 2022 international classifications are announced in January.

There are few certainties in life, let alone in horseracing, but what we can say with some certainty is that these titles so early in Frankel's stud career will only be multiplied as the years progress.

Leaving aside this interloper in French territory, the Aga Khan Studs resident Siyouni (Fr), who was champion in his home country in 2021, again finished best of his compatriots and second in the table overall. He is the great hope for now as France seeks up-and-coming stallions to show themselves worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as him, Le Havre (Ire), who died in March and was ninth overall this year, and Wootton Bassett (GB), who was bought by Coolmore in 2020 and relocated to Ireland.

Siyouni was more than €3 million behind Frankel in prize-money and he now owns a truly international reputation. For the past two years he has been available to cover mares to southern hemisphere time and he notched a new Group 1 winner in Australia, the extremely promising 3-year-old filly Amelia's Jewel (Aus), in November. In Europe his star of 2022 was Tahiyra (Ire), who earned her Group 1 laurels in Ireland on just her second start in the Moyglare Stud S. The Aga Khan-bred half-sister to Tarnawa (Ire) must be considered one of the leading female Classic contenders for next season.

It would be no surprise to see Siyouni start to make a proper mark as a broodmare sire, too. His leading light in this regard is Erevann (Fr), a son of Dubawi and Siyouni's first Classic winner Ervedya (Fr), who in 2022 won the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein and was third in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois. He looks a Group 1 winner in waiting.

Lope De Vega (Ire) of course plied his own trade in France during his racing days and was, like his sire Shamardal, a dual Classic winner there. In 2022, he sired his highest number of stakes winners (24), with three of his four Group 1 winners triumphing in France. They were led by Dreamloper (Ire), whose two top-level victories came at Longchamp, in the Prix d'Ispahan and the Prix du Moulin. Sweet Lady (Fr) landed the Prix Vermeille and Place Du Carrousel (Ire) broke the hearts of Nashwa fans in the Prix de l'Opera.

Churchill (Ire), whose first-crop runners were 3-year-olds in 2022, had only 26 representatives in France through the year. However, exactly 50% of them won, and they included both of the Coolmore sire's Group 1 winners to date. Of those, Vadeni (Fr) backed up his victory in the 'stallion-making' Prix du Jockey Club by taking on his elders when travelling to England to win the Eclipse. He is a highly exciting individual to follow next year when considering he wasn't beaten far when third to Luxembourg (Ire) in the Irish Champion S. and was subsequently only half a length behind Alpinista when trying 12 furlongs for the first time in the Arc.

Then from Churchill's second crop came Blue Rose Cen (Ire), who was asked lots of questions during her debut season by her young trainer Christopher Head, and generally answered them with ease, winning four of her six starts, including the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G3 Prix d'Aumale.

Churchill was the fourth-leading sire in France in 2022 and managed a top-10 finish overall in Europe when leading his intake in ninth place overall, splitting Kingman (GB) and Siyouni, which is no mean feat for a second-season sire. His haul of seven stakes winners included the Group 2 scorers The Foxes (Ire) and Ladies Church (GB).

Of Churchill's contemporaries, Zarak (Fr) continued his ascent and was 11th overall in the French sire rankings. Most impressive was his tally of seven stakes winner (8.5%), which included the G2 Prix de Sandringham winner Purplepay (Fr), while La Parisienne (Fr) was placed in both the G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Prix Vermeille. That elusive Group 1 winner will surely not be far away.

We heard plenty about Dubawi in Thursday's appraisal of the leading sires in Britain and Ireland, where he was crowned champion for the first time. The Darley sire was fifth in the French table, having sired the Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Modern Games (Ire), who went on to glory at the Breeders' Cup for the second time, and Dubawi finished just ahead of the second of the French domestic sires, Dabirsim (Fr).

It is hard to consider Dabirsim as much more than a useful sire. From six crops of runners he has sired two Group 3 winners and another five stakes winners, but he does get plenty of winners and was second only to Siyouni in this regard. There was a flurry of excitement when he was represented by the G3 Albany S. winner Different League (Fr) in his first crop, and the offspring of the large book of mares that he covered the following year (2018) were 3-year-olds in 2022. Having stood his first two seasons in Germany at Gestut Karlshof, he moved to France's Haras de Grandcamp and from 2023 will be in his new home of Haras de Montaigu.

One can only admire Kendargent (Fr), the blue-collar lad of the French stallion ranks, who, as a non-stakes winner still has his name printed in upper and lower case in the France Galop table, which in itself, ironically, makes him stand out. And stand out he should because by now it has been well documented that from pretty humble beginnings, he has put his owner Guy Pariente's Haras de Colleville firmly on the map. He finished seventh in the table this year, his lowest ranking since 2017, having been third and fourth in the last three years. Furthermore, he is not only a successful sire but appears to be an up-and-coming broodmare sire.

Goldikova's brother Anodin (Ire), who is now at Haras de la Haie Neuve after starting his career at Haras du Quesnay, was represented by two stakes winners in 2022 and was eighth in the table ahead of the late Le Havre.

Saxon Warrior (Jpn) made a pleasing start to his stud career and ended the year as the leading first-crop sire in France. That was thanks in no small part to his GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Victoria Road (Ire), who, prior to jetting to America, won both the G3 Prix de Conde and Listed Criterium du FEE. But he wasn't his sire's sole group winner in France, as Moon Ray (Fr) won the G3 Prix Miesque, while Gan Teorainn (Ire) was runner-up in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac.

Adlerflug's Reputation Continues to Fly High

For the third year in a row Adlerflug (Ger) was the champion sire in Germany, though regrettably his premature demise in April 2021 means that the last two of those championships have been awarded posthumously. Only Dubawi could better Adlerflug's percentage of 11% stakes winners to runners in Europe in 2022, his top-flight representatives being headed by G1 Grosser Preis von Baden winner Mendocino (Ger) and G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Alenquer (Fr).

Adlerflug's Arc-winning son of 2021, Torquator Tasso (Ger), added the G2 Grosser Hansa-Preis to his record and was third in this year's Arc after runner-up finishes in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. and the Grosser Preis von Baden. He has now joined the stallion barn at Gestut Auenquelle, while Adlerflug's other representatives at stud in Europe include In Swoop (Ire) and his full-brother Ito (Ger), as well as Iquitos (Ger).

Camelot (GB) was represented by the Deutsches Derby and Grosser Dallmayr-Preis winner Sammarco (Ger) and was runner-up in the table ahead of former multiple champion Soldier Hollow (GB), who also features as the broodmare sire of Sammarco.

Sea The Moon (Ger), who, like Adlerflug, was a Deutsches Derby winner during his racing days, has the favourite for that race next year in the form of the G3 Preis der Winterfavoriten winner Fantastic Moon (Ger). The Lanwades resident was fourth in the German rankings, with Areion (Ger), who died earlier this year, in fifth. The latter has been succeeded at stud in Germany by his son Alson (Ger), who stood his first season at Gestut Fahrhof in 2022.

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From Havana Grey To Rajasinghe – Which Freshmen Are Here To Stay?

Not only did Havana Grey (GB) record more individual winners and total wins than any of his first-season sire rivals in Great Britain and Ireland, but he also broke the £1-million marker for total earnings, which is why he deservedly wears the champion freshman stallion crown.

Those earnings were propped up by big sales race winners Shouldvebeenaring (GB) and Eddie's Boy (GB), with the latter going on to bag a Group 3 before selling for 320,000gns at the Tattersalls horses-in-training sale in October.

Havana Grey had 36 winners for 76 runners this year and his progeny recorded total earnings of £1,074,697, which was almost £420,000 more than his nearest rival Sioux Nation could manage in what was a pulsating race for first-season sire bragging rights.

But with four stakes winners and 57 total wins achieved in 2022, Whitsbury Manor Stud's emerging force confirmed himself the undisputed top dog of the young sire brigade, and earned himself a fee rise from £6,000 to £18,500 in the process.

Joe Callan, head of Whitsbury's bloodstock and sales, said, “We knew Havana Grey was going to be popular after what his first runners achieved this season but the demand for him has been unprecedented. It's been crazy and it's got to a stage where we've stopped counting [the number of mares who have been put forward to visit the stallion next year]. You can see why people are so keen to use him. He's had a fantastic season with 13 stakes horses and is operating at 16% stakes horses to runners and almost 50% winners to runners in Britain and Ireland. He has big crops coming through over the next couple of years so he deserves the accolades that he is getting.”

Havana Grey was kept honest all year by Coolmore's Sioux Nation, who had an excellent campaign in his own right and earned a fee rise to €17,500 for 2023. By Scat Daddy, Sioux Nation ended the year with 29 individual winners from 65 runners and his progeny amassed £657,000 worth of total earnings in Britain and Ireland.

Matilda Picotte (Ire) was Sioux Nation's biggest earner having accounted for £124,667, highlighted by victory in the Listed “Bosra Sham” Fillies' S. at Newmarket in October.

That effort came off the back of a busy campaign with Kieran Cotter's star juvenile winning her maiden at the Curragh on debut in May, placing in two Group 2s and finishing runner-up in the valuable Ballyhane S. at Naas. Sydneyarms Chelsea (Ire) also secured Group 3 glory for Sioux Nation at Deauville in August for Charlie Hills.

Little separated Harry Angel (Ire) and Kessaar (Ire) in third and fourth, respectively. The Dalham Hall Stud-based Harry Angel had 21 individual winners from 45 runners and recorded £433,814 in earnings while Tally-Ho Stud's Kessaar made a similarly respectable start with 20 individual winners from three fewer runners and amassed £351,906 in prize-money.

Tally-Ho Stud has enjoyed top honours with Mehmas (Ire) and Cotai Glory (GB) in recent seasons and, while the early signs are that Kessaar is not on that trajectory, he has proven a solid addition to the ranks. A classy sprinter, Kessaar's progeny appear to stay further than he did, which is somewhat surprising, and it will be interesting to track their progression in 2023.

Cracksman (GB) came up trumps with Listed winner Dance In The Grass (GB) along with a host of promising youngsters with a view towards next season. He sired nine winners from 39 runners and one would expect his offspring to build on that next year.

The GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf success of Victoria Road (Ire) obviously doesn't contribute towards the leading freshman sire championship in Britain and Ireland, but it's worth bearing in mind with a view to the results of Saxon Warrior (Jpn).

Coolmore's G1 2000 Guineas-winning son of Deep Impact (Jpn) went from strength to strength this year, building to that almighty crescendo in Keeneland with Victoria Road, but he also enjoyed some major triumphs domestically to finish fifth in the British and Irish first-season sire standings.

Saxon Warrior was responsible for 13 individual winners from 41 runners and £351,906 in prize-money. Joseph O'Brien's Lumiere Rock (Ire), winner of the G3 Staffordstown Stud S., and G2 Debutante S. third Thornbrook (Ire) flew the flag for the stallion in Ireland, while Jim Bolger's Gan Teorainn (Ire) enjoyed notable success on and off the track.

After winning her maiden impressively at Naas in August, Gan Teorainn carried the familiar Ennistown Stud silks to finish second in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at ParisLongchamp.

That form ensured that one of Saxon Warrior's highest-rated daughters would be in high demand when selling at the December Mares Sale at Tattersalls and so it proved with BBA Ireland paying 1 million gns to secure the filly who is understood to have been bought to continue her career in Australia.

Despite being based in Ashford Stud in Kentucky, Coolmore's Justify enjoyed a notably good first season with runners in Britain and Ireland.

The unbeaten Statuette, successful in the G2 Airlie Stud S., and Group 3 scorer Aspen Grove put the US Triple Crown winner in lights in Ireland this year.

Meanwhile, it was just last week when the Willie Browne-trained Diamondsareforever (Ire) posted a taking debut victory at Dundalk, further solidifying the notion that Justify is a coming force on the international stage. Five winners from just 11 individual runners in Britain and Ireland including £146,963 in prize-money represented a strong start for Justify.

Fellow Coolmore-based US Navy Flag had eight individual winners from 35 runners. It should be noted that two of his best horses enjoyed listed success abroad; Ocean Vision (Ire) in France and Love Reigns (Ire) in America.

Tasleet (GB) is another freshman sire worthy of mention, not least because he sired the brilliant G2 Coventry S. winner Bradsell (GB). Set to stand for just £6,000 at Nunnery Stud next year, Tasleet had a solid 34% winners to runners, which was more than Saxon Warrior, Expert Eye (GB), US Navy Flag, Cracksman (GB) and more.

But the biggest surprise in the first-season stallion ranks came from the figures posted by the largely unheralded Rajasinghe (Ire), who is set to stand for just £3,000 at the National Stud next year.

Winner of the G2 Coventry S. in 2017 for Phil Cunningham, who has been a big supporter of the horse since he went to stud, Rajasinghe had eight individual winners from 10 runners which equates to a whopping 80% strike-rate.

All of this has been achieved with average mares which suggests Rajasinghe could have the makings of becoming a pretty decent sire if provided with the right ammunition.

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Deep Impact Line on European Road to Success

Two of the most exciting colts to look forward to as three-year-olds in 2023 are in the same stable, hail from the same family and the same sire-line.

The Ballydoyle duo of Auguste Rodin (Ire) and Victoria Road (Ire) concluded their juvenile seasons with victories, respectively, in the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, and they are a son and grandson of Deep Impact (Jpn), the latter being by the late Shadai resident's Classic-winning son Saxon Warrior (Jpn).

Auguste Rodin is in fact bred on the same Deep Impact-Galileo (Ire) cross as Saxon Warrior, which has also been seen to good effect in Oaks winner Snowfall (Jpn), while Deep Impact's Prix de Diane-winning daughter Fancy Blue (Ire) is out of a mare by Galileo's sire Sadler's Wells.

We shouldn't get too hung up on the nicks, however. These top-class racehorses are all out of good mares and by elite stallions. Yes, that's a recipe that doesn't always work, but if performance and pedigree count for anything then the decks are loaded more and more in the favour of the top-tier stallions as their reputations soar.

In Saxon Warrior and Auguste Rodin, however, it is hard to overlook that enticing blend of two of the great stallions of the modern era in the east and west. Though standing their whole stud careers in Ireland and Japan, you don't have to trace the male lines of Galileo and Deep Impact back too far to find yourself in North America. And as my colleague Chris McGrath likes to remind us, the line between the dirt and the turf is a fine one which should really be crossed more often.

But let's claim Galileo and Deep Impact as proper turf influences first and foremost. Inevitably, geography meant that we didn't see too many of Deep Impact's offspring here in Europe prior to his untimely death in 2019 at the age of just 17.

Both of those stallions have had very positive influences on the family of the top-class sprinting filly Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}). The mare, who died last year at the age of 25, was bought as a yearling by Trevor Stewart who quite rightly says, “I keep calling it my family.” He adds with a laugh, “You see, I'm very possessive now.”

Stewart has some justification in taking great pride in the family which is responsible for both Victoria Road, who is a grandson of Cassandra Go, and Auguste Rodin, a great grandson. He bred Victoria Road from Cassandra Go's daughter Tickled Pink (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who won two Group 3 races in Stewart's colours when trained by Sir Henry Cecil then Lady Cecil. Auguste Rodin hails from a daughter who 'got away'. His grand-dam Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who was sold to Demi O'Byrne at the Goffs Million Sale of 2006 for €450,000 and is in the process of forming a formidable dynasty for Coolmore. Her repeated matings with Galileo produced not only the outstanding Magical (Ire) but also Auguste Rodin's dam Rhododendron (Ire), winner of the G1 Prix de l'Opera, G1 Fillies' Mile and G1 Lockinge S. as well as finishing runner-up to Winter (Ire) in the 1,000 Guineas and also to Enable (GB) in the Oaks. Auguste Rodin is Rhododendron's first foal, which bodes well for the eight-year-old's future broodmare career, though sadly her 2021 colt by Dubawi (Ire) is listed as having died since birth.

Deep Impact is of course now unavailable but Stewart says that he is going “all in” on Saxon Warrior next season with his members of the family. That runs to three broodmare daughters of Cassandra Go, including Halfway To Heaven's full-sister Allez Alaia (Ire). The breeder has also retained the mare's final foal, a yearling filly by Night Of Thunder (Ire) named Chaumet More (Ire).

He says, “Tickled Pink, Holly Golightly and Allez Alaia are all going to Saxon Warrior. And Tickled Pink is in foal to him again too, so she will be going for the third time.

“I did consider using [Deep Impact's son] Study Of Man for one of them and I thought, well, he's totally unproven while Saxon Warrior is semi-proven, so I thought I better just play it safe at the moment.”

Stewart also has a two-year-old colt by Saxon Warrior out of Cassandra Go in training with Paddy Twomey named Change Sings (Ire).

“We think he is well above average and definitely a group horse,” says the breeder. “What level, we don't know. He nearly ran in October and we just decided, no, we needed a little bit more time. He's a lovely big strapping horse, and very straightforward so far. Hopefully we'll have him out in April, and see where we go from there.”

Of that colt's year-younger half-sister Chaumet More, he adds, “She's in pre-training. The trainer has not been selected yet. She is a little on the small side which is probably no surprise as she is out of a 25-year-old mare. She may go to England, I'd say.”

With four daughters of Cassandra Go, three of which are at James Hanly's Ballyhimikin Stud, as well as two granddaughters, Stewart is playing his part in fully developing the family, and of course he has had some key back-up from Coolmore.

“First of all, obviously, it's a great family,” he says. “But two, it's the cheapest way to get into a good family, if you keep the daughters. My plan is to keep every daughter that comes along now. I've sold a few, and obviously [Halfway To Heaven] has worked well. Another one of the daughters that Coolmore had was [Tickled Pink's full-sister] Fantasy, and she was sold to Australia, so that's exciting. But now I'm just going to just keep most of the daughters coming along. Why not?”

Why not indeed? Saxon Warrior is of course backed up in the British and Irish stallion ranks by the aforementioned Niarchos-bred Lanwades Stud resident Study Of Man (Ire), who presents an interesting option for breeders looking to send Galileo mares to a son of Deep Impact. These two are about to be joined by the reverse shuttler Tosen Stardom (Jpn), another son of Deep Impact bred by Northern Farm and the winner of Flemington's G1 Toorak H. and G1 Emirates S. He will stand at Lemongrove Stud in Ireland in 2023.

The of course there are Auguste Rodin and Victoria Road. The Classic season may seem a long way off in this bleak midwinter, but the Aidan O'Brien-trained duo has already staked strong claims to be given a chance to extend this line at stud in Europe in the years to come.

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Clare Manning: ‘Gan Teorainn The Most Exciting Horse I’ve Had To Sell’

NEWMARKET, UK-Classic contender Gan Teorainn (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) has been described by Clare Manning of Boherguy Stud as the most exciting horse the 29-year-old has ever had the chance to consign ahead of the eagerly-anticipated Sceptre Session at Tattersalls on Tuesday.

Trained by her grandad Jim Bolger, Gan Teorainn advertised her Classic credentials when second in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at ParisLongchamp in October and can be backed at odds of 25-1 for next year's Oaks.

The Ennistown Stud-owned filly also boasts a rock-solid pedigree to match her ability given she is a half-sister to eight winners, three of which are black-type performers, including Puncher Clynch (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), who Bolger trained to win the G3 Ballysax S. at Leopardstown in 2010.

Manning said, “She is the highest profile horse I have ever had to sell. I've sold plenty of relations to good horses but this is a two-year-old who is already Group 1-placed and has a Classic campaign ahead of her so she's certainly the most exciting horse I've ever had the chance to sell. It's very exciting.

“Gan Teorainn is by a young and exciting sire who is going places. She has won over a mile and is out of a Rainbow Quest mare [Dance Troupe (GB)] who's had 11 foals, 10 runners and eight winners. There are plenty of black-type horses under the first dam and, as a breeding prospect on a catalogue page, it's all there.”

Gan Teorainn translates from Irish to unlimited or infinite, and Manning says that the filly her father Kevin partnered to all bar one of her seven starts in the final season of a spellbinding career that lasted over 40 years will appeal to just about everyone at Tattersalls.

Manning explained, “She has shown it on the track and, given she has a 1000 Guineas and Oaks entry for next year, I think that she will be pretty popular. There is real international appeal to Gan Teorainn and she really could go anywhere.

“There are lots of high-class mares in the sale and you can't pick out one filly or mare and say, 'this is the best in the session,' as there are several there. Gan Teorainn is the highest-rated two-year-old in the sale. Some of them will be sold as broodmare prospects while others will have racing careers ahead of them so I suppose our filly is a little unique in the sense that she is sold with a Classic campaign ahead of her as well as having that broodmare career to look forward to further down the line.”

Should Gan Teorainn play a prominent role in the Sceptre Sessions at Tattersalls, it would crown another excellent year for the burgeoning Boherguy Stud after a sales-topping Autumn Yearling Sale at Goffs with a colt by Dawn Approach (Ire) and a number of other productive sales either side of the Irish Sea.

Manning said, “It's been another good year. It would be absolutely amazing if we could end it on a positive note. I think she will be well-received so I can't see why we wouldn't.

“It's very hard to top the Orby or even a Book 2 here at Tattersalls. Those sales are just so strong. To top any sale is great and we got a lot of pleasure out of the Autumn Yearling Sale. To do it with a Dawn Approach, who isn't the most commercial sire but gets Group 1 winners, was sweeter because he's down at Granddad's place in Redmondstown.

“We'd a good mares' sale, a great February Sale, a good Fairyhouse–we didn't go in there and make headlines but horses sold above their asking price and a lot of our clients were very happy. Placing horses in the right sale is one of the most important things in this game. You can have a lovely horse but, if it's in the wrong sale, you can get overlooked.”

She added, “Granddad and Dad have been very supportive of me. Neither of them pushed me to work with horses or to go into this industry. If anything, they probably tried to steer me in a different direction. But they have been great. The first year, I wanted to get horses and showcase how I could prep them for a sale and Granddad let me do that with some of his better horses. It has helped me get clients in the door and to advertise how we do things at Boherguy. Without that, I wouldn't be where I am now; I'd still be trying to make a name for myself whereas now, Boherguy is beginning to get recognised at the sales in Britain and Ireland.”

It was just last month when Kevin Manning announced his retirement at the age of 55. He rode his first winner back in 1983 and had been stable jockey for Bolger since 1993. Together, Manning and Bolger won eight Classics in Britain and Ireland, with Clare pointing to the particular significance surrounding the first with Margarula (Ire) (Doyoun {GB}) in the Irish Oaks back in 2002.

She said, “A lot of people ask me about how hard Dad worked down through the years and how he looked after his weight. It's a hard question for me to answer because Dad was a jockey before I was even born so I have never known it to be any different. For me, the way he eats, sweats and the work he does, it's just normal to me. He never stops. He's mad into his shooting and has his gun dogs. He's two young pups he's bringing on and he also gives me a hand in the yard. Shooting season goes on for another three months and he's happy to tip away at that for now.”

Manning added, “But the one day that really sticks out for me was Margarula winning the Irish Oaks in 2002. She was 33-1 on the day and, just as we were about to sit down and watch the race, I said to Granddad that I was going to run down to put a bet on her. He told me not to do it so, when she crossed the line in front, I turned around and looked at him without saying anything. To be fair to him, he handed me 50 quid to make up for it!

“It was great because Granny owned the mare and she was Dad's first Classic winner. No sooner had the presentation finished, Grandad and I hopped into the car and headed off down to Portlaoise to see Wexford lose to Clare in the quarter final of the All-Ireland hurling championship. I think I was eight at the time so it's a great memory to have.

“Trading Leather (Ire) was another great day. Grandad promised Granny that he'd train a Derby winner for her one day so for Trading Leather to carry her colours in the Irish Derby meant a lot. Grandad bred, trained and owned him and Dad rode it. Not only that, but we had a lot of family there on the day and for it to be at the Curragh, it was absolutely brilliant. Poetic Flare (Ire) winning the St James's Palace S. was the one that I probably enjoyed the most, though. He had won the 2000 Guineas and confirmed himself a top-class colt at Ascot that day.”

The spotlight turns to Clare at the Sceptre Sessions at Tattersalls this week. Should Gan Teorainn capture the imagination of buyers, it would represent another day to remember for the family.

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