Goffs National Hunt 2019

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GOFFS NATIONAL HUNT MAGAZINE

Section Head

2019

NH Magazine THE MULLINS BOYS

HOW COUSINS PATRICK, EMMET, DANNY AND DAVID WORK THE SALES

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MORE CHELTENHAM WINNERS

FROM THE ND ROVER SALE

PAISLEY PEOPLE

THYESTES DAY

AT HOME WITH EMMA LAVELLE AND BARRY FENTON

WHAT JUMP RACING IS ALL ABOUT

PAUL NICHOLLS MASTER TRAINER CHASING ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP WIN

2019

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FEED YOUR DESIRE TO WIN

Joseph O’Brien “I have been feeding RED MILLS since the start of my training career. They have a great range of products that we use and I couldn’t be happier with them.”

By kind permission of trainer

Connolly’s Red Mills Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland, R95 EKH4.

Tel: +353 599 775 800 Email: info@redmills.com

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Woodland Granaries, Narrow Lane, Wymeswold, Loughborough LE12 6SD Tel: +44 1386 552066 Email: info@redmills.co.uk

www.redmills.com

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Welcome

GOFFS MAGAZINE 2019

Welcome

“RACING DOESN’T HAVE THE CHARACTERS ANY MORE”…

How often have you heard that phrase in recent years? The trouble is that hindsight tends to view the past through a prism of nostalgia whilst subconsciously dismissing the less exciting aspects of life.

I would suggest that the racing and sales world is packed full of just as many “characters” as ever, and they are all ages and from all parts of the world. And none more so than in the wonderful world of National Hunt racing. I would further contend that this magazine will illustrate my point with articles about some of the great personalities who are at, or on their way to, the pinnacle of the winter game.

10 time British champion jumps trainer Paul Nicholls would certainly qualify as a big personality and he stamped his mark on the 2018 renewal of the Land Rover Sale when he took home the highest priced store in the sale’s history.

His superb season so far (at the time of writing he has just fired in eight winners on one Saturday!) illustrates his extraordinary ability and Emma Berry’s beautifully crafted piece recalls his long association with us, going back to the likes of his first big star, See More Business who was originally sold at the Doncaster Spring Sale.

Kim Bailey is another who enjoys near legendary status courtesy of the likes of another Spring Sale graduate, Master

Oates with his latest star, Charbel having been sourced at our Punchestown Sale. And no one has ever suggested that Kim is not a character in the best sense of the word.

These two giants of NH racing feature alongside so many others, all of whom have their quirks and individuality that set them apart. Father and son Aiden and Olly Murphy are superb company and masters of their profession whilst names like Doyle, Dwan, George, Harrington, Hickey, Hore, McCarthy, Mullins, Moore, and others will all feature when jump enthusiasts reflect on this era of racing and sales.

Goffs has enjoyed another superb year on both sides of the Irish Sea in National Hunt sales with the Land Rover being the leading store sale for Cheltenham winners for the sixth year in a row and the Aintree Sale enjoying Grade 1 success again at the Festival. We remain committed to this sector, and are supremely grateful for the wonderful support and encouragement we receive from so many great characters…

Henry Beeby Group Chief Executive

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CONTENTS

23 Contents

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BALLINCURRIG HOUSE STUD Industry insight with leading consignor Michael Moore GRASSROOTS RACING A great day out at Gowran Park for the Goffs Thyestes Chase

WINNERS’ CORNER It’s been a remarkable season on the track for graduates of Goffs and Goffs UK

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TOM GEORGE Trainer of God’s Own, Black Op & Summerville Boy has big plans

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KATE HARRINGTON Getting to know the assistant trainer and Racing TV presenter

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AIDEN & OLLY MURPHY Father and son explain how they work together

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EMMA LAVELLE & BARRY FENTON Husband and wife team enjoying success on the track

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PAUL NICHOLLS Emma Berry paid a visit to the top trainer’s yard

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THE MULLINS BOYS How do Patrick, Emmet, Danny and David work the sales?

KIM BAILEY Back at the top table after 40 years with a trainer’s licence

LIZ DOYLE The astute Wexford trainer answers our quickfire questions

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JOHN DWAN Ballyreddin Stud has a reputation for sourcing & producing quality NH stock

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SEAN DOYLE Five minutes with the Wexford point-to-point handler

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CONTENTS

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BACK IN THE SADDLE Saluting the achievement of Goffs UK Managing Director Tony Williams

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THE BEECHES STUD Robert McCarthy appreciates the bloodstock legacy he has inherited

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GOFFS PROPERTY Michael Dickinson’s world-famous Tapeta Farm is on the market

CREATING A STORM Cheltenham Festival winner Kilbricken Storm almost slipped through the net

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ROSS DOYLE The bloodstock agent buying under both codes

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MOUNT EATON STUD Commander Of Fleet is the latest Grade 1 winner produced by consignor Philip Hore

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JESSIE’S BACKROOM TEAM Richie and Emma Galway are two vital members of the Jessica Harrington Racing team AROUND THE SALES A look back of the major Goffs and Goffs UK National Hunt sales of 2018, as told by some of the leading players

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AIDAN FITZGERALD A quick catch-up with the well-respected point-to-point handler & consignor

ALWAYS IN VOGUE Racing style tips from Brown Thomas

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DIARMUID GAVIN Celebrity gardener gets serious behind the wheel

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EXPOSED Familiar faces from the sales circuit

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MICHAEL HICKEY Words of wisdom from the Sunnyhill Stud stallion master

78 GOFFS CO-ORDINATORS: Niamh O’Hehir, Caoimhe Haughey, Michael Orton.

EDITOR: Mark Costello.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Jane Matthews.

ART DIRECTOR: Aine Duffy.

CONTRIBUTORS: Emma Berry, Anne Marie Duff, Nicholas Godfrey, Katie Gorman, Ronan Groome, Olivia Hamilton, Daithi Harvey, Melissa Jones, Tyrone Molloy, Ryan McElligott, Lissa Oliver, Daragh Ó Conchúir, James Thomas, Eoghain Ward..

COVER IMAGE: Sarah Farnsworth.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Healy Racing, Caroline Norris, Sarah Farnsworth, Peter Mooney.

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER: Diarmaid Lennon GOFFS NATIONAL HUNT MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BY ASHVILLE MEDIA GROUP. Unit 55, Park West Road, Park West, D12.

Tel: (01) 432 2200; Fax (01) 672 7100 Email; info@ashville.com. Material printed in this journal is not necessarily endorsed by Ashville Media Group. All rights reserved.

Reproduction by any means in whole or in part without the permission of the publisher is prohibited © 2019.

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news

NEWS & WINNERS RSA CHASE WINNER TOPOFTHEGAME WAS SOLD AS A STORE AT THE GOFFS LAND ROVER SALE AND AS A WINNING POINT-TO-POINTER AT THE GOFFS UK AINTREE SALE

Gerry Hogan congratulates Paisley Park’s owner Andrew Gemmell at Cheltenham

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AINTREE SALE PRODUCES ANOTHER ‘TOP’ PROSPECT

The Goffs UK Aintree Sale has enjoyed another outstanding season on the track headed by Topofthegame, winner of the Grade 1 RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. He is the Aintree Sale’s second Grade 1 Cheltenham Festival winner following the mighty Samcro last year – a big achievement from a sale that has offered just three boutique catalogues.

Other headline graduates this season include Grade 2 winners Coolanly and Lisnagar Oscar, along with the unbeaten and untapped talents Malone Road and Champagne Platinum. In total, the sale has already produced over 40 winners and 14 blacktype horses to date.

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LAND ROVER SALE TOPS CHELTENHAM TABLE FOR SIXTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

The Goffs Land Rover Sale produced another five Cheltenham Festival winners in 2019. This is the sixth year in a row that the Land Rover Sale has had more Festival winners than any other store sale.

Three of the five 2019 winners were at Grade 1 level. RSA Chase winner Topofthegame was bought by Donnchadh Doyle’s Monbeg Stables for €26,000 at the Land Rover Sale. The mighty Altior, now a dual Champion Chase winner, was acquired by Highflyer for €60,000 at the June auction, and Stayers’ Hurdle scorer Paisley Park was sourced for the same price by Gerry Hogan at the Land Rover Sale. Completing the 2019 Cheltenham five-timer for the Land Rover were Croco Bay and Early Doors. Grand Annual Chase winner Croco Bay was bought for a mere €6,000 at the Land Rover by Peter Atkinson, and Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle victor Early Doors was purchased by Joseph O’Brien for €34,000 at the Land Rover Sale. The 2019 Goffs Land Rover Sale takes place on June 11th and 12th.

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GET IN! HARRY FRY COMPLETES NEWBURY GOFFS UK BUMPER HAT-TRICK

It was an occasion to celebrate for trainer Harry Fry and the now retired jockey Noel Fehily at Newbury on March 24th as the pair combined with the unbeaten Get In The Queue to record a special victory in the £50,000 Goffs UK Spring Sale Bumper. The race carried special significance for both, with Fry hunting for a hat-trick in the race following wins in 2017 and 2018, and Fehily hoping to finish off a stellar career in the saddle with a victory in his final race. The stage was set for a big 2019 renewal of the Spring Bumper and Get In The Queue proved up to the task with a smart victory – taking his unbeaten record to three. Get In The Queue was purchased by Kevin

Get In The Queue provided Noel Fehily with a winner on his final racecourse ride

Ross Bloodstock for owners Paul and Clare Rooney from Ballincurrig House Stud at the 2017 Goffs UK Spring Store Sale at Doncaster for £40,000.

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GOFFS COMMITTED TO NATIONAL HUNT

OUR RACE SPONSORSHIP PORTFOLIO INCLUDES: GOFFS THYESTES CHASE AT GOWRAN PARK

Jack Kennedy with Grade 1 winner Commander Of Fleet

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COMMANDER TAKES CHARGE

What a star Commander Of Fleet has been for his connections and for Goffs.

The €47,000 Land Rover Sale purchase burst on to the scene with a wide-margin victory in the 2018 Land Rover Bumper at Punchestown. Trained by Gordon Elliott for Gigginstown House Stud, Commander Of Fleet has developed into a topclass novice hurdler this season.

He won the Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival in February and was a strong-finishing second in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. Following the horse’s

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success in the €100,000 Land Rover Bumper, vendor Philip Hore won a Land Rover. This year’s winning vendor will receive the keys to a new Land Rover Discovery Commercial, which was recently launched.

That prize will be upgraded this year with the 2019 winning vendor receiving the keys of a Land Rover Discovery Commercial. The 2018 Land Rover Sale saw 14 horses make six figures while 73 made €50,000 or more. The 2018 sale topper was bought for a record €325,000. The 2019 sale takes place on June 11th and 12th and all horses catalogued are eligible for the €100,000 Goffs Land Rover Bumper at the 2020 Punchestown Festival.

GRADE 2 GOFFS FUTURE STARS BUMPER AT LEOPARDSTOWN €100,000 GOFFS LAND ROVER BUMPER £50,000 GOFFS UK SPRING SALE BUMPER AT NEWBURY GOFFS UK PTP BUMPERS AT AINTREE 30 POINT-TO-POINTS ACROSS IRELAND AND BRITAIN

CONNOLLY'S RED MILLS SERIES SET TO BOOST MIDDLE MARKET TRADE

Demand for the middle market stores at the 2019 Goffs Land Rover Sale looks sure to increase following the success of the new series of auction hurdle races, sponsored by the Irish European Breeders’ Fund and Connolly’s Red Mills. There are 14 qualifiers in the series and they are restricted to horses which cost no more than €45,000 at the store sales, with half the races having a lower price limit of €30,000.

The series culminates in a €75,000 Auction Hurdle Series Final on Gold Cup Day at the Punchestown festival on Wednesday, May 1st. To enter the final, horses must have run in one of the qualifiers and not have won a Listed race or a Grade 1, 2 or 3 race. To enter a qualifying race, all horses must be by an EBF registered stallion and bought as an unraced three or fouryear-old at a recognised National Hunt store sale for €45,000/€30,000 or less. Weight allowances are allocated depending on purchase price. The €5,000 Weatherbys/ITBA NH Fillies Bonus Scheme is also in The exciting Zero Ten was place for all races in the bought at the Land Rover Sale for just €34,000 series.

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GOFFS Graduates

WE’RE

WINNING ANNE MARIE DUFF PICKS OUT SOME OF THE GOFFS GRADUATES WHO HAVE DOMINATED THE HEADLINES IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS

ALTIOR

SALE: Goffs Land Rover Sale 2015 CONSIGNED: Kilmoney Cottage Stud PURCHASED: Highflyer Bloodstock OWNER: Patricia Pugh TRAINER: Nicky Henderson In the alphabet of National Hunt racing, A is for Altior – at the moment he is the number one, the Alpha male.

Following his repeat success in the 2019 Champion Chase his unbeaten run is now at 18 races.

He also won his second Tingle Creek Chase this season, in one of the best renewals of that race in recent years. Altior pounced on Un De Sceaux coming to the second last fence and went away up the hill to leave no doubt as to who was the best chaser in these islands.

David Minton, who gave €60,000 for the son of High Chaparral at the Goffs Land Rover Sale in 2013, recalled: “My wife had seen him before the sale and I knew the pedigree well. Being by High Chaparral, he was likely to be a good jumping prospect.

“He was the first horse we looked at and I knew Nicky would love him. He was always a gorgeous looking horse. Once he went over hurdles he began to improve and improve.”

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GOFFS Graduates

TIGER ROLL

SALE: Doncaster August Sale 2014 CONSIGNOR Darley PURCHASER: N.J. Hawke OWNER: Gigginstown House Stud TRAINER: Gordon Elliott IT is doubtful if any jumps horse will match the varied achievements and boast such an accomplished CV as the Gordon Elliott-trained, Gigginstown House Stud-owned Tiger Roll.

The nine-year-old reached the pinnacle of his career last April when he carried Davy Russell to a hugely popular first success in the Grand National at Aintree, bringing his earnings to almost €900,000.

His career has followed an unconventional path since Nigel Hawke paid £10,000 for him at the Goffs UK August Sale as an unraced threeyear-old from the Darley draft in 2014.

He has since won the Triumph Hurdle, the four-mile National Hunt Chase, and the CrossCountry Chase twice - all at Cheltenham - plus a Midlands National and a Munster National at home.

In February he won the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle with astonishing ease.

Nigel Hawke said: “I remember when we sold him I told Gigginstown I felt he could be a Cheltenham horse. I won’t pretend I thought he might win a cross country but this horse always had a jump in him. At least I can say I found a Grand National winner.”

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PAISLEY PARK

SALE: Goffs Land Rover Sale 2015 CONSIGNOR: Ballincurrig House Stud PURCHASER: Gerry Hogan Bloodstock OWNER: Andrew Gemmell TRAINER: Emma Lavelle Multiple Grade 1 winner and Cheltenham hero Paisley Park is arguably the most improved horse in training this season.

His win in the Grade 3 Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle in November at Haydock demonstrated his staying prowess and he followed up when giving Emma Lavelle a first Grade 1 win in the JLT Hurdle (formerly Long Walk) at Ascot. In January he won the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham and, at the Festival, he put in his trademark powerful finish to win the Grade 1 Stayers’ Hurdle in what was one of the most popular results of the meeting.

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TOPOFTHEGAME

SALE: Goffs Land Rover Sale 2015 CONSIGNOR: Con Hickey/Parkdota Stud PURCHASER: Monbeg Stables OWNER: Chris Giles & Mr & Mrs P.K. Barber TRAINER: Paul Nicholls SALE: Goffs UK Aintree Sale 2016 CONSIGNOR: Monbeg Stables PURCHASER: Highflyer Bloodstock “Shades of Denman” the headlines blazed after Topofthegame won a vintage Grade 1 RSA Chase at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival. The Flemensfirth gelding came out on top in a titanic tussle with Delta Work and Santini, establishing himself as a leading contender for the 2020 Gold Cup. Paul Nicholls’ charge was sold both at the Land Rover Sale as a store and at the Aintree Sale after he won his point-to-point, the same Belclare maiden won

by Best Mate.

He was sharp enough to win on his hurdles debut at Ascot but connections wisely did not pitch him into Grade 1 company on his first season. He remained over hurdles for another term and came within a neck of winning the Coral Cup at Cheltenham.

Plenty of good judges marked him down as an exciting potential staying chaser after that performance and how right they were. Topofthegame only had two starts over fences prior to the RSA Chase and he finished second in both of them – beaten only by Defi Du Seuil and La Bague Au Roi, both of them now multiple Grade 1 winners themselves. His form is simply rock-solid.

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GOFFS Graduates ANGELS BREATH

SALE: Goffs Land Rover Sale 2017 CONSIGNED: Sluggara Farm PURCHASED: Walters Plant Hire OWNER: Walters Plant Hire & Ronnie Bartlett TRAINER: Nicky Henderson “I’ve got to say, even I thought he was impressive.” That was Nicky Henderson’s comment after Angels Breath had made a scintillating winning racecourse debut in a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Ascot in December. Unsuitable ground interrupted his novice season though he won more fans with his fast-finishing second place in another Grade 2 novice hurdle at Kempton in February, and that was under a penalty.

A winning pointer, Angels Breath is confidently expected to take high rank as a novice chaser next season.

SUMMERVILLE BOY

SALE: Doncaster August Sale 2017 CONSIGNED: Skehanagh Stables PURCHASED: Roger Brookhouse OWNER: Roger Brookhouse TRAINER: Tom George Summerville Boy was one of the surprise Grade 1 winners last season in that he was beaten in a Stratford maiden hurdle but he ended the year with dual Grade 1 honours. He defeated Kalashnikov in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown and accounted for the same rival in the Supreme Novices’ at Cheltenham.

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ELEGANT ESCAPE

SALE: Goffs Punchestown Sale 2016 CONSIGNED: Christopher Donnelly PURCHASED: John Romans/Colin Tizzard OWNER: J.P. Romans TRAINER: Colin Tizzard SALE: Goffs Land Rover Sale 2015 CONSIGNOR: Moyneard Stables PURCHASER: Aidan O’Ryan/ Eoin Donnelly SALE: Goffs December NH Sale 2012 CONSIGNOR: Rathbarry Stud PURCHASER: John Quinlan Elegant Escape was one of the most improved chasers in training and has become a legitimate Gold Cup outsider. Still only seven, he has improved each season racing.

A Grade 2 winning novice chaser last season, he stepped up to finish second in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury before finding the demands of the Grade 3 Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase at Chepstow right up his street carrying 11st 8lb to a comprehensive victory, in the manner of his Gold Cup winning stablemate Native River. He is likely to be aimed at the 2020 Aintree Grand National.

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2 NEW STARS FOR 2019 ORDER OF ST GEORGE

Triple Gr.1 winner

by Galileo

WINGS OF EAGLES

Epsom Derby winner from the Montjeu sireline

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COMMANDER OF FLEET

SALE: Goffs Land Rover Sale 2017 CONSIGNED: Mount Eaton Stud PURCHASER: Margaret O’Toole OWNER: Gigginstown House Stud TRAINER: Gordon Elliott EVER since he made a winning point-to-point debut, Commander Of Fleet has enjoyed a big reputation. The Fame And Glory gelding made his racecourse debut in the €100,000 Goffs Land Rover Bumper and he put up a devastating performance to win the 16-runner race by almost 10 lengths.

As a novice hurdler this season, Commander Of Fleet exceeded expectations when landing the Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival in February.

He confirmed his credentials at Cheltenham where he came from off the pace to finish second in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, seven lengths clear of the third-placed finisher. He promises to be an even better chaser.

RELEGATE

SALE: Goffs December NH Sale 2013 CONSIGNOR: The Beeches Stud PURCHASER: R Cotter OWNER: Paul McKeon TRAINER: Willie Mullins Relegate was one of the seven Willie Mullins-trained winners at the 2018 Dublin Racing Festival when she won the Grade 2 Coolmore NH Sires EBF Mares INH Flat Race. She then made it three wins from three starts when she came with a late rattle to win the Grade 1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.

Already off the mark over hurdles, she looks set for plenty more success.

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Carton House

A haven of historic luxury set in the heart of the thoroughbred county just over 30 minutes from Goffs and close to all major Kildare racecourses.

Stay at Carton House and experience all the resort has to offer, from championship golf to Carton House Spa, exquisite dining and much more.

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GOFFS Graduates

EARLY DOORS

SALE: Goffs Land Rover Sale 2016 CONSIGNOR: Shanaville Stables (Agent) PURCHASER: Joseph O’Brien OWNER: J.P. McManus TRAINER: Joseph O’Brien Joseph O’Brien signed the docket himself for this Land Rover Sale graduate and within eight months the gelding, named Early Doors, made a winning racecourse debut in a Punchestown bumper. He returned to Punchestown to finish third in the Goffs Land Rover Bumper.

As a novice hurdler Early Doors was placed in Grade 1 company and he finished third in the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at the 2018 Cheltenham Festival. He returned for the same race this season and carried top weight to victory to become the fifth Land Rover graduate to score at the 2019 Festival.

QUICK GRABIM

SALE: Goffs Land Rover Sale 2015 CONSIGNOR: Ballincurrig House Stud PURCHASER: Denis Leahy OWNER: Geraldine Worcester TRAINER: Willie Mullins Quick Grabim is one of Willie Mullins’ leading novice hurdlers with three wins from four runs this season at time of writing. He displayed an impressive turn of foot to win the Grade 3 Joe Mac Novice Hurdle at Tipperary and followed up when landing the Grade 1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse in impressive style.

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FAUGHEEN

SALE: Land Rover Sale 2011 CONSIGNED: Castletown House PURCHASED: Meadowview Stables OWNER: Mrs Susannah Ricci TRAINER: Willie Mullins Faugheen got one of the best receptions of the season when he galloped back to form at the Punchestown Festival in winning the Grade 1 Champion Stayers Hurdle.

Still in contention when falling at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting, this nine-time Grade 1 winner was a gallant third to Paisley Park in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

DEFINITLY RED

SALE: Goffs Land Rover Sale 2012 CONSIGNOR: Rathvin Stud PURCHASER: Brian Hamilton SALE: December NH Sale 2009 CONSIGNED: James Keegan PURCHASED: GH Bloodstock OWNER: Phil & Julie Martin TRAINER: Brian Ellison Definitly Red is one of the most consistent staying chasers in Britain and added two more Grade 2 wins to his tally this season. His 14 wins to-date include the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham and the Grade 2 Many Clouds Chase at Aintree last season. He resumed last autumn with more graded success in the Many Clouds Chase and the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

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TORNADO FLYER SALE: Goffs Land Rover Sale 2016 CONSIGNOR: Pine Tree Stud PURCHASER: Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock

SALE: Goffs December NH 2013 CONSIGNOR: Grange Stud PURCHASER: Gerry Hogan Bloodstock OWNER: TFP Partnership TRAINER: Willie Mullins Having finished a close third in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, the Willie Mullinstrained Tornado Flyer deservedly captured the equivalent Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival. The €30,000 purchase looks looks a horse to follow for many seasons to come.

SUPASUNDAE

SALE: Doncaster Autumn Sale 2013 CONSIGNOR: Lodge Farm Stud PURCHASER: Ivy Lea Farm OWNER: Ann & Alan Potts TRAINER: Jessica Harrington There are few more consistent horses at top level than the Jessica Harrington-trained Supasundae. He has never finished out of the first four in the past two years and added two more Grade 1s to his name in 2018, winning the Champion Hurdles at Leopardstown and Punchestown.

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SAMCRO

SALE: Goffs Land Rover Sale 2015 CONSIGNOR: Ridgewood House Stud PURCHASER: Bobby O’Ryan SALE: Goffs Aintree Sale 2016 CONSIGNOR: Milestone Stables PURCHASER: Gordon Elliott OWNER: Gigginstown House Stud TRAINER: Gordon Elliott Samcro was one of the most highprofile horses of last season and an Irish banker at Cheltenham where he duly landed the odds in the Grade 1 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle. He also won the Grade 1 Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown and will surely fulfil his potential over fences next season.

My Tent Or Yours Happy retirement to the hurdling legend My Tent Or Yours, who was bought for just €2,000 as a foal at Goffs

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From mid March 4 times per week from Dublin to Cherbourg. The dawning of a new era of market opportunities.

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INSIGHT

OFF THE RECORD WITH …

KATE HARRINGTON ASSISTANT TRAINER TO JESSICA HARRINGTON

How and when did you first get involved in bloodstock?

I first went to the sales with my Dad, Johnny. I went every year since I was very young and learned plenty along the way.

Tell us about one of your best Goffs/Goffs UK purchases or sales.

Magic Of Light has been the best I’ve been involved with. I liked her when I saw her at the 2015 Land Rover. After Stephen Kemble bought her, he came around and asked me if I was interested in getting involved and so we went into a partnership. She’s developed into a real classy mare and she could be set for a big spring.

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“I’m all things racing, really. I’ll throw my hand at anything in the industry.”

What young National Hunt stallions are you keen on and why?

I like the Getaways and I’m a big fan of Dream Well.

I bought one by him at the Land Rover Sale last year and I’m hoping he’ll run in the Land Rover Bumper at Punchestown.

Describe some of the physical characteristics you like and dislike when buying a horse.

I like them to be correct, have a good walk and a good attitude.

What advice would you give to anyone wishing to work in the bloodstock business?

Never buy anything you can’t afford - that’s very important and I

suppose it is applicable to anything in life! Also, make sure you have the facilities at home to cope with whatever you are buying.

Outside of racing and sales, what are your interests?

I’m really enjoying doing a bit for Racing TV. I’m all things racing really. I’ll throw my hand at anything in the industry.

What is your biggest ambition in racing or breeding?

Like anyone, I just want to find the next champion. The next Sizing John, Samcro or Apple’s Jade. And I’ve always been told that you don’t need to overspend. Moscow Flyer cost €15,000.

GOFFS NATIONAL HUNT 2019

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01/04/2019 14/12/2018 13:55 14:01

PAUL nicholls

“I ACTUALLY PROBABLY ENJOY IT MORE NOW THAN I EVER HAVE DONE BECAUSE WE’VE GOT A GREAT SETUP AND A GREAT TEAM OF STAFF.”

OLD FASHION HIGH EMMA BERRY PAID A VISIT TO THE SOMERSET YARD OF PAUL NICHOLLS AND FOUND THE TRAINER’S ENTHUSIASM FOR TRAINING AND WINNING BIG RACES HIGHER THAN EVER

PASSION GOFFS NATIONAL HUNT 2019 23

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01/04/2019 10:23

PAUL nicholls

T

he numbers are there for all to read.

Ten trainers’ championships. Ten King George VI Chase victories.

Four Cheltenham Gold Cups. Over 3,000 National Hunt winners, 122 at Grade 1 level including Frodon and Topofthegame, his latest two Cheltenham Festival winners bringing his tally at the Mecca of jump racing to 45.

But numbers are merely one measure, and while those statistics will be gratifying to the man who has ticked them off, one by one, Paul Nicholls does not appear to be willing to sit back and wallow in the contentment of professional achievements already way beyond the reach of most of his peers.

His is a restless urge to move ever forward, and one which is fuelled by an apparent undimming of passion for the sport which has made him famous, even as he closes in on his third decade with a training licence and is once again atop the trainers’ table.

It’s not hard to understand how he has retained such a level of enthusiasm for rising early each morning to oversee around 150 horses through their daily exercise.

The tiny Somerset village of Ditcheat is a rolling rural idyll from which Nicholls and his team prepare their foot soldiers for battle on the racecourse.

If this is the counterbalance to a life in which the mobile phone never stops ringing and owners, agents and journalists vie for attention, then he surely believes that the scales are tipped in his favour.

Our visit takes place just after the snow of early February has been cleared from the roads – an activity undertaken by the Nicholls team to ensure that the horses can make the short journey along the lanes between farms and gallops in safety. Even on a dreich winter’s morning, the gloomiest of hearts and minds should brighten at the sight of 40-odd strapping thoroughbreds per lot, heads bobbing along the quiet roads en route to faster work on land once famed more for its dairy produce. And if that mere vision alone is not enough, several hours in the company of their trainer will do the trick.

“This is still all farmed by the Barber family and they produce 75 tonnes of Cheddar cheese a day here,” says Nicholls as his truck sweeps past cows on the way out to the gallops. His West Country burr could fool the

“ I THINK IT’S GOOD TO KEEP PEOPLE INFORMED. I LOVE TALKING ABOUT THE HORSES AND I’VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT’S THE WAY TO BE.”

24

Flemenstide, the 2018 Land Rover Sale topper, looks at home in Ditcheat.

uninitiated into believing that dairy farming is his daily pursuit but it’s four-legged creatures of an altogether faster nature which have occupied Nicholls’s mind for his entire working life.

Even when the champions come and eventually go, in a stable this size there’s always the hope that the next big horse could be right there in front of you, a raw frame swinging along in an easy canter which drops the odd hint of the potential star performer contained within.

“It keeps you enthusiastic. We have a lot of young horses coming through so it keeps evolving, keeps us all going. You never get a chance to think about doing anything else. I actually probably enjoy it more now than I ever have done because we’ve got a great set-up and a great team of staff,” says Nicholls, who has been training in Ditcheat since 1991.

Back then, he arrived with eight horses having passed an interview with his now-longstanding landlord Paul Barber to rent the stableyard on his farm. Things are a little different these days but the two yards currently housing the Nicholls horses retain a pleasingly rustic, unceremonious feel. Yes, it’s now a major operation, but the basic rules of good horsemanship still come first.

Nicholls grabs a handful of haylage as we walk past one of the stables. “Smell this, we make it all ourselves,”

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PAUL nicholls CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT: RSA Chase winner Topofthegame. Kauto Star and Denman were two of the all-time greats trained at Ditcheat. Paul accompanies Frodon and Bryony Frost to the winner’s enclosure following the Ryanair Chase

he says proudly. “Clifford and I go round last thing every night and decide which horses might need a bit more. They need to be treated as individuals.”

Clifford is of course Clifford Baker, former daily rider of Kauto Star and the sort of trusted lieutenant which every major yard needs. Baker is on foot these days, a vital second pair of eyes and ears to the trainer, who can also call on the skills of his nephew, the former jockey-turned-assistant Harry Derham. A more affable representative for the stable would be hard to find, and it’s plain, as work riders and yard staff wander by, each one bidding the visitor good morning, that when Nicholls refers to ‘Team Ditcheat’ this is team work in the proper sense of the expression.

“We still try and run it in a bit of an old-fashioned way,” he explains. “They all have four or five to look after, they ride out three lots, a few spares, and we give them every Thursday afternoon and every other weekend off. Every day we finish at 12.30 and come back at 3pm. It’s easy compared to what it used to be, and they all get good wages and good bonuses. My guys are all as happy as anything, it’s just getting enough people throughout the industry who want to do it.”

Nicholls may be ‘old school’ to a degree, certainly in his background of having worked his way up through the ranks of a point-to-point yard upon leaving school at 16, through graduating to working for Josh Gifford and becoming stable jockey then assistant trainer to

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PAUL nicholls

LEFT: Paul with Emma Berry at Ditcheat

“A LOT OF HORSES NEED MORE TIME THAN YOU THINK, AND THEN THEY IMPROVE AND IMPROVE. YOU NEVER STOP LEARNING IN THIS GAME, AND I’VE LEARNT THAT YOU HAVE TO GIVE HORSES TIME, ESPECIALLY THE FRENCH HORSES.”

David Barons. But in one crucial way he has always been thoroughly modern in his willingness to communicate. Long before such openness became almost obligatory through the rise of social media, this was part of the job which came naturally to the voluble Nicholls.

He says: “There’s always this mystical thing about racing being secretive, but I’ve never seen it like that. I think it’s good to keep people informed, and hopefully it’s helped change things for the better, especially with the jumping guys. I love talking about the horses, and knowing what’s going on, and I’ve always thought that’s the way to be.

“Dad always said to me it’s when they’re not talking to you that you want to worry, so make the most of it and try to be open. I’ve always tried to be up front and say it how I see it.”

The first time this correspondent was despatched to question Nicholls was while on duty at the Cheltenham Festival of 2010. Kauto Star had just fallen in the Gold Cup and my hospital pass of an assignment was to find the trainer and ask how the horse was. Shuffling up to Nicholls apologetically and fully expecting to be ignored or worse, I was instead met with that openness as he relayed that the horse appeared to be fine, while quite obviously choking back tears of relief.

On a much less stressful morning, his bonhomie is infectious. Nicholls talks horses with unbridled relish: from current stars, such as Clan Des Obeaux, Frodon and Politologue, to reams of youngsters whose names may well soon become more familiar: Danny Kirwan, Quel Destin, Pic D’Orhy, and so on. He also admits that the glory days of Kauto Star and Denman brought with them their own problems.

26

“When we had those big horses before – and it’s great having them, amazing – but the pressure, I actually found it hard to deal with. I never showed it but it was quite tough. Now we’re in a really good place, and I love it as much as ever. I think it’s showed this year. We’ve had an amazing season again, everyone’s pulled together, we’ve got some really nice young horses and rebuilt. We’ve learnt to be patient with them now.”

This point is elaborated as a number of the youngsters pass by on the canter. “He’ll just have a bumper run and then we’ll put him away until next year,” is a refrain repeated more than once.

Nicholls explains: “You’ve got to try and do the right thing for them. A lot of horses need more time than you think, and then they improve and improve. You can win sometimes with a horse that’s four, but then the second season when he’s five perhaps they’re not quite ready for it, and then you’re in no man’s land a bit. You never stop learning in this game, and I’ve learnt that you have to give horses time, especially the French horses. Everyone thinks, ‘I’ll get them over, win a load at three.’ But actually those horses probably need more time than anything. So patience is a big thing. When horses are ready, get stuck in and run them, you get on with it then, but you’ve got to get them to that point.”

This learning curve has brought with it if not a new buying strategy then perhaps more of a return to the old days. Last June, Nicholls was responsible for a new Goffs Land Rover Sale record when purchasing a Flemensfirth gelding out of a half-sister to his old friend Master Minded for ₣325,000. Now four, he has been named Flemenstide.

“It used to be a lot easier to buy the French horses,” says the trainer. “I was probably one of the first ones to buy there, but now everybody wants them, so you have to try and get value for money. It’s hard buying the flat horses and the Irish point-to-point market is also strong – it’s amazing what they make. If you’re going to compete you have to do it, but the other route we’ve taken a lot more over the last year or two, is buying stores. I’d probably buy 15 a year, a lot of them in the £80,000 to £100,000 range, and then bring them along quietly. That’s paying dividends but you’ve got to give plenty for a nice horse. Actually we had some really nice bumper horses this year, and next year when they go hurdling it’ll be awesome.”

Price, of course, is not necessarily an indication of lasting talent, as Nicholls is well aware. “Once they’re through that gate I always think they’re all worth the same and treat them all the same. If Flemenstide turns out to be a star, great, but it’s just as likely one of the

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PAUL nicholls

ABOVE: Harry Cobden and Paul with Cyrname, Clan Des Obeaux and Politologue

others will be a star as well. Those types of horses are what you like to have – I mean he’s a gorgeous horse in every way, just my type of horse, but who knows whether he’s got an engine. We haven’t found that out yet, but it’s nice bringing those horses along.”

As this season’s King George winner Clan Des Obeaux has boots fitted in the yard ahead of a schooling session with Harry Cobden, Flemenstide watches on over his stable door. Above his large, old-fashioned head hangs a nameplate portentously printed with the green-and-white colours of Paul Barber, who will race the horse in partnership with Paul Vogt. Those famous silks have already been carried twice to Gold Cup glory by former inhabitants of the stable, See More Business and Denman. Plenty has been written about the latter, but See More Business, from relatively humble origins, has understandably retained a special place in his trainer’s heart.

He reflects, “We had a horse called See More Indians, who was by Seymour Hicks, and he was my first Grade 1 winner. Sadly he got kicked one morning and broke his shoulder in the field, and he never got to realise his full potential.

“Paul [Barber] and I went to Doncaster for the May Sale and there was this Seymour Hicks horse there from a good old-fashioned family. Paul had a look at him first and said, ‘Too small, not good enough, and he’s lame’, so we didn’t buy him.”

While the four-year-old gelding didn’t meet the requirements of one Barber, he ended up being bought for 5,600gns by Richard Barber, who gave his brother first refusal once the youngster, by then named See More Business, had won his first two point-to-points less than a year later.

“Paul then bought him for 40 grand, and the rest is history,” says Nicholls. “He was just a superstar – tough,

“ I’D PROBABLY BUY 15 STORES A YEAR, A LOT OF THEM IN THE £80,000 TO £100,000 RANGE, AND THEN BRING THEM ALONG QUIETLY. THAT’S PAYING DIVIDENDS BUT YOU’VE GOT TO GIVE PLENTY FOR A NICE HORSE.”

not very big, and workmanlike rather than flashy. But he won two King Georges, a Gold Cup, two Charlie Halls, and lots of other races. I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for him really.”

With 18 wins from 36 starts over eight seasons, See More Business came to typify a Nicholls runner: talented, durable, with a flair for the big occasion. A bit like the trainer himself really.

Tom Malone and Paul at the Goffs Land Rover Sale 2018

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01/04/2019 10:24

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01/04/2019 10/09/2018 13:57 09:07

MULLINS BOYS

Xxxxxxxxxxx

IN THEIR

THE YOUNGER MEMBERS OF THE MULLINS FAMILY - PATRICK, EMMET, DAVID AND DANNY – SPOKE TO RONAN GROOME ABOUT THEIR SALES EXPERIENCES

GOFFS NATIONAL HUNT 2019 29

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MULLINS BOYS Grade 1 Cheltenham Festival winner Black Hercules was a Land Rover Sale purchase for Patrick and Emmet

In racing there aren’t many stronger bloodlines than the Mullins line, a family which has proven to be top class through the generations.

First sightings of Patrick, Emmet, Danny and David Mullins in the racing world came courtesy of each of their parents’ success on the racecourse; the typical winner’s enclosure scene. The cousins have gone on to prosper as jockeys, with 28 Grade 1 winners and five Cheltenham Festival winners ridden between them.

However, success has also come at the sales ring, as for everything the lads have learned from their parents about riding and training horses for racing, they’ve also learned about buying and selling young stock.

The Land Rover Sale in particular has been a regular haunt for the quartet, so though they are still not long in this industry, they have plenty of experience and stories from an ever-changing and developing sale.

PATRICK MULLINS Patrick usually attends the Land Rover Sale with cousin Emmet and their strategy has become locked in.

“We like to look at the horse first, pedigree later,” the champion amateur jockey explains. “If we were looking at pedigrees, we’d only be picking out the ones we can’t afford.

“When we were young we’d go around with our fathers and obviously learned a lot from that. Now we go by ourselves and you’d meet people there that you could just go around with for half an hour.

“We would usually stand around the back ring. I’d just be looking for a horse that walks well, has a bit of size, just something that catches the eye. We’d probably end up seeing 30 or 40 horses in a day. Emmet is like a kid in a toy shop, he wants to buy everything. Half the time I’d be there having to rein him back!”

The pair most notably combined to purchase Black Hercules at the 2012 sale for the subsequent miniscule price of €16,000. Sold on to Andrea and Graham Wylie, the son of Heron Island won a Grade 3 as a novice hurdler before going on to take the 2016 JLT Novices’ Chase, proving too good on the day for Bristol De Mai. Although still young, Patrick has easily been around long enough to have seen the recent rapid wave of change and influence coming from the point-to-point scene.

“Four-year-old point-to-pointing has become a whole new sport,” he says. “The large scale point-to-point guys are buying the majority of stock that the young and up-and-coming trainers would have bought 10 years ago.

“You have to hand it to these guys, they are very brave. I suppose it’s the evolution of the game. It’s fine for the likes of Gordon and Willie, as a lot of these horses will end up with them, but for the smaller yards, it can be tough.”

The Land Rover Sale is a place of serious business but for many it’s also a great place to meet and talk to people from other sides of the industry.

“It can be a long day - you’d need good footwear, but there is a great atmosphere around the place, you’d meet people from anywhere and everywhere. And the free ice cream is always a highlight. You can’t really go wrong with free ice cream.”

EMMET MULLINS With regard to where the four young men are at now, perhaps Goffs is probably of most importance to Emmet, a Cheltenham Festivalwinning rider, but now trying to make it as a trainer.

“Black Hercules was obviously a great horse to get for myself and Patrick but, speaking personally, St Stephen’s Green was a huge horse

30

“WE LIKE TO LOOK AT HORSE FIRST, PEDIGREE LATER. IF WE WERE LOOKING AT PEDIGREES, WE’D ONLY BE PICKING OUT THE ONES WE CAN’T AFFORD.” – PATRICK

for me to buy at the 2014 Land Rover. He cost €18,000 and stayed in training with me for owner Annette Mee. He was my first winner as a trainer - Patrick rode him to win a bumper in Kilbeggan.

“He has now won his bumper, won over hurdles, won on the flat and won over fences. He beat Winter Escape in a beginners’ chase at Galway and before that won at the Curragh on Guineas weekend. He is just a great horse to have running for you.”

Emmet’s strategy, as mentioned, syncs with Patrick. Very little catalogue work, more viewing up front. The days can be long but, the atmosphere is good and, if lucky, the rewards are there.

“We’d probably arrive around lunchtime, after the morning work is done, and we’d be there until the death. Patrick has a good way of looking at it - he

“I’D BE STRAIGHT BACK OUT LOOKING FOR THE NEXT HORSE BUT PATRICK TENDS TO GET A BIT DISHEARTENED SOMETIMES AND GOES LOOKING FOR TEA AND CHOCOLATE!” – EMMET

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MULLINS BOYS Patrick, Emmet and David at Goffs

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01/04/2019 10:27

MULLINS BOYS

“THERE IS A GREAT ATMOSPHERE AROUND THE PLACE. YOU’D MEET EVERYONE THERE. I’VE OFTEN PICKED UP A FEW RIDES FROM TALKING TO PEOPLE THERE – A FEW WINNERS AS WELL!” – DAVID says ‘you have to be lucky enough to see the horse for them to be lucky for you.’

“We’d hang around the back ring outside quite a bit. I’d be concentrating on the walk, and then looking at correctness after that.

Then you have to be strict with your valuation going into the ring. If it goes over, that’s it, you park it and go again. I’d be straight back out looking for the next horse but Patrick tends to get a bit disheartened sometimes and goes looking for tea and chocolate!

“Of course it’s harder these days with the point-to-point influence.

We got Black Hercules for €16,000 but we’d probably have had to go to at least €30,000 if we were buying him now, we probably would have been priced out.”

Goffs provides a unique networking opportunity, particularly at the Land Rover Sale, where owners buying stock can often be on the lookout for a trainer as well. For a young trainer, this could easily be the place where you get a bit of luck, where a chance meeting could result in the use of your services.

“It’s a huge networking day, without a doubt,” Emmet says. “I have already got horses from meeting various people at the sales but even after that, you’d meet a lot of pre-trainers as well. It’s a great place to meet anyone from any side of the industry.”

DAVID MULLINS The Land Rover Sale is a huge industry event and attracts people from all sides of the industry. David has been attending as far back as he can remember, alongside dad Tom, and he can now see the benefit of the networking opportunity that the sale presents.

“There is a great atmosphere at Goffs,” David says. “I’ve often got a few rides from just talking to different people there, and a few winners as well!”

In contrast to Patrick and Emmet’s approach, David and his father are always keen to flick through the catalogue as soon as it arrives in the post.

“Dad likes going back to the same family, one that he might have had a bit of luck with,” the jockey explains. “I’d be looking at horses from the same family which I’ve ridden in the past. You’d be weighing up whether they were quick when they were young or whether they took a bit of time to develop.

“It has gone very competitive. The horse you could have bought for 20 or 30,000 a few years ago is now costing 40 or 50,000. We’d be hoping to view 10 or 12 horses each day.”

David is quick off the mark when asked to name the best horse he has been involved with buying at Goffs.

“Without a doubt, Some Article. He was bought for €11,500 at the 2011 Land Rover. He eventually ran for J.P. McManus and he was a hugely promising horse that unfortunately never fulfilled his potential.

But he still won two big handicap hurdles and was a fair bargain for what he cost.”

32

Emmet and Patrick with Black Hercules after his point-to-point win under Mikey Fogarty

DANNY MULLINS

Danny usually accompanies his mother Mags to the sales and he has been involved in some big success stories, most notably Martello Tower. The son of Milan cost just €11,000 at the 2011 Land Rover Sale and went on to develop into a top class staying novice hurdler, winning the 2015 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle for Mags, in the colours of Barry Connell. The runner-up in that race, Milsean, was ridden by Danny for uncle Willie. It’s a small and funny old world, this racing game.

“He was undoubtedly our best purchase and, sure, I was delighted for my mother,” Danny reflects.

“At Goffs, we generally go and look at horses on the day. I suppose you’re looking for something under the radar, which is no easy task. Mam likes to find relations to horses she has trained before, or find a family that she is familiar with.

“We like a horse that shows himself well and walks well.

We’re basically looking to prepare horses to be sold on, so the aim is to find one that will be easy to show off at a horses-in-training sale.”

Like his cousins, Danny believes that buying horses has become more difficult in recent seasons, with big owners, at home and from abroad, keen to take their slice of the pie.

The home-bred Downtown Getaway was one of the big sales success stories from last season, winning his Fairyhouse bumper for Mags before selling on for £350,000.

“As an example, I’d say we’d have struggled to buy Downtown Getaway as a three-year-old. We wouldn’t have been able to afford him. Obviously, it worked out very well with him.

“In the overall scheme, the competitiveness for buying is no bad thing, as it keeps the quality of racing in Ireland high. But the bigger the game gets, the harder it gets for us buying horses, and it just means you have to be that bit more creative when you’re going up against the likes of Gigginstown, who obviously have a lot of money to spend on horses.”

While it might be a tougher task at the Land Rover Sale, the good atmosphere has always remained at a constant.

Danny adds: “Over the last few years I’m starting to see a lot more people from my generation being active at the sale, the likes of other trainers’ sons and daughters, which is good.”

GOFFS NATIONAL HUNT 2019

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01/04/2019 10:27

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01/04/2019 07/01/2019 13:58 16:10

JOHN DWAN

BANKING BALLYREDDIN ON

OLIVIA HAMILTON CALLED INTO SEE JOHN DWAN, WHOSE BALLYREDDIN STUD IN CO KILKENNY IS A LEADING CONSIGNOR AT NATIONAL HUNT SALES

BALLYREDDIN Stud straddles both sides of the road through the

village of Bennettsbridge, five miles from Kilkenny, and is home to John Dwan, his wife Patricia and their children, Aisling and Ronan.

John was “born and reared with horses’’, his father Jack was heavily involved in hunting with the Kilkenny Foxhounds and breeding National Hunt horses, and some of his bloodstock trading is run in conjunction with his brothers Bill - of The Castlebridge Consignment renown - and Dermot at Kellsgrange Stud in Callan.

“We are lucky in Bennettsbridge to be able to have a business like this, in the middle of the village; the place hasn’t been overdeveloped, like so many other towns and villages across the country.’’

Despite being always involved with horses, John started out in banking with ACC Bank, which became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rabobank. “I was with ACC for 20 years, during the whole of the boom time until 2010, and then joined AIB, initially for a year to help with restructuring after the collapse, and finally left in 2013.’’

It was either brave or mad to leave a salaried career but John had decided to make a complete break, backed up by his knowledge of horses since childhood and having been in the business of buying, selling and breeding since a teenager.

“What made my decision easier was, number one, a passion for horses, and secondly I couldn’t combine the two. The hours were very, very difficult and the days weren’t long enough, plus I had a young family.

“The set-up here is a mix of flat and National Hunt stock consisting of young stock and broodmares. Altogether we have over 50 horses. A significant portion of my business is buying National Hunt foals and yearlings for resale.’’

Asked to talk us through his typical yearly cycle, John says: “This time of year (mid-January) we are waiting on the first foals – the first mare due to foal is a maiden National Hunt mare named Westerner Lady, a Grade 2 winner of 10 races, in foal to Martaline.’’

34

RIGHT: A jubilant Clive Cox after Harry Angel’s 2017 Darley July Cup win

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01/04/2019 10:31

JOHN DWAN

“A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF MY BUSINESS IS BUYING NATIONAL HUNT FOALS AND YEARLINGS FOR RESALE.”

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034 Goffs NH_ 2019_John Dwan.indd 35

35

01/04/2019 10:32

JOHN DWAN

“IF YOU CONSISTENTLY PRODUCE NICE HORSES THE CLIENTS WILL COME BACK TO YOU.”

One For Arthur winning the Grand National 2017

JUDGEMENT VINN-DICATED! ONE of this season’s top staying novice chasers is a Ballyreddin Stud graduate, Vinndication. John delights in telling how he bought and sold the horse with Goffs.

“I had a three-year-old by Vinnie Roe. I bought him at Goffs as a foal because I liked him on looks, even though the stallion was not one of the fashionable names. I put him forward to the sales companies as a three-year-old.

“Jeremy Mactaggart and George Stanners of Goffs UK were the only ones who would even look at him. Once they saw him they had no problem taking him for Doncaster. He was a lovely-moving horse with size and scope but by a cold stallion. He went over to the Spring Sale in May 2016.

“I had my work cut out to even get people to the door to look at him over the two days, but Aiden Murphy gave £28,000 for him which at the time was a good price.

He was proven right.”

Now trained by Kim Bailey, Vinndication won his first six starts and only lost his unbeaten record when third, staying on well, in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novice Chase at Sandown in February.

“Aiden Murphy might buy a few more off me now!” joked John. “You could say it was vindication for all at Goffs. Jeremy took my word on it.

“Ronan Griffin and Gerry Hogan are the two guys who look at my Land Rover horses and normally we share the same opinions as to where they should be placed.

The majority of times it works out!

Hopefully I have some nice three-year-olds

by Martaline, Milan and Shantou for the Land Rover in 2019.”

The mares continue to foal up to May, some foaling at Dermot Dwan’s farm, and assisting John are two full-time staff, Belinda Furness and Kate O’Mara.

“This month, because it’s not overly busy and we’re waiting on the new foals to arrive, we bring in our three-year-old National Hunt store horses for four-five weeks, those that will be entered for store sales in May/June. That is probably our busiest time of the year when the working day can be more than 16 hours.

“We bring them into stabling for a month, to get them used to what’s ahead of them when they come in for their sale prep - walking, lunging, checking out all is okay. They will go out again in February.

“This year we have 15 three-year-olds for the National Hunt sales. When the first of them come

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JOHN DWAN back in for their full sales prep in mid-March, to be prepared for the Goffs UK Spring Sale at Doncaster in May, it makes the job somewhat easier when they have been in for that month in January. Mentally, they are stronger and you can kick on with them straight away.

“At this time of year you are considering what sale you nominate your National Hunt three-year-old for.’’

How does John decide where to go with his stock?

“It’s not too difficult - you nominate your horses, the sales companies’ representatives come down and they give you an opinion where they think the best sale opportunity for that particular animal will be.

“Through experience, and having been through the sales for many years, I have a personal view as to where I think a particular animal is best suited. That four-to-five weeks in January and February of handling gives me an idea of what type of horse I have and what sale it would best suited to.

“Of course there can be difference of opinion sometimes and you can get it wrong or right but you take that as it comes. For the better type of horse it’s easy to place them, it’s the other ones where you have to work harder to place them. A different type of horse may be more appropriate for one sale than another.

Goffs Land Rover is a hugely successful sale, now back to its traditional two days, with very positive results that successfully attracts buyers, both Irish and from abroad.”

Foaling continues during these months, taking care of the new foal and preparing the mare for her next covering.

The ability to easily move horses to and from the UK is vital to John’s business. He hopes that Brexit will not cause much disruption to the current system.

“If we were bringing horses to Doncaster for the Spring Sale the procedure is completely streamlined. We use Ballinroe International Horse Transport, or sometimes go ourselves, depending on numbers. They are picked up here at Ballyreddin and head to Dublin Port. The animals stay in the lorries, the boat sails around 9pm and the horses are in Doncaster before 6am the following morning. It works perfectly.

“In the same way, we sometimes bring mares over to England for walk-in covering, where the mare is not left at stud. We prep the mare at home, put her on the two-box van with her foal, drive over, get her covered and be back in the space of two days, or sometimes a day, catching a bit of sleep on board.

“Nonnetia (dam of Grand National winner One For Arthur) went on a 24-hour trip to visit Kayf Tara (standing at Overbury Stud near Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire), and she has a 2018 filly by Kayf Tara. We arrived at the stud at 4.30pm, having left Dublin Port at 8.30am that morning. She was covered and we were back home at Ballyreddin the next morning at 9.30am. Thank God she went in foal! It can be pricey if you have to go back and forward. She was barren at the time, so it was easier, but most mares and foals are well-able for the travel.’’

Back to Ballyreddin’s annual programme. During the vital period of prepping (eight to 10 weeks before the store sales) in theory anything can go wrong. Stock can go lame, pull a muscle, get cast in their box.

Then there are the pre-veterinary inspections. With a clean certificate in hand, off you go to the sale, normally arriving two to three days in advance, to allow the animals to settle in.

BIG COVERING BOOKS “Some stallions cover 200 or more mares in a season. It’s making the job more difficult for the breeder, having to compete with so many offspring. Not for a minute would I blame the stallion masters. It’s a free market and if a breeder wants to have one of 200 foals by a particular stallion, good on them.”

“I would like to make a point about the new boxes at Goffs in Kildare. The sales experience is very positive. Sometimes in the past it was difficult, with the double standing of animals. It’s a credit to Goffs the way they have invested to alleviate the problem.

“Ger Hennessy (Facilities Manager) is one of the most helpful men in any sales complex; he will try to manage any situation in a professional and courteous manner - no matter the problem he’ll find a solution.’’

Now comes the selling process which begins in the stabling complex.

“At the time of sales it’s full on; you’re there to sell your horse and you are trying to attract potential buyers and agents to inspect your horses. You circulate and the relationships you have built up with customers and agents is important, especially if you have sold successful racehorses to these people before.

“You have built up a presence in relation to the type of horse you normally sell. If you consistently produce nice horses the clients will come back to you.

“Of course you have to have the horse, you have to be honest; there’s no point in telling them something sensational about the horse if you don’t have it. You don’t even show them the horse if it’s not suitable for their level.’’

Is there someone for every horse?

“Not really, there is overproduction in both the National Hunt and flat sectors. The last three years has seen a noticeable drop in clearance rates at the lower end in both the flat and National Hunt sides of the business.

“In the flat game there is simply too much supply at the lower end as there are not enough buyers out there. Previously there was a good market for those animals at the lower end with syndicates, eastern Europeans and Italian buyers, but they’re not there in the same numbers now.

“The National Hunt side continues to be strong at the middle to top end, but it’s challenging again at the lower end. There’s no point in breeding poor horses or presenting poor horses. It costs you as much to feed bad as good horses so, in my view, it’s a total waste of time and money bringing poor horses to the marketplace.’’

It’s a long day at the sales with a 6am start, cleaning out, exercising and then being ready for the first showings at 8am.

“If you have a nice animal and it’s being well received you will be kept busy;

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JOHN DWAN

“I NORMALLY TRY TO SELL EVERYTHING IF I CAN, WHETHER I MAKE A PROFIT, LOSS OR BREAK-EVEN. I DON’T LIKE TO BRING ANYTHING HOME.”

FAMILY TIME “We got a bit of a wind-down after the June sales last year and the family went to France but it was a working holiday as we bought foals!

“Our daughter Aisling (13) rides, hunts with the Kilkenny Foxhounds, is a member of the Kilkenny Pony Club, and has competed in one day events, hunter trials and minimus competitions.

“Ronan, who’s 10, is into soccer and hurling. He was a nice rider at five years of age but once his pals were playing soccer or hurling … Maybe he sees the amount of work that’s involved with horses, but he does show an interest if an animal makes a few pounds!

You would like it to continue on with the family, of course.”

the horses are able for it, being well-fit after the eight-to-10 week prep, that’s not an issue.

“If you have an average horse, that’s when you really need to work hard to sell it. I normally try to sell everything if I can, whether I make a profit, loss or break-even. I don’t like to bring anything home.’’

Around Land Rover time some flat yearlings are beginning to come in for prep for the Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale, which comes around in August.

“The flat yearlings are full on after June sales, I’m swapping around with my brother Bill and Dermot but there would be approximately 10 or more flat yearlings to get ready; they don’t take the same amount of work as three-yearold store horses but they are more delicate. You may also be preparing for the

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Harry Angel was bought

by Clive for just £44,000 at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale

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JOHN DWAN BREXIT UNCERTAINTY “It’s a nightmare for the bloodstock and racing business, potentially affecting the transportation of animals, new veterinary documentation, borders and inspections.

“There is uncertainty at the moment with the March 29th deadline quickly approaching.

With a no-deal Brexit and a hard border there may need to be identification and veterinary checks at border posts. At the moment the only approved posts are at Dublin and Shannon Airports.

“I would be hopeful of a solution being found but I would imagine there is still going to be disruption and it would be a real backwards step for the industry.

“If we’re bringing horses to and from France, they rest in Newmarket and Lambourn. Trying to avoid the land bridge by travelling from Cherbourg to Rosslare is too long, from a welfare point of view, and flying is not feasible.

“Potentially it’s very serious. Anything that makes the flow and movement of horses to the UK and France more difficult is disappointing.

Currently we are well looked after by transport companies who provide a very professional service.

“The bloodstock industry is huge for this country and perhaps not appreciated by the general public and politicians. It provides significant rural employment. Our product is arguably the best in the world and provides trade for so many ancillary businesses - feed companies, transport companies, farriers, vets, tack providers, et cetera.’’

Orby Sale and the good commercial sale after it – the Sportsman’s.’’

John continues: “March to September, I travel over and back to France, looking at National Hunt foals, going to small breeders who maybe only have two or three mares. It takes a lot of time as it’s a vast country.

I have no French, none whatsoever, it’s probably a good thing sometimes!

“French horses are very successful over here, trainers like them. They come on early, are broken as yearlings and two-year-olds and they are running over fences at three in France.

“They stand good stallions. I’ve always been a fan of Martaline; he produces top-class horses and was the leading stallion in France last year. I brought three mares over to be covered by him last year.

“There are other successful stallions standing in France that are quite successful over here in Ireland and England. For example, Doctor Dino and Kapgarde, both now standing at ₣12,000 this year. No Risk At All, Vision D’Etat and Buck’s Boum are also stallions I like.

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Vinndication (centre) has been a star for Ballyreddin Stud

“IF WE WERE BRINGING HORSES TO DONCASTER FOR THE SPRING SALE THE PROCEDURE IS COMPLETELY STREAMLINED. IT WORKS PERFECTLY.”

“I work closely with Pascale Ménard, who I’ve known for over 20 years.

Initially I met her at the Keeneland November Sale. It tended to be that we were competing for the same type of mare. I approached Pascale and suggested that we should do some business together. We struck up a working relationship and we’ve worked together since.

“Pascale knows the landscape and the breeders in France and, of course, is herself a very successful breeder. She will have a lot of the homework done, where the potential animals are located. We’ve bought mares and yearlings together but it’s mostly foals we trade in. They come back to Ireland for resale, either as foals, yearlings or three-year-olds, including at the Goffs December National Hunt Sale.

“As well as selling at all these sales we purchase both National Hunt and flat animals during that period to restock and resell.

“Here, in Ireland, we have an excellent range of good National Hunt stallions to choose from. There are proven sires, like Flemensfirth, Milan and Shantou, and other exciting new stallions, just beginning to get going.

“France has been lucky for me. Not only are you trying to buy a nice horse, you’re also trying to buy one by a fashionable stallion, so that when you go to the sales there may not be that many by that particular sire, and that counts for something. If you’re competing against some of the larger operations there can be up to 40 National Hunt foals by a particular stallion.”

It goes without saying, of course, that the animal must be a nice physical.

“If it isn’t, it doesn’t matter what he’s by or what type of pedigree he has.”

The French trade is not all one-way. “Last year we sold some National Hunt two-year-olds and yearlings, which were prepped at Ballyreddin, at the Arqana July Sale.”

He concludes: “I’m going to keep at it, I enjoy every moment of it. We are continuously trying to improve the way we do things. We will continue to focus on breeding and purchasing nice horses for resale at the middle to upper-end of the market and improving the quality of mares we breed from, to hopefully produce successful racehorses.”

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INSIGHT

How did you first get involved in bloodstock?

In 2004, a gentleman named Joe Curran gave me a filly to break.

Her name was Clever Bird and that she was, she won at Camolin for me. Joe asked if I had an interest in training and it went from there.

Who has been your biggest influence and why?

I definitely look up to Willie Mullins. Obviously he’s a brilliant trainer. He must have an amazing mind to keep up to date with all his horses and all that goes on every day in the yard.

Tell us about one of your best Goffs or Goffs UK purchases or sales.

One of my best purchases was a Gold Well horse I bought from Peter Nolan for €7,500 at Goffs.

He turned out to be Holywell (pictured). It’s great to have had a multiple Cheltenham Festival winner pass through your yard.

What young stallions are you keen on?

Getaway. His stock are great individuals with a brilliant mind.

They might take a bit of time but it’ll be well worth it. I’m very interested to see what comes.

OFF THE RECORD WITH …

SEAN DOYLE TRAINER, POINT-TO-POINT HANDLER & SALES CONSIGNOR

“It’s key to have a real good interest in the welfare of the horse. It’s so important to know when the horse is a little off.”

Describe some of the physical characteristics you like and dislike when buying a horse.

I love to see a horse with an intelligent looking head and a lovely flowing walk. I don’t like seeing a horse getting upset at the sales, letting the occasion get the better of them. I like to see a big, settled horse.

the welfare of the horse. It’s so important to know when the horse is a little off and reporting it straight away.

What advice would you give anyone wishing to work in the bloodstock business?

Apart from working hard, it’s key you have a real good interest in

What is your biggest ambition in racing or breeding?

I want to produce a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner. Hopefully this year is the lucky year!

Outside of racing and sales, what are your interests?

I follow GAA. I like going to matches, especially club matches.

GOFFS MAGAZINE 2017 43

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01/04/2019 06/02/2019 14:04 10:44

TOM GEORGE

Tom George with God’s Own after winning the Grade 1 Boylesports Champion Chase at the 2016 Punchestown Festival

All a

MATTER

OF

TIME PRACTICALLY ALL OF TOM GEORGE’S BEST HORSES HAVE BEEN GOFFS GRADUATES. MELISSA JONES VISITED THE TRAINER’S YARD AND HEARD ABOUT SOME AMBITIOUS PLANS

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Tom George

I

T’S 1.45PM. The runners are circling at the start for the first of six races on a cold and crisp January afternoon at Ludlow.

It may only be a juvenile hurdle, but some of the most recognisable silks in the game are being worn by the jockeys here.

Roger Brookhouse, Malcolm Denmark and Andrew Brooks are represented, as is David Fox, twice the recipient of Saint Are’s fine placed efforts in the Grand National.

The sun may have set on his distinguished career, but today it rises in the direction of another resident of Tom George’s Gloucestershire yard.

There’s not a piece of spruce this time where owner and trainer are concerned, just a Champs Elysees four-year-old named Petis Palais, a half-brother to 2000 Guineas winner Galileo Gold, who is out to give connections a steer as to his Cheltenham Festival credentials.

Saint Are used to look the part and so does this fellow, his two white socks and face reminiscent of his illustrious relative, even a little more prominent.

He wore blinkers before being snapped up by his new connections, but no headgear was needed this time.

The four-and-a half length success made a mere ripple in the Triumph Hurdle market, yet the significance of this middle distance flat horse’s performance is far greater.

“He’s the first horse my son Noel bought to go juvenile hurdling,” said Tom. “He has been lovely and laid back since he arrived and was leading the string over hurdles on his third attempt. We’re hoping to set our sights a bit higher with him now.”

Straight-A student and amateur jockey Noel played his part in proceedings by riding the second leg of the yard’s treble on the day at Ludlow, while the third saw victory for ex-pointer Good Man Jim. The former Eton student, traversing the steep inclines in the village on horseback since the age of eight, relinquished a place at Exeter University to take a hand in the family business.

After seeing his first bargain buy flourish, he hopes to win his Dad over to embark on an ambitious plan. “He was keen on me going to university to do business but I knew what I wanted to do,” he said.

“I would like to train eventually. To expand a yard nowadays I believe you have to do flat and jumps. It’s longer

Black Op (left) defeated Lostintranslation to win a Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree last season

to get your money back if you buy a National Hunt horse and it can take a long time for them to get to the races.

“You are trying to invest in the future. On the flat if they are good enough they can be sold to Australia or Hong Kong too.”

If the council back the project, a new barn could be built near the six-and-a-half furlong woodchip gallop used for faster work. “We hope to diversify a little bit,” Tom confirmed. “We might buy a few yearlings and train some dual-purpose horses.”

In the meantime George junior is keen to get as much experience under his belt as possible, just like his father did when he worked for leading Irish trainer Arthur Moore followed by a spell at the privately owned Kingwood Stud.

With a wise head on his young shoulders, the 19-yearold has experienced yearling sales prep and has worked for Joseph O’Brien. Next summer will bring a stint with American trainer Graham Motion and the Keeneland sales.

Ahead of his departure he takes the reins on Grade 1 winner Black Op at home, bought by Roger Brookhouse at the Goffs UK Aintree Sale for £210,000 after winning his point-to-point.

Chasing was expected to be his game, but if every plan worked out to the letter life would be too easy.

“He made an encouraging debut,” said George senior.

“Then time was marching on. At Cheltenham I thought he put up a pretty unbelievable run, where he was beaten just over seven lengths after making a catalogue of errors.

“He was getting in close to fences and because he’s so big and rangy, he doesn’t make up his mind until it’s too late. We decided to switch him back to hurdles and in the Stayers’ Hurdle we thought there was an opening for someone else.”

Land Rover Sale graduate and multiple Grade 1 winner God’s Own began the current season with a Grade 2 win at Exeter

“IF THINGS AREN’T GOING RIGHT I GO BACK TO BASICS. I KNOW THE HORSES WILL COME GOOD AGAIN. IT’S THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING IN THE SAME PLACE FOR A LONG TIME.” 46

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Tom George

Tom with jockey Adrian Heskin after a big win at Aintree

“IF YOU TREAT EVERY HORSE LIKE A GRADE 1 HORSE THEN THEY WILL APPEAR.” George will be hoping the eight-year-old, one of 82 horses that loosen up on the Wexford sand circle he installed around 12 years ago ahead of his time, can improve.

He has plenty of ground to make up on Paisley Park, based on their Trials Day encounter. But Black Op has previously flourished in the spring, as did Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Summerville Boy who made relentless progress from a low-key start at Stratford in autumn 2017. Summerville Boy was a Doncaster Spring Sale purchase by Brookhouse in 2017.

“We like to take our time with them, that’s the way we train,” said George, whose first Festival winner Galileo is now 23 and enjoying retirement at the yard.

“I always work on the same principals. If things aren’t going right I go back to basics, change things here and there- A, B and C. I know the horses will come good again. It’s the advantage of being in the same place for a long time.”

Tom and his wife Sophie have built up the business since 1993 and they couldn’t believe their luck when Black Op and Summerville Boy, coincidentally both offspring of then unheralded sire Sandmason,

arrived from the sales.

“Roger (Brookhouse) goes to a lot of them and he likes choosing his own horses,” George continued. “We go back a long way and have enjoyed some great days together.

“Last season we all know what they did, this one hasn’t gone quite so smoothly. No-one knows how Summerville Boy’s stress fracture in his hind femur happened. He has always been sound and it has half-healed while he has been racing. He has probably felt it under pressure. He’s in light training at the moment and building his muscles up. We might see him towards the end of the season.”

The star novices were the yard’s top earners of the 2017/’18 campaign, but a glance at the records show a significant proportion of horses earning five-figure sums.

The previous year George surpassed £1 million in prize money for the first time.

Grade 1 winners God’s Own, a Land Rover Sale store, and Nacarat are others on the roll of honour here. “Success hasn’t happened overnight,” George added. “My good chasers have been with me from the start. I let them develop and they have turned into champions. If you treat every horse like a Grade 1 horse then they will appear.”

The tried and tested formula has produced the goodsand it’s odds on it will continue to do so as the yard prepares for an exciting new challenge.

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DOUBLE ACT

HOMEGROWN SUCCESS BLOODSTOCK AGENT AIDEN MURPHY HAS PLAYED A HUGE PART IN HELPING HIS SON OLLY ESTABLISH HIMSELF AS A NATIONAL HUNT TRAINER.

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AIDEN ON OLLY: HE MAKES DECISIONS AND STICKS BY THEM Since Oliver returned home to Warren Chase Stables in the summer of 2017 he has changed the whole farm, from being a stud with a dozen broodmares and lots of store horses to a quickly expanding training complex.

Several new barns, horse walkers, gallops, offices, etcetera, have all been added, to enable him to house 120plus horses. He estimates it is a five-year project with lots more still to be done.

From day one, Olly has been totally focused on getting winners on the board. His attention to ratings and form is second to none and in his mind it is all about placing fit horses in races they are likely to be competitive in.

He schools his horses very intensely, sometimes to the point of sharpening them up on the day before they run or even on the day. Olly’s bible is his work sheet, which is

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DOUBLE ACT

OLLY ON AIDEN: VISION AND ADVICE WHEN I NEED IT Returning home to the family farm was a very easy decision to make. I realise how lucky I was to be coming back to such a lovely farm, so ideally set smack in the middle of the country, perfect for commuting. It gave me somewhere at a small rent and it’s so good to be on a lovely family farm and part of the family business. I always knew it was something I wanted to do.

It was a big, big change for my parents. Warren Chase had been a successful business in its own right. My Mum, Annabel, trained a couple of hundred winners from here, and as a successful stud farm Mum and Dad reared some top-class horses, including Cue Card, Wishful Thinking and Grand National winner Rule The World. Now there are a lot less young horses round the place. Mum and Dad have been there all the way to watch the changes made, but it’s very much family-run and we’re all in it together. Hopefully we can reap the benefits.

Dad’s input has been massive and he has been very involved all the way.

Both he and Mum have great vision. He designed lots of things, the barns and the gallops, and without him I wouldn’t be where I am at this stage. He has been fantastic to me and it’s a relief to be successful, given how much he has put in, both in terms of effort and financial investment.

Of course, we do have the occasional disagreement and it probably doesn’t help that we’re family, because we tend to be much harder on each other.

But we only disagree because we both want what’s best for the business. Dad is usually right and I always take his advice.

Dad had big ambitions for Warren Chase when I came back, but at the same time he’s very level-headed and he was keen for the whole thing to build up slowly, one step at a time. The fact that it has ended up growing so quickly has put us under a lot of pressure to try to keep moving forward. Because the place has been so successful we’ve both had plenty of sleepless nights, but it’s all positive.

From that perspective it has been a tough 14-16 months, it’s grown so quickly and that has been very challenging. Dad stands back from the daily running of the yard and the horses in training, but I probably talk to him 50-times a day. He’s very much involved in the buying side and he’s always there when I need him.

Aiden and Olly spoke to Lissa Oliver something he rarely deviates from. He makes decisions and sticks by them.

I don’t get involved with his choice of entries, but we do discuss pedigrees, form and anything to do with potential purchases. Luckily, we do seem to have a similar type of horse we both like, particularly stores, and at the sales of form horses he is a very good judge of the ability of, and possible improvement of, horses.

Olly is always thinking about what horses are doing the next day and even weeks ahead, such as away days, schooling, work mornings, and he leaves no stone unturned.

Staff-wise it is a very young team here at Warren Chase and Olly treats everyone as equal and tries to make for a happy yard. They all work hard and play hard and it’s great to see them get a kick out of having winners.

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KIM BAILEY

Kim Bailey at the Goffs Land Rover Sale 2018

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CLASS

KIM BAILEY

IS

PERMANENT KIM BAILEY TELLS NICK GODFREY THAT BUYING YOUNG HORSES WAS THE KEY TO TURNING HIS FORTUNES AROUND

David Bass celebrates after winning a handicap chase at the 2015 Cheltenham Festival aboard the Kim Bailey-trained Darna

Xxxxxxxx ABOVE: Kim was back in the Cheltenham winner’s enclosure with Darna

THOUGH the man himself would doubtless demur, after 40 years with a licence Kim Bailey has every right to be regarded as one of the elder statesmen among the ranks of jumps trainers.

In a long and distinguished career, the 65-yearold has experienced his fair share of the highs and lows offered by his chosen profession. In his 1990s heyday as one of Lambourn’s leading lights, it seemed he could do little wrong, to the extent that he and stable jockey ‘Stormin’ Norman Williamson entered racing folklore by winning the Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup in the same week in 1995 with Alderbrook and Master Oats.

Given that Bailey had also saddled Mr Frisk to win the Grand National five years earlier, at the time he was the sole active trainer to have claimed all three of the National Hunt ‘crown jewels’; only Paul Nicholls has emulated him since.

However, it is nearly a quarter of a century since that historic Festival double, a period during which the trainer has endured close acquaintance with those slings and arrows so beloved of outrageous fortune.

After a prolonged bout of the virus forced him to move to a new base in Northamptonshire, a violent storm in 2001 washed away his all-weather gallops and virtually submerged his career in the process. Combined with the effects of foot-and-mouth, it was nearly enough to force a famous name out of the game as the winners slowed to a trickle.

Now, though, Bailey is back where he belongs, enjoying arguably his best season since his halcyon days with a string of high-quality horses emanating from his stunning Cotswold base at Thorndale Farm in Andoversford near Cheltenham.

Things are going well, by any standard; just don’t let Bailey catch you suggesting he is enjoying a resurgence. “I really hate that word,” he says.

“Some people used the word ‘resurgent’ on Philip Hobbs this year. He’d had one bad season, so you can imagine how much he loves that!

“Things got better after we moved to Gloucestershire. What happened in the past, you take it for what it is and try to find a way around things if they’re not working out for you. I really don’t even think of it – obviously I had the gallops washed away but I haven’t thought about that for a while.

“But yes, it has been a good year,” he concedes, while deflecting much credit to his staff headed by assistant trainer Mat Nicholls; Bailey’s wife

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KIM BAILEY

Pictured here leading Altior, Charbel was acquired by Kim at the Goffs Punchestown Sale

Clare can probably take a bow as well. “We’re about the same on number of winners and the quality is better. I just hate that word ‘resurgent’!”

Bailey saddled only three at his professional nadir in 2007-‘08 – but now both quality and quantity are making a welcome reappearance at the Bailey table.

While recent stars like Harry Topper and Aintree veteran The Last Samuri (now retired) have done much to get Bailey back in the spotlight, he is heading for the most lucrative season since that glorious 1994-‘95 in prize money terms. Grade 2 successes are in the bag for Charbel, Rocky’s Treasure and star novice chaser Vinndication.

Such an upturn in fortunes stems at least in part from a change in policy. “I made a real conscious effort about four years ago to start buying young horses again,” explains Bailey, who buys most of his horses with the invaluable assistance of prominent bloodstock agent Aiden Murphy (Whitson Bloodstock).

“Young horses are where the future lies and, frankly for me, that’s the only way to buy good horses. But you are taking a risk that you can sell

“YOUNG HORSES ARE WHERE THE FUTURE LIES. FOR ME THAT’S THE ONLY WAY TO BUY GOOD HORSES.”

52

them and for a while I didn’t have the situation where I could buy young horses; I had to buy horses that had form.”

Bailey sources the majority of his stable stars at Goffs, operating at various market levels.

Peterborough Chase winner Charbel, for instance, was a cherished lot bought for €280,000 at the Goffs Punchestown Sale after winning a couple of Irish bumpers, while ex-Irish point-to-pointers Minella Warrior (bought, like Charbel, by Jill Lamb Bloodstock) and four-time winner Commodore Barry cost £180,000 and £85,000 respectively.

Vinndication, though, cost just £28,000 at the Goffs UK Spring Sale on the same day that dual winner Dandy Dan was knocked down for £34,000.

“I’ve been a huge supporter of Goffs for a long time and horses like Mr Frisk and Docklands Express came from Doncaster,” recalls Bailey. “In fact, nearly all my good horses have come from there. They consistently produce very good horses.”

Vinndication looks a particular bargain. “He has a wall eye which put a lot of people off and they all looked at me and said ‘why the hell did you buy him?’”, Bailey recalls. “But he’s a real athletic horse and the wall eye attracted me because Alderbrook had one, so it’s been lucky for me in the past.

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KIM BAILEY

“Prince Llywelyn was roughly the same sort of price (£30,000). We bought him the year after Vinndication and he won his bumper at Wetherby in January so a lot of the time we’re taking a punt without having to spend huge money.”

With syndicate manager Peter Kerr playing a major role behind the scenes compiling partnerships. Bailey has developed what amounts to a new business model. “A lot of people want to get involved in racing but it can be like they’ve earned enough to buy a Rolls-Royce and then you tell them they can’t drive it for nine months!” says the trainer.

“Peter has been out to find people who are willing to pay for the dream and sign that contract for two years. “That’s given me the opportunity to go out and buy youngsters and not necessarily have them run that first season. If the horses turn out to be any good, then hopefully they’ll keep going.”

Having started out in the 1970s working under such jumping greats as Captain Tim Forster and Fred Rimell, Bailey is well placed to discuss the changes he has witnessed in the sport over the ensuing four decades.

“It has changed dramatically from the days when I first started and what has happened over the years is that it’s become hugely more competitive,” he says. “It is much harder to source horses these days so, as I say, the easiest way to find a good horse is to be brave enough to buy them as young horses because you’re on a level playing field.

“There are so many trainers vying for the same thing,” he adds. “You don’t see horses going through the season winning six or seven races on the trot but that was something you commonly saw 20 years ago. You could farm races; now you can’t do that because it’s geared to pushing everyone against each other and make it much more competitive.”

Bailey agrees that a certain M. Pipe had a seismic influence on the training profession. “If we go back in history the man who rocked racing enormously was Martin Pipe, who got his horses far fitter than everybody else,” he says.

“Everyone looked at him in absolute amazement and the poor chap went through agony with The Cook Report – they were convinced he was doing something totally illegal which we all knew he wasn’t. He was just getting his horses far fitter than anybody else at that stage.

Since then we’ve all had to follow suit. My horses are now running pretty much 100% fit first time out whereas when I started training it would take two races to get there.”

Another notable change is the behemoth that is the Cheltenham Festival, now utterly pre-eminent – and perhaps unhealthily dominant, according to Bailey. “Listen, I’m a big supporter of Cheltenham,” he says. “They do a phenomenal job, but everything is now so geared towards that four days that in some respects it’s a bad thing. It becomes everything. You can win a novice hurdle in September and the first question asked by the press man afterwards is whether he’s going to go to Cheltenham. That’s definitely changed over the years.

“It’s the ultimate dream for everyone who gets involved in National Hunt racing now which in many respects is not a healthy situation.

It has become a cash cow for everybody involved – when do those preview evenings start? The beginning of February? There’s no other meeting that produces that sort of hype but what we really need in England is another festival at another time of year. If they’re going to move the King George from Kempton, in an ideal world they’d move it to Ascot for a two-day festival with a million pounds prize-money each day. You’d get some phenomenal racing.”

“I MADE A REAL CONSCIOUS EFFORT ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO TO START BUYING YOUNG HORSES AGAIN.”

Kim with jockey Jason Maguire after Harry Topper won the 2013 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby

Master Oats powers to victory in the 1995 Cheltenham Gold Cup

Norman Williamson and Kim with the Champion Hurdle trophy

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KIM BAILEY Vinndication winning at Huntingdon under jockey David Bass

Nevertheless, Bailey is grateful for his return after a long, long absence to the festival winners’ enclosure via Darna in the Brown Advisory & Merribelle Plate in 2015. “It was a hugely important moment for me to get back into that winner’s enclosure,” he says. “It hadn’t been my lucky racecourse for a while and we struggled having winners there so that was a really important one for us.

“It is the shop window. If you ask any flat trainer where they’d like to have a winner, then it would be Royal Ascot, and Cheltenham is the same thing. If you have a decent winner at Cheltenham, people will say you’ve had a good season, no matter what else has happened.”

Be that as it may, Bailey already has gone a long way to ensuring he will be able to reflect on 2018-19 as a good season, whatever might happen in the spring. Just don’t think about labelling him as ‘resurgent’!

“I’VE BEEN A HUGE SUPPORTER OF GOFFS FOR A LONG TIME AND HORSES LIKE MR FRISK AND DOCKLANDS EXPRESS CAME FROM DONCASTER.”

LEFT: Docklands Express was bought at Doncaster BELOW: Doncaster Sales purchase Mr Frisk won the 1990 Aintree Grand National

“MY HORSES ARE NOW RUNNING PRETTY MUCH 100% FIT FIRST TIME OUT WHEREAS WHEN I STARTED TRAINING IT WOULD TAKE TWO RACES TO GET THERE.” 54

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BALLINCURRIG

of the

CHARTS MICHAEL MOORE OF BALLINCURRIG HOUSE STUD SHARES HIS CONSIDERED OPINIONS ON THE BLOODSTOCK INDUSTRY WITH DAITHÍ HARVEY

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BALLINCURRIG

The Flemensfirth gelding that set a new record at the 2018 Land Rover, selling for €325,000 to Paul Nicholls

“THE GOOD HORSE WILL SHOW YOU ITS POTENTIAL FROM AN EARLY STAGE IN THE REGIME, WHETHER IN THE PREPPING OR THE BREAKING.” Stayers’ Hurdle winner Paisley Park was sold by Ballincurrig House Stud

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For each of the last nine years Ballincurrig House Stud in Co Cork has been the leading vendor by aggregate at the Land Rover Sale, while it has also supplied the top lot on a number of occasions. Stayers’ Hurdle winner Paisley Park is the latest Cheltenham Festival winner to be consigned to Goffs by Ballincurrig.

Last year the stud’s regular position at the top of the table was copperfastened when it consigned a son of Flemensfirth to break the record price for a horse sold at the sale. When Paul Nicholls bid €325,000 for the gelding from the family of his former champion chaser Master Minded it signaled a rewarding culmination of two and half years of rearing and education that had gone into the three-year-old at Ballincurrig.

“We had him since he was bought as a foal in 2015,” explained Michael Moore, the custodian of Ballincurrig. “A client of ours, Patrick McCann, pinhooks a few foals every year and he had been shortlisted for him at the foal sales back in 2015. He asked for my opinion of the foal, who was already one of our major standout foals of that particular year. I had no hesitation in giving him the seal of approval. That doesn’t always work out in this business but, thankfully, it did this time.”

McCann’s Brookland Stables in Co Armagh went to €110,000 to acquire the son of the French-bred mare Keep Face but that figure was put in the shade by his selling price at the Land Rover. “It was a lot of money to give at the time but I think, the way trade has gone, you’ve got to try and take as many of the risks out of the equation as you can,” Moore reckons about the art of pinhooking National Hunt foals. “This horse already had a great pedigree behind him and, if your budget allows you to do it, then the more you can give for them probably reduces the risk in the end.”

An awful lot can happen with a horse from the foal stage up until their slot in the Land Rover Sale but, luckily for McCann and Moore, their investment proved fairly straightforward.

“He had a trouble-free run and he didn’t give us any bother, thankfully.

He slotted into the routine and, like the rest of the store horses, we did three or four pockets of work with him for no more than a month each time. A bit of long-reining and light lunging, usually around September or October time when the grass wouldn’t be at its best.”

Moore has seen some seismic changes in the way Irish National Hunt horses are reared and prepared for life as a racehorse. Ten years ago there

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BALLINCURRIG Ballincurrig also set a new record NH foal price at Goffs in 2018, with this Walk In The Park colt selling for €90,000 to Patrick McCann

were as many or more four-year-olds in the Spring and Land Rover Sale as there were three-year-olds, but a four-year-old in a store sale these days is a very rare occurrence. The popularity and success of precocious French-bred jumpers forced Irish breeders and traders to change their mindset in how the ‘traditional’ Irish store horse was produced. The French influence, along with the onset of four-year-old point to points and the emergence of a new breed of commercially-minded point-topoint trainer, has seen Ireland bridging the perception gap that Irish jumpers tend to be late bloomers.

“I think the system in France is the best way forward but we can’t really replicate that here because there isn’t a programme of races in place for National Hunt three-year-olds,” Moore said.

“Also, I’m surprised the two-year-old market for National Hunt horses hasn’t caught on more than it has. I don’t subscribe to the idea that horses need more time nowadays. I take the view that horses are so well reared and fed from an early age, and I think the good horse will show you its potential from an early stage in the regime, whether in the prepping or the breaking.

“The good horses tend to find things easy and they generally come through the early stages in their stride. You hear talk of a lot of wastage and horses falling through the cracks of the system but I think, nine times out of ten, it is down to ability and those that have it come to the fore quite quickly,” he said.

Boarding mares, rearing young stock and prepping and consigning

“WE HAVE SOME GREAT CLIENTS WHO ARE VERY SHREWD BUYERS OF FOALS AND YOU NEED TO HAVE THAT QUALITY TO CONTINUE TO SELL AT THE TOP OF THE MARKET.”

horses for sales continues to be the main focus of the business at Ballincurrig House Stud these days, ever since the consigning side of the business was developed professionally by Moore’s late sister, Josie.

Moore’s brother-in-law Richard Rohan was married to Josie and he continues to be involved in the business by advising on foal purchases and liaising with clients when selling at the sales.

Nuala Healy is a vital cog in the day-to-day running of Ballincurrig and has been part of the team for the last 19 years. Likewise Dariusz Dlugan, who is into his second decade at the farm. Between them they could oversee the prepping of up to 40 three-year-olds at the store sales each summer, the majority for clients with about 20% made up of homegrown stock.

Moore has an impressive record to maintain at Goffs as he goes about topping the ‘leading consignor by aggregate’ table for the 10th time in succession, but at the time of writing he was more hopeful than confident of coming out on top at the Land Rover again.

“We are a bit light numerically on the farm this year but hopefully the clients who have supported us over the years will continue to send us some nice stock to sell. We have some great clients who are very shrewd buyers of foals and you need to have that quality to continue to sell at the top of the market, and for those horses to progress and be successful on the track.”

Racecourse results are the barometer that most performers, from trainers to jockeys to bloodstock agents, are measured by, and the sale companies and their individual auctions are no different.

Winners – and, crucially, festival winners whether at

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BALLINCURRIG

“IT’S ABOUT THE LOVE OF THE GAME, AND ANYWAY, MOST OF US DON’T KNOW HOW TO DO ANYTHING ELSE, SO WE JUST KEEP GOING REGARDLESS!” Cheltenham, Punchestown, Aintree or Leopardstown - are what define the success of a sale. On that score the Land Rover Sale is a market leader having been the source of scores of festival heroes from Champion Hurdler winners to Gold Cup horses and everything in between.

It is the diversity of this success that has seen the average price for a horse sold in the Land Rover Sale double in the last five years and when a vendor commits a horse to the sale they do so safe in the knowledge that the horse will achieve its maximum value.

Having been so successful selling there Moore is obviously a big fan of the sale. “The results on the racecourse prove that the quality of horse on offer in the Land Rover Sale is as good as anywhere. Take Nicky Henderson for example, he has had a lot of success with Land Rover graduates”.

Henderson has, of course, come away from Goffs with the likes of Altior, Oscar Whiskey and O O Seven, with Altior probably the best chaser to have emerged from any store sale this decade.

Michael Moore has seen a lot of different aspects of the industry. He was instrumental in the early stages of the point-to-point sales revolution that now sees huge sums regularly change hands for impressive maiden winners and is a proactive agent in this space for Goffs UK. While this part of the game has been good to many, others have benefitted less so and he is fearful for the future of the small breeder or the single horse enthusiast whose sheer numbers in a different era were the lifeblood of the industry. With such reliance now on a smaller numbers of superpowers Moore believes the industry is getting too lopsided.

“I’ve seen it myself before with my own business, where you could have had 20% of the clients accounting for 80% of the business and that is a delicate situation to sustain. However, I am heartened by the younger generation that are getting involved and fair play to them, because it is a daunting business.

“Just to survive financially is an achievement and you are only ever really as good as your last sale, so you have to put 100% into it all the time.

But I suppose it’s not all down to money, it’s about the love of the game, and anyway, most of us don’t know how to do anything else, so we just keep going regardless!”

One imagines that, having laid down such a track record in producing and selling horses, Michael Moore and Ballincurrig House Stud will remain at Louis Vambeck the pinnacle of National Hunt sales for the foreseeable future and beyond.

60

The Three Wise Men The €325,000 top lot at the 2018 Goffs Land Rover was a crowning moment for breeder Louis Vambeck and pinhooker Patrick McCann, as well as Michael Moore and the Ballincurrig House Stud team. These trio are among the most influential players in the business but they don’t seek the limelight.

Based in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Louis had a fantastic 2018 at Goffs.

He also bred the colt foal by Walk In The Park which sold for €90,000 at the December National Hunt Sale. It was the highest priced National Hunt foal ever sold at Goffs and, again, the consignor was Ballincurrig House Stud and the buyer was Patrick McCann.

Louis said: “It was an unbelievable year. I must thank Michael and his team for doing a superb job in preparing my horses for the sales.”

An Armagh businessman whose Simplyfruit company employs 100 people, Patrick McCann has built his own breeding and training operation, Brooklands Stables, in his home county. Of his relationship with Ballincurrig House Stud, he said: “I have a number of young horses with Michael. I believe he is the best in the marketplace and I’m very happy to be involved with him.”

Patrick McCann

GOFFS NATIONAL HUNT 2019

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FIXTURES 2019 DATE

FEATURING

TYPE

DATE

FEATURING

TYPE

DATE

FEATURING

24th Jan

Goffs Thyestes Day

(NH)

29th May

Flat Racing

(F)

4th Sep

Flat Meeting

16 Feb

Connollys Red Mills Day

(NH)

3 Jun

Flat Racing

(F)

21 Sep

Cordell Lavarack Gr3 Day

9th Mar

Holden Plant Rentals Day

(NH)

16th Jun

Flat Racing

(F)

4th Oct

Listed Pat Walsh Day

(NH)

9th Apr

Flat Racing Day

(F)

27th Jul

Flat Racing

(F)

5th Oct

PWC Champion Chase Day

(NH)

5 May

Listed McCalmont Stakes

(F)

14 Aug

Listed Hurry Harriet Stakes

(E)

14th Oct

Flat Finale

(F)

8th May

Listed Vintage Tipple Stakes

23rd Nov

Racing Club Day

(NH)

th

th

rd

th

st

246057_2L_Gowran_JM_Goffs NH.indd 1

TYPE (E) (F)

05/02/2019 14:24

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01/04/2019 14:39

THYESTES DAY

Invitation Only (right) challenges Alpha Des Obeaux at the final fence.

A

RACE

AGES

FOR THE

DARAGH Ó CONCHÚIR DRINKS IN THE DEEP TRADITION THAT IS GOFFS THYESTES DAY AT GOWRAN PARK. THE GREAT RACE’S REVIVAL HAS MIRRORED THE FORTUNES OF THE LAND ROVER SALE

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THYESTES DAY

“IT’S A GREAT MEETING TO ATTEND AND I LOVE GOING THERE BECAUSE OF THE GOOD RACING AND BIG CROWD. IT’S REAL NATIONAL HUNT” RUBY WALSH Almost 9,000 people were at Gowran Park in January for this year’s Goffs Thyestes Chase, a reminder once again of how the grassroots of jump racing have long had a special place in their hearts for the fixture.

Taking place on a Thursday is no impediment.

Indeed it is an attraction, an opportunity to take a day off work to celebrate all that is good about the National Hunt scene: the majesty of the horse, the athleticism, speed and bravery, matched only by the men and women on board.

Many of those in attendance know one another. There are other attractions but sideshows are kept to a minimum.

If you are pointing the car for Gowran Park for the Thyestes, you are going for the racing, and the craic.

Hence the applause Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Presenting Percy was accorded leaving the parade ring for his long-awaited seasonal debut in the Grade 2 John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle, not to mind the tumultuous ovation the resident of Pat Kelly’s small facility in rural Galway received on his winning return.

Jimmy Barcoe could have hunted Allez Kal over a few ditches from his stable to the track, so local is he, but the trainer definitely floated back after the eight-year-old’s six-length romp in a handicap hurdle under Cathal Landers.

Willie Mullins is only a few miles up the road and grew up even closer, and he has always treasured the Goffs Thyestes Chase. When Ruby Walsh propelled Invitation Only ahead of Alpha Des Obeaux over the last, he was providing his boss with a seventh triumph in the historic contest. It was treasured, just as much as the first.

There has always been a strong tradition of National Hunt trade at Goffs.

The CV is packed with Grand National and Gold Cup victors going back almost 100 years.

Arkle, Flyingbolt – themselves both on the Thyestes Chase roll of honour - Golden Miller, Cottage Rake, Red Rum and L’Escargot are names that trip off the tongue, some of the all-time greats of the sport that went through the ring at Goffs.

64

But when the company relocated from Ballsbridge to its current Kildare Paddocks headquarters in Kill, Co Kildare in 1975, the emphasis on jumping began to wane.

Steps were taken over time to redress this balance.

In 1996, the Goffs Land Rover Sale was inaugurated and the Goffs Land Rover Sale Bumper, the €100,000 bumper that is confined to graduates of the sale, has become a feature of the end-of-season National Hunt Festival at Punchestown.

The sale established a berth in the market and produced plenty of top-flight operators, including 10-time Grade 1 winner Beef Or Salmon, dual Champion Hurdle winner Hardy Eustace, Gold Cup hero Imperial Commander and Grand National victor Bindaree. It was not vying consistently at the top of the market, however.

Around the beginning of the decade, the board decided that it was time to redress the balance, to remind people of Goffs’ own abundant National Hunt legacy, to win back the trust of the National Hunt community and start trading high-class jumpers once more.

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THYESTES DAY CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT: Goffs CEO Henry Beeby. Davy Russell is all smiles aboard Presenting Percy. Racegoers pour into Gowran Park. Ruby Walsh with the Goffs Thyestes Chase trophy. The field streams over a fence in the big race.

“IT’S A VERY IMPORTANT DAY AROUND HERE. IT IS, AS THEY SAY, THE RACE THAT STOPS A COUNTY. IT’S THE ONLY DAY OF THE YEAR THAT I’D HAVE LOCALS AND NEIGHBOURS LOOKING FOR TICKETS TO GO RACING. YOU SEE LOTS OF KIDS AT THE RACING. THE BUZZ IS FANTASTIC.” JOE FOLEY, BALLYHANE STUD Resuming sponsorship of Goffs Thyestes Day was a key component of the strategy to reinvigorate National Hunt operations. That the meeting was covered this year on RTÉ, as well as Racing TV, provided an even greater breadth of exposure, but that a near-record crowd flocked to the venue, tells you all you need to know about the fixture itself.

Seeing Ruby Walsh, with more than 200 Grade 1 successes on his CV, Gold Cups, Grand Nationals, Champion Hurdles and Champion Chases, punch the air in animated celebration as he crossed the line on Invitation Only brought home what it means to win the Thyestes, in front of people that truly relish and understand what is unfolding in front of them.

Now, the Dublin Racing Festival has been added to the sponsorship portfolio, via the Goffs Future Stars Bumper, but the support delves much deeper, with 20 point-to-point fixtures benefiting from the backing. It is a clear demonstration of Goffs’ commitment to the National Hunt sector.

The National Hunt team was beefed up, charged with winning back hearts

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THYESTES DAY

“I’D RATHER WIN IT OVER A GOLD CUP.” TONY MULLINS

and minds on the ground. To that end, the long-serving Jim Rossiter and Ros Easom were provided with critical reinforcements in the form of Gerry Hogan, Kevin Ross and Peter Molony, people who were immersed in the industry, bringing credibility and contacts.

Hogan is a former jump jockey and leading bloodstock agent. Ross counts Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander among his own resume of purchases.

Molony, whose father was the late legendary jockey Martin, runs Rathmore Stud and consigned the first ₣100,000 horse at the Land Rover Sale.

They agents went about sourcing the more traditional National Hunt horse, persuading vendors that Goffs could get a better price, while also telling potential buyers that they could acquire a better class of animal at the sales.

“It was definitely a conscious effort to demonstrate to the National Hunt community that there was a strong alternative to what was traditionally the market leader,” remarks group chief executive, Henry Beeby.

“Selling stores at the Land Rover is all about selling the dream and selling potential. They’re normally unbroken, they certainly haven’t raced, so it’s about putting together the physicality of the horse, the conformation and the pedigree. Then it’s the judges using their judgement.

“The key thing is it’s not just them. It’s working in partnership with the vendor to place the horse in the right sale, to value the horse. When we go to the farm, we need to be able to talk to the vendor, ask what their expectations are and try and assist them with coming to that expectation.

“But if you haven’t got the horse, you’ve got nothing. So it’s very important to get the trust of the vendors. When you’re selling three-yearolds, that’s four years in the making, so it’s a huge investment. The two and a half minutes we give to a horse is a big responsibility. It’s important that we deliver.”

When it comes to putting the catalogue together, discussions between the team, headed by Beeby, sales director Nick Nugent and bloodstock director Ronan Griffin, have become longer and more animated over time.

There are difficult decisions to be made, whittling 1,800 nominations down to around 550 that can go through the ring over two days. It is the type of problem they dreamed of and continue to work tirelessly for.

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The decision to resume sponsorship of the Goffs Thyestes Chase was the right one for the company but for Ronan Griffin, there was an added sentimental value.

For in 1988, during the initial iteration of the association, his father Paddy trained the winner, Feltrim Hill Lad. Griffin is a professional but jump racing is at his core.

That is something that many of the Goffs team have in common. Indeed Henry Beeby’s grandfather, George, trained two Gold Cup winners from his base in Compton – Brendan’s Cottage and Silver Fame – and registered 19 triumphs at the Cheltenham Festival in total.

Make no mistake, the people involved are invested on a personal level, as well as a business one, and that clearly struck a chord.

“I started going to vendors who wouldn’t normally send to the Land Rover to try chase the higher-class horses,” says Molony, who deals primarily with potential cross-channel clients. “The first few years was about nearly begging for the horses that might have gone elsewhere. The last few years, it’s been the opposite, and they’re begging us to get in.

“I was in a good position because I sold some nice horses in the past there myself and had got on well. I sold the first hundred grand horse through the ring at the Land Rover. So I was able to tell people that if you bring a good horse, you’ll get well paid. It was more credible seeing as I’d managed to do it myself.

“The other thing was I was always very friendly with, and had done a lot of business with, (renowned buyer) David Minton and (legendary English trainer) Nicky Henderson, and they were fantastic. They’ve been huge supporters of the sale. They used to always come but we started telling them that we were offering nicer horses and they needed to come with a bigger budget. In fairness they did and they’ve been a huge part in the growth of the sale.”

The ₣60,000 purchase of Altior in 2013 has yielded more than £900,000 in prizemoney to date. Little wonder they are keen to stock up now.

The strategy has been implemented expertly, proving a resounding success. The record price was broken three times at the 2018 Land Rover Sale, with Paul Nicholls acquiring the top lot, a Flemensfirth gelding from the family of Master Minded, for ₣325,000. At the time, this was the highest price for a National Hunt store anywhere for 11 years. The average reached ₣48,000, compared to ₣15,000 ten years previously.

What was always emphasised, however, was that Goffs had to have a reputation for selling horses that could do the business on the track. Marketability is critical but finding a racehorse is the ultimate aim.

“You can get all the money you like but if they don’t deliver on the track people will stop going back so you have to be able to do both,” Beeby reasons. “You have to have the best horses to make the best money to win the races.”

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01/04/2019 14:42

THYESTES DAY

TOP: Rachael Blackmore and Paul Townend.

LEFT: Willie Mullins

Naturally, Molony concurs.

“If we see a really nice individual that we think will outsell his pedigree, then you go in and have a conversation with Ronan and the team to try get it in the catalogue.”

Cheltenham is the ultimate litmus test and that the Goffs Land Rover Sale has been the leading store sale for the past six festivals is telling testimony.

The aforementioned Altior is the standard-bearer, who will be chasing a record 18th consecutive victory over obstacles when bidding to retain his Champion Chase crown in March.

Samcro, Tornado Flyer, Hardline, Elegant Escape, Definitly Red, Derrinross, The Storyteller, The Worlds End and Willoughby Court are other recent headline acts.

Meanwhile, the Punchestown Sale for point-to-pointers and horses in training has proved a runaway success too since its inception in 2011.

The December NH Sale for foals, yearlings, older horses, horses in training and breeding stuck also enjoying unprecedented results in 2018.

The Land Rover Sale, however, is “the jewel in the crown”, as Beeby describes it.

“The ambition for the Land Rover Sale is for it to be the premier National Hunt store sale in terms of turnover, average, median and top price,” Beeby declares. “We came very close to top price last year and that’s our goal. And I would say that I think what we have done with the Land Rover Sale has been good for the industry, because we’ve provided a real alternative at the top of the market and competition is good for everybody.

“The vendors saw the effort we were making and supported us, and incrementally, they were supporting us with a better type of horse,” adds Griffin. “As a result, we have now succeeded in being the leading store sale at the Cheltenham Festival for six consecutive years.

“That justifies our selection, it adds credence and gravitas to our agents on the road. It shows that they know what they’re doing. We have proven that if you give us the horse, we will get him sold at the top of his value and that is why the vendors are supporting us with a better horse.

“Fifteen years ago, there was only one place you were going to go with the 150, 200, 250 thousand horse. Now you have a choice.”

The key now is to continue striving for improvement.

“The Land Rover Sale was a great initiative,” Griffin enthuses. “The relationship we have with Land Rover works because it suits their brand and it suits our brand. I would be confident that we’ve arrived but we must always raise the bar.”

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“WE’RE IN THE HEART OF IT HERE. GOWRAN TOUCHES FOUR OR FIVE COUNTIES AND THEY ALL SEEM TO COME AND SUPPORT THIS DAY ESPECIALLY… THAT’S THE BEAUTY OF NATIONAL HUNT RACING AND WE SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF IT AS A COUNTRY.” DAVY RUSSELL Walking out to the car park after a wonderful day of racing that affirmed the abiding passion for jump racing in rural Ireland, this writer falls into conversation with a man who is bound for Fermoy. He bears a satisfied air, buoyed by the backing of three winners.

Our brief interaction suggests that leaving with a few extra euro in his pocket is just the cherry on top though. My new acquaintance had made his first pilgrimage for the Thyestes in 1965, when future Gold Cup champion Fort Leney claimed the spoils.

“I make it as often as I can,” he tells me.

He had always had some involvement in National Hunt, as an owner or a breeder at a small level. He appreciated the game, knew what went into it and loved it all the more for that.

This represents what the day is all about, why Goffs were so anxious to restore the link with the Thyestes Chase and revitalise its own rich heritage in the National Hunt sphere Long may it endure.

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01/04/2019 12:15

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DOUBLE ACT

DREAM TEAM EMMA LAVELLE AND BARRY FENTON HAVE BEEN TOGETHER FOR OVER 20 YEARS. NOW AT BONITA RACING STABLES IN WILTSHIRE, THEIR RACEHORSE TRAINING BUSINESS IS GOING BETTER THAN EVER

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EMMA ON BARRY: A PROUD LIMERICK MAN WITH UNBELIEVABLE ABILITY I was working as an assistant to Toby Balding when Barry arrived from Ireland. Toby was scouting for a new conditional to replace A.P. McCoy and had spotted Barry with Austin Leahy in Limerick. You could say Toby played the part of Cupid in bringing us together.

It was another couple of years before I took out my own trainer’s licence. Barry was still riding for Toby and others, and going racing, but gradually he began spending more and more time with our horses. We got married in 2012.

On a day-to-day basis Barry is very hands-on with the horses. He does all the feeding and has unbelievable riding ability. He gives me great feedback and is great with the other riders too, giving them advice, answering their questions. He rarely goes racing these days but he would make an exception for Paisley Park!

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DOUBLE ACT LEFT: Multiple Grade 1 winner Paisley Park was a Goffs Land Rover Sale purchase

BARRY ON EMMA: SHE’S THE WOMAN YOU WANT IN A TIME OF CRISIS

We have a great working relationship. We are both passionate about what we do and neither of us is frightened to question the judgement of the other. There will always be moments when we have different opinions but we both want to do what’s right for the horse.

It’s not always easy to leave work outside the door but we do try to take an hour or two away when we can.

In terms of personality I would be more laid back than Barry but I think we complement each other. Barry is a proud Limerick man and he certainly got very excited when Limerick won the hurling last year.

The late Alan Lillingston of Mount Coote Stud was a good friend to our family.

He introduced my brother Michael to Michael Bell, and he spoke to my father about sending me to England as well. It was a choice between Kim Bailey, David Pipe and Toby Balding. Alan said Toby would be more of a father figure to me, so that’s where I went and that’s how I met Emma.

I was young and all I wanted was to ride winners. I never thought I would stay in England. My plan was to go back home eventually. But I hooked up with Emma and when she set up on her own I would ride out the horses for her.

Gerry Hogan retired as a jockey at around that time and became a bloodstock agent. I suggested to Emma that we work with Gerry and, sure enough, he bought Emma her first horse and the relationship has thrived ever since.

More horses came from Toby’s yard and Emma’s parents also supported her.

Her first winner was Pipers Rock for Peadar McCoy, A.P.’s father. We were renting a yard and started with, I think, 11 boxes and maybe four horses. By the time we left that yard there was 70 boxes but that all happened over time, bit by bit.

It wasn’t an overnight success.

In my last couple of years as a jockey I got more involved in the business at home. I was missing between three and six months of the season with injuries.

When I was fit I was trying to ride out up to 10 horses and then shoot off racing, only to break a leg again and watch other people ride those horses in races. It was frustrating. I loved race-riding but, luckily, I also love the yard side of it.

There’s only one boss in the yard and that’s Emma. I feed in the morning with the lads and then Emma comes down and we do the board together, so we’re both aware of what’s going on. Emma heads off then and does the declarations or phones owners, and so on. I ride out with the lads for the rest of the morning. She might not be there but she’s on top of things anyway and I can give her the full picture later.

I used to go racing a lot more but we took on an assistant this year. I can do five or six lots if I am not going racing, instead of two. If you’re not there you haven’t got your eyes on the job. I would rather be at home to ride the horses – it gives you more consistency.

Emma and I have plenty of disagreements. I’m always coming from the horse’s point of view and Emma will consider the overall business. I might say ‘we need this or that’ and Emma could say ‘we can’t afford it at the moment’.

The great thing is that you have to make up very quickly as there are 60 horses here, so there’s always an owner or a staff member who requires our attention. Arguments get put to bed very quickly.

Emma is very calm and in control. She’s the woman you want on your side in a crisis. I could blow up! It’s funny but on the schooling ground I wouldn’t be stressed at all. Emma might be against giving a horse a second session but I’d say ‘No, go again!’

But then if something goes wrong and a horse gets injured she should remain calm and just sort it out, do what had to be done.

It’s not the easiest job to get away from. I enjoy the sales in the summer and I love going back to Ireland. We were over recently to look at a horse and stayed with Gerry [Hogan] and Ciara. The Land Rover Sale is on at the perfect time for us and, of course, that’s where we found Paisley Park.

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INSIGHT

How and when did you first get involved in bloodstock?

It’s a while back now since I first started but I have mostly been to the sales as a seller. That is how I first dipped my toe in and I can remember having at least one horse a year to sell at Goffs in the early days.

Tell us about one of your best Goffs/Goffs UK purchases or sales.

I got Last Goodbye for relatively cheap at Goffs and he would have to be my best. He has won six for me and provided us with a brilliant day when he won the big 2m 5f handicap chase at the Dublin Racing Festival last season. He got whacked by the handicapper for that but he’s coming back down the weights now and I’m hopeful he’ll win again soon.

What young National Hunt stallions are you keen on and why?

I have to say I wing it with the stallions. I don’t look at anything in particular because I’d have a fairly limited budget and I’d be more interested in seeing the horses first-hand.

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OFF THE RECORD WITH …

LIZ DOYLE TRAINER

“I’m looking for an athlete, a horse with a good, strong look about them, something that can withstand a bit of pressure.”

Describe some of the physical characteristics you like and dislike when buying a horse.

All the obvious things. I’m looking for an athlete, a horse with a good, strong look about them, well built, sound and something that can withstand a bit of pressure when it comes to exercise.

What advice would you give to anyone wishing to work in the bloodstock business?

Ask the right people for help, don’t start off buying horses by yourself. There are plenty of people who can show you the ropes and it is much better to watch and learn first.

Outside of racing and sales, what are your interests?

It’s mostly all business for me but I do love going to Deauville for the yearling sales. At least there you can mix it up with a work/ holiday sort of trip.

What is your biggest ambition in racing or breeding?

My first ambition was to win the old Pierse Hurdle. I spent a few years with Pat Hughes and he always used to target that race six months in advance. I was lucky enough to do it with Penny’s Bill not long after I started training in 2009. In general I just want to grow my business and keep money in my owners’ pockets.

GOFFS NATIONAL HUNT 2019

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01/04/2019 14:47

TONY WILLIAMS

BACK SADDLE IN THE

JAMES THOMAS HEARS HOW GOFFS UK MANAGING DIRECTOR TONY WILLIAMS TOOK ON A BIG CHALLENGE LAST WINTER

When most people reach the age of 58, they have already begun thinking about living life at a more sedate pace. However, Tony ‘Tubba’ Williams, who has been the managing director of Goffs UK since late 2016, is not like most people.

Rather than reaching for the pipe and slippers, Williams has - quite literally - got back on the horse, and, after a gruelling training regime, got the leg up on Fly Du Charmil in a point-to-point at Friars Haugh, Kelso during the last weekend in January.

“It was one of the greatest thrills I’ve ever experienced,” says Williams as he recalls his spin around the Borders track. “My nerves

74

were good and through the run I couldn’t have asked for the horse to jump better or travel more kindly – he’s a real schoolmaster and probably got around in spite of me.

“It’s been a hell of a project and I’ve enjoyed every moment of it,” he adds of the process, which began at last year’s Goffs UK August Sale. “To be able to do this here has been such a thrill, because the UK and Ireland are the home of National Hunt racing.”

Williams may have come home nearer last than first on his point-to-point debut, but what makes his story so unique is not where he finished at Friars Haugh, but where he started out in life.

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01/04/2019 12:23

TONY WILLIAMS

Williams may have accomplished this monumentally fearless feat one freezing cold Sunday in Kelso, but the journey that led him to this point began a few decades earlier and many miles away from the heartlands of jumps racing in his home town of Campbells Creek in Victoria, Australia.

“I started off in this business in 1975 as a 14-year-old straight out of school, and I’ve been very fortunate to work in the racing business ever since,” he says, before recalling an early flirtation with the life of a jockey.

“I rode as an apprentice early in my career. I had 19 rides and rode four winners, that was in the 1977-‘78 season but I was always just a bit too heavy. After that, during the 1982-‘83 season, I also had 19 point-to-point rides in Australia and rode five winners.”

Despite such a strike rate speaking of an inherent horsemanship, Williams eventually lost the battle with the scales and was forced to turn his attention to other areas of the thoroughbred industry.

While his professional riding career may have proved all too fleeting, Williams’ CV beyond the saddle is a story of success and staying power in almost equal measure.

He joined Goffs UK in November 2016 having overseen a pivotal period at arguably the world’s most upwardly mobile breeding operation, Newgate Farm in New South Wales.

“Newgate was started from scratch and we began with one stallion [Foxwedge] covering around 160 mares in year one,” Williams says. “By the time I left we had 1,300 mares booked to nine different stallions. It’s a dynamic place and it was a big decision to leave and come to Goffs UK.” Prior to that he spent nine years working for another burgeoning business, the Australian auction house Magic Millions, and has also had a stint at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, as well as running his own bloodstock agency and even hosting his own yearling sale at Flemington.

“I STARTED OFF IN THIS BUSINESS IN 1975 AS A 14-YEAR-OLD STRAIGHT OUT OF SCHOOL.”

The day job - Tony chats with clients at the Aintree Sale.

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01/04/2019 12:23

TONY WILLIAMS

Tony pictured with colleagues, family and friends after the race.

“TubbA’s got character and courage”

BY NICK NUGENT If further evidence was needed as to the impression the man many know simply as ‘Tubba’ has left on the global thoroughbred industry, look no further than social media. Images from Williams’ ride aboard Fly Du Charmil reached near viral levels on Twitter and Facebook, as support, congratulations and the occasional expression of disbelief poured in from all corners of the globe.

“Heroic,” comments one well-wisher on a picture of Williams soaring over an imposing Friars Haugh fence, followed by: “Well done Tubba. Australia’s relieved you survived.”

However, Williams, who was able to call on his Goffs colleague and leading amateur Derek O’Connor for riding advice, has not merely survived, but seems to have thrived for the whole experience of entering into the life of a northern hemisphere National Hunt jockey.

“I think it’s great to be able to achieve different things in life,” he says. “At my stage in life it was a big challenge and a fantastic opportunity to come and work for Goffs UK, and I haven’t regretted one minute of it. And in doing that I’m now able to do something like riding in a point-to-point, which wouldn’t be ideal for everybody, but for me it is.”

Ideal it may be, but Williams readily concedes that taking up riding was the furthest thing from his mind when leaving his native land. So how did he reach the decision to don his breeches and boots again, despite his advancing years?

“Originally it was me and Nick Nugent having a half tonguein-cheek conversation, and I said wouldn’t it be great to be able to ride in the Fox Hunters?” he explains. “I just thought ‘why not? I can do this’. It isn’t the sort of pursuit that the average 58-year-old undertakes, but it keeps you young and keeps you fit – and that’s what life’s about.”

It says plenty about Williams’ outlook and determination that he has not only enacted some revenge on his old foe the bathroom scales - with a demanding training schedule only briefly interrupted

76

I first met Tubba – as he is universally known on the other side of the world - in the mid-1990s when I was auctioneering at Magic Millions and, later on, we worked together on the Hong Kong Select Sale.

Any suggestion then that, more than 20 years later, and approaching the end of his 50s, he would ride in a Scottish point-to-point would have no doubt been met by his unique (thankfully) machine gun laughter. There are many different ways to earn respect and admiration in this industry, none more so than demonstrating character and courage, and that Kelso point-to-point showed both qualities in Tubba to match anything I’ve witnessed in 30 years with Goffs.

when he was on duty at the Goffs UK January Sale - but that he has so immersed himself in the world of National Hunt racing at a relatively late stage in life.

“I’ve been schooling the horse and doing a lot of work on him, it’s been great fun going to Leslie Whillans. I ride out whenever I’m home and on a weekend I’ll ride an extra one or two for Alastair Whillans,” he says. “If you turn the clock back to September I was probably close to 13st. I got down to 11st 3lb to ride and I don’t think I’ve ever been so fit in my life.

“To do it in Australia all those years ago was great, but to actually have a go up here has been one of the biggest challenge in my life,” he says thoughtfully before a broad grin creeps across his face. “This isn’t a career change, obviously, but it’s a nice thing to do during a mid-life crisis!”

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01/04/2019 12:24

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02/04/2019 15:13

The Beeches

CUSTODIANS OF THE LAND ABOVE: Flemensfirth is the reigning champion National Hunt sire

ROBERT McCARTHY OF THE BEECHES STUD IN CO WATERFORD TELLS TYRONE MOLLOY ABOUT HIS FAMILY’S LONG ASSOCIATION WITH NATIONAL HUNT RACING

THE world is full of agencies of one sort or another claiming to be relationship experts but the McCarthy family, owners of The Beeches Stud in Co Waterford, could teach people a thing or two about nurturing long-standing relationships.

Their family has farmed the land on which the stud stands for over 300 years, they have forged a highly successful association with Coolmore and the Magnier family, they count a sizeable proportion of the country’s National Hunt breeders as regular clients and they have developed a mutually beneficial 50-year plus relationship with Goffs, both in Ireland and Doncaster.

And, their stud groom, Peter Keneally has been with them for 35 years.

Sheltered in picturesque countryside between the Blackwater and Bride rivers in the shadow of the Knockmealdown mountains, The Beeches is situated on a very fertile vein of land so it was certainly worth holding onto for all that time.

Robert McCarthy is the latest custodian of the land, having gradually taken over from his father, Bobby, one of Ireland’s best-known jump racing figures. It is, and always has been first and foremost a family run enterprise with Robert’s sisters Carmel, Cora, Finola and Vera all involved at one point or another.

The last named, along with her husband, John Deegan, still foals all of the stud’s mares at their own stud close by. Robert’s New Zealand-born wife, Debbie, prepares the foals for the sales and their children Jessie (18) and Andrew (16), also help out.

The first stallions arrived relatively recently, 1972, at which time it was a mixed enterprise, although becoming more dairy oriented. Robert explains how the association with Coolmore came about; “There were always horses on the farm, going back generations and the family had success at the Dublin Horse Show in those times.

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The Beeches

“My father had got more into thoroughbreds and used to breed his mares to the stallions at the Grange Stud, owned by the Magnier family, who were friends of ours.

“At this time John Magnier was becoming more involved in flat stallions, he had just bought Castlehyde Stud, so he asked my father to stand two jumps stallions, Prince Hansel and Laurence O, and they both arrived here on the same day.

“We have had a brilliant association with Coolmore since, the Magnier family are great people to deal with and we haven’t had a problem. My father has been friends with John, David and Peter for over 50 years.”

Gradually, the cows were phased out and successful sires such as Le Moss and Buckskin followed in the 1980s. The latter sired one of the best horses the family ever bred, the 2004 Grand National winner Amberleigh House.

“There is only one Grand National, so to have bred the winner of it was very special,” Robert recalled.

There are currently eight stallions at The Beeches, headed by the redoubtable Flemensfirth, who won his first sires’ championship last year, achieved at the venerable age of 26, a crowning moment for the stud.

“He was amongst the leading stallions every year so it was well deserved that he won the title,” Robert reasons. “He is unusual in that he is siring even more top performers now than he did when younger, most sires become less potent as they get older.

“We have reduced his book to 100 mares but he covered that number with no problem last year, he is very healthy. He has been a lucky horse for us!” ” While responsible for a stellar back catalogue of Grade 1 winners such as Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander, Tidal Bay and Flemenstar amongst others, the old horse turned his potency up a notch in the last couple of years with Coney Island, Relegate, Waiting Patiently, Tornado Flyer and Topofthegame all winning Grade 1 events.

“He is a great sire of mares too,” continued Robert. “That is important, especially for a jumps stallion. His first Grade 1 winner was the mare, Total Enjoyment, in the Cheltenham Bumper and he did it again last year with a filly that we bred ourselves, Relegate, which was a great thrill (sold at the Goffs December NH Sale as a foal too!).

“Coolmore NH sires are committed to promoting and sponsoring mares’ races, that’s a priority for us, the more that mares are catered for the better for jump racing. The Grade 2 mares’ bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival, also won by Relegate last year, is an example of that.”

Robert’s pride at Flemensfirth’s achievements is matched by the excitement of having the opportunity to stand a horse of the quality of 2017 Derby winner Wings Of Eagles, enthusing; “We feel that he is going to do very well, he is a great looking horse, has a lovely temperament and way of going, he’s 16.2 hh, a strong dark bay colour, a Derby winner who should have been a dual Derby winner, he was coming to win the Irish Derby when he got hurt.

“He is from the Montjeu sire line and comes from a very strong pedigree that consistently produces quality horses. We already have lots of mares booked into him, including some nice flat mares and he got some high quality mares during his first season in France last year too.”

The 2007 Irish Derby winner, Soldier Of Fortune, is already on the way to emulating Flemensfirth, having produced several

“THERE IS ONLY ONE GRAND NATIONAL, SO TO HAVE BRED THE WINNER OF IT WAS VERY SPECIAL”

FROM TOP: The McCarthys bought the mare Whistle Dixie at the Goffs December NH Sale for €230,000. CENTRE: Bobby with the great Flemensfirth. ABOVE: Robert and Bobby at Goffs

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The Beeches

“WE ALREADY HAVE LOTS OF MARES BOOKED IN TO WINGS OF EAGLES, INCLUDING SOME NICE FLAT MARES” high-class jumpers from his flat-bred crops, including Grade 1 winner Mega Fortune, Grade 2 winner Slowmotion and Grade 3 winners Flying Tiger, Tin Soldier and Early Doors.

Robert elaborates: “His popularity is such that he has been the busiest stallion in Britain and Ireland for the last three seasons but he thrives on his work and is in tremendous shape. He is bred to be a top NH stallion with leading jumping influences Lord Gayle and Busted in his damline, and his first Irish crops have been well received at the sales.”

There is plenty to get excited about with the rest of the stud’s sires too, he reveals; “Imperial Monarch has his first four-year-olds this year, trainers seem to like them so he will have winners soon. Mahler is a solid stallion, doing well and getting plenty of good quality winners like Ms Parfois and recent Grade 1 Henry VIII runner-up Ornua. Sans Frontieres has sired several winners from his first crop that have just turned five.

“Ocovango has his first three-year-olds this year so we are looking forward to seeing them at the Land Rover and other store sales, there should be plenty of nice ones. Sons of Monsun are having a great run of success and he is an ideal outcross for all the Sadler’s Wells-line mares.

Idaho was added to the roster in midMarch.”

On the subject of such mares, The Beeches spent a whopping €230,000 on a granddaughter of the great stallion, Whistle Dixie, at the 2018 Goffs December NH Sale. Consigned

by Gigginstown House Stud in foal to Mount Nelson, the Kayf Tara halfsister to both Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kicking King and the dam of Kalashnikov, was the highest priced National Hunt mare at any sale last year and the highest priced ever sold at Goffs.

Explaining the decision, Robert said: “She was obviously a standout mare with a tremendous Irish pedigree. We haven’t decided which stallion she will go to, it will be either Wings Of Eagles or Order Of St George. At the end of the day, it is up to us all to try to have the best mares, the best stallions we can have, and quality will always sell.”

That’s something that The Beeches has also had a long relationship with FROM TOP: Andrew, Jessie, Debbie and Robert at the ITBA National Breeding - quality horses - and that looks set & Racing Awards. CENTRE: Robert receives an award from Goffs UK managing to continue for some time. director Tony Williams in respect of Flemensfirth’s achievements in the point-topoint sphere. ABOVE: A triumphant Katie Walsh on board Relegate in the winners enclosure at Cheltenham.

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15/03/2019 14:47

01/04/2019 14:22

ROSS DOYLE

A FOR MAN ALL

SEASONS

ROSS DOYLE TELLS LISSA OLIVER THAT THE SAME PRINCIPALS APPLY WHEN BUYING STORE HORSES AS WHEN SOURCING FLAT-BRED YEARLINGS

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ROSS DOYLE Grade 1 winner Tormado Flyer was another Goffs Land Rover purchase for the Doyles.

“WHETHER IT’S FLAT OR NATIONAL HUNT, WE’RE STILL LOOKING FOR THE SAME THING, A GOOD-LOOKING AND ATHLETIC INDIVIDUAL”

ABOVE: Gold Cup winner MILL HOUSE was purchased by Ross’s grandfather JACK DOYLE (RIGHT)

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ROSS DOYLE

A Grade 3 winner and Grade 1 placed, TELL US MORE was bought by Ross and Peter Doyle at the Land Rover Sale

he Goffs Land Rover Sale has proven to be a happy hunting ground for Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock.

Ross explains: “Our flagship horse last season over jumps was Tornado Flyer, winner of the Grade 1 Bumper at Punchestown and third in the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at Cheltenham for the TFP Partnership and Willie Mullins. We picked him up for ₣63,000 from Pine Tree Stud at the Land Rover Sale and he’s out of a half-sister to Hurricane Fly.” That Willie Mullins-trained gelding was by no means the first high-class National Hunt prospect sourced by the Doyles at the Land Rover. “We paid ₣27,000 for Tell Us More for our client William Drew, who won his point-to-point first time out for the late Willie Codd and was later bought by Harold Kirk for₣290,000 after winning his point-to-point. He went on to win a Grade 3 chase and was runner-up in a Grade 1 novice hurdle. He would be typical of the stores we’ve bought who have gone on to win their point-topoints and make a profit for our clients.

“Another would be Reserve Tank who we bought as a three-year-old at the Land Rover Sale for ₣35,000 and was sent to Willie Codd. Then he moved to Jonathan Fogarty when Willie very sadly passed away. Johnathan informed us that he was showing plenty of ability and could be above average, so we sold him privately to clients in the UK before he ran and they sent him to Colin Tizzard. Colin holds him in pretty high regard and he finished third on his debut in a novice hurdle taking on winners at Chepstow.”

Ross reveals: “We’re better known on the flat, but we’ve been buying National Hunt horses for the last ten or eleven years now and we’ve been very lucky at the Land Rover Sale in particular. We’ve bought between four and six each year and two very nice stores we picked up last year are

with Colin Bowe and will be going point-to-pointing this season. My grandfather Jack Doyle bought horses like Champion Hurdle winner Another Flash and Gold Cup winner Mill House, and my father Peter had Silver Buck through his hands as a young horse.

“The standard at the Land Rover Sale especially is getting better and better. Goffs has some great scouts and top vendors supporting the sale with nice horses by the right stallions, ensuring a high-quality catalogue. Whether it’s flat or National Hunt, we’re still looking for the same thing, a good-looking and athletic individual.

“The current National Hunt market is very competitive and more often than not we’re getting blown out of the water, which is a good thing for the industry. The pointto-point performers have been raising the bar and creating a very strong market, so store horses are becoming a slightly more affordable way to gain access.

“The fillies’ bonuses and incentives have been really successful and a nice filly is fetching as good a price as a gelding. The clearance rate is very high and there are plenty of end-users who are finding it hard to get involved and those are the catalysts creating a successful market.

“There’s a lot of stallion power behind the market, the popular sires are very strong, as are the new stallions on the up. We try and stick with the stallions we’ve had success with. I wouldn’t be as immersed in National Hunt as I am in the flat, but the marketplace seems as strong as ever and the big players are driving the product to a higher standard.

“The slight negativity is over-production and we don’t want a return to that situation. Everyone is trying to breed a saleable horse who can achieve success on the racecourse as well and that’s the goal. The very busy stallions are a slight concern, but we’ll only see the effects of that in a year or two.”

“MY GRANDFATHER JACK DOYLE BOUGHT HORSES LIKE CHAMPION HURDLE WINNER ANOTHER FLASH AND GOLD CUP WINNER MILL HOUSE AND MY FATHER PETER HAD SILVER BUCK THROUGH HIS HANDS.”

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PHILIP HORE

“WE’RE ALL THE ONE AND, LUCKILY, WE’VE ALL HAD SOME VERY NICE HORSES THROUGH OUR HANDS”

Philip Hore

IT HAS BEEN A GREAT YEAR FOR THE HORE FAMILY’S MOUNT EATON STUD IN CO WEXFORD, WRITES RYAN MCELLIGOTT

COMMANDING

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PHILIP HORE

PECT

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PHILIP HORE RIGHT: Philip’s children check out the Land Rover Discovery their father won as vendor of the Goffs Land Rover Bumper winner. BELOW RIGHT: Ladbrokes Trophy winner Sizing Tennessee is another Mount Eaton graduate.

Commander Of Fleet confrimed himself as one of the season’s top novice hurdlers with a Grade 1 success at the 2019 Dublin Racing Festival. He franked that form when finishing second - well clear of the others - in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Some ten months earlier the Fame And Glory gelding had given notice of his star quality with a wide-margin success in the €100,000 Goffs Land Rover Bumper at Punchestown.

That utterly dominant display was noteworthy and appropriate on a number of fronts.

Firstly, it gave owner Michael O’Leary a third win in a race that provided the Gigginstown House Stud supremo with his initial success as an owner when Tuco prevailed all the way back in 2001.

Secondly, the runaway success for Gordon Elliott’s charge represented a fitting finale to an excellent season for the first crop of four-year-olds produced by the late and much missed Fame And Glory.

Lastly, it was entirely fitting that Commander Of Fleet should emerge victorious as he is a graduate of one of the most notable National Hunt producers in the country in the Hore family’s Mount Eaton Stud. For countless years Mount Eaton has been the source of high-class runners under both codes and it was more than appropriate that the Wexford-based nursery should eventually get on the Land Rover roll of honour.

Commander Of Fleet was bought as a foal for €35,000 by Phil Hore junior before returning to the 2017 Land Rover Sale where he fetched €47,000 after being knocked down to Margaret O’Toole. As it happens the gelding’s price didn’t represent a huge windfall for his connections but Hore is understandably delighted with how his former charge has done since his racing career got underway.

“At the Land Rover Commander Of Fleet stood up a lovely horse and he was a lovely shape of a horse. He walked well enough but just didn’t have the big walk that allows some horses to hit the heights in the sales ring.

“Things go in swings and roundabouts though and I’d another horse there that week that sold well and went from €18,000 to €50,000. That’s just the nature of the business. You’ll have ups and downs and we did end up with a new Land Rover after Punchestown, so it all worked out,” says Hore.

“It’s just great that Commander Of Fleet went on to do what he has. Sometimes you can get well paid for a horse who turns out to be limited and selling on good horses are what it’s all about. Hopefully we’ll hear a lot more from Commander Of Fleet for the next few seasons,” adds Hore.

The victory of Commander Of Fleet has been among just several highlights for the Mount Eaton team over the last year. More Buck’s, who was bred by Hore junior, won the Listed Summer Plate Handicap Chase at Market Rasen.

Sizing Tennessee, who was bred on the farm, finally realised his substantial potential by running out a ten lengths winner of the Grade 3 Ladbrokes Trophy Chase at Newbury.

“There’s myself, my brothers Tom and John and our father (Philip) and we all come together to sell under Mount Eaton. We’re all the one and, luckily, we’ve all had some very nice horses through our hands. John bred a Cheltenham bumper winner in Cousin Vinny and he’s bred the likes of Rather Be and Sign Of A Victory too.

“Pique Sous, who won at Royal Ascot and was placed at Cheltenham, was another one that we had through our hands and Mossback was a very promising horse with Gordon Elliott last year before he met with a fatal

“IT’S LOVELY TO HAVE THAT SORT OF STOCK AROUND THE PLACE AND EVEN MORE SO WHEN YOU SEE HORSES THAT YOU’VE HELPED BRING ALONG GO ON AND DO WELL.” 88

injury in the four-mile at Cheltenham. The last year has been good and hopefully there’s more to look forward to in the coming years.”

Away from the National Hunt sphere Mount Eaton has also enjoyed notable success on the flat too with Hore having bred Prince Of Lir who won the 2016 Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot. That colt was a graduate of both the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale and the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale and he is one of the initial offspring of the Whipper mare Esuvia who was picked up for just 10,000gns in 2011.

“Prince Of Lir was the second produce out of the mare and he was a nice, reasonably forward colt so we brought him to the Premier Yearling Sale at Doncaster where he made £40,000, which was a good price on the day.

“The mare was picked up relatively cheaply and at the time she visited Kodiac he was standing for €6,000, so to get £40,000 for the colt was good going and even more so when you consider that at the time the euro equivalent would have been around €55,000.

“Obviously he went back to the sales the following spring and breezed very well for Con Marnane and then it was great to see him do what he did at Ascot a few months after that.”

Prince Of Lir’s exploits have more than helped the appeal of Esuvia’s subsequent offspring with her daughter of Kodiac selling for €105,000 at the 2016 Orby Sale before her Dandy Man filly, the winning Nitro Boost, fetched €90,000 back at the same sale 12 months later.

A further string to Hore’s bow is that he boards and rears horses for the noted American outfit SF Bloodstock and 2018 was a particularly noteworthy one for horses who spent their formative days at Mount Eaton. In late May the SF-bred Nyaleti recaptured the promise of her juvenile season to win the German 1000 Guineas and, two months later, Dark Vision showed himself to be a juvenile of some substance with a victory in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.

“It’s lovely to see them go and achieve what they have.

We also reared a good French horse called Ride Like The Wind and Mastercraftsman’s dam was also here for a while too. It’s lovely to have that sort of stock around the place and even more so when you see horses that you’ve helped bring along go on and do well.”

All in all, it has been a memorable 12 months for the farm and in particular Phil Hore junior while there have been countless examples over the last number of years as to why the Mount Eaton draft is one to consider closely each and every year when it comes to the Goffs Land Rover Sale.

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The Westgrove Hotel and Spa, Clane, Co. Kildare.

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"WE SPENT OVER €500,000 IN IMPROVEMENTS TO THE GALLOPS AND WE JUST HOPE IT WILL PAN OUT FOR THE FUTURE"

JOINING THE FAMILY FIRM HUSBAND AND WIFE RICHIE AND EMMA GALWAY WORK TOGETHER ON THE MANAGEMENT TEAM AT COMMONSTOWN STABLES, WHERE EMMA’S MOTHER JESSICA HARRINGTON IS BASED

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EMMA ON RICHIE: HAVING HIM HERE EASES THE PRESSURE Richie came back to work here at Commonstown Stables in July of last year, but continues to be involved at Punchestown on a job-share basis.

He has always been very much involved here and, over the last couple of years, the business has grown. Between Mum, Kate and myself, we just couldn’t cope. So, God bless him, he came to work with his wife and mother-in-law and sister-in-law!

For the first two months it seemed a little awkward, but then we got into a routine and now he’s really helping me more in the office and with the bigger planning. We weren’t forward planning because we just didn’t have the time and that’s something Richie is now helping with, and one of the immediate results of his being here is that we’ve just launched the Alpha Racing Syndicate.

It’s open to 18 shareholders who have invested ₣50,000 each, and we have nine fillies and colts. They’re there to

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race and hopefully be sold for a profit at the end of their career, it’s very much an investment rather than just fun, although we hope the shareholders will have some fun along the way as well. It’s the first big thing Richie has brought to the operation.

He also rides out a couple of horses and assists Mum and Kate on the gallops, then supports me in the office. He’s an enormous help with the infrastructure and the focus on our hopes for the future and how to get there. We’ve just completed a new tack room and modern staff room and we’ve done all that ourselves instead of having builders in, which has been so much easier and more cost-effective. And he takes the pressure off Mum, especially at the races.

We weren’t used to being together all the time, so it takes a bit of getting used to at first, but I’m in the office all the time and he’s out in the yard with the horses so I don’t see him much in the morning. He’ll come in to give me a hand once the horses have finished exercise. He’s a massive help to me and we’ve two young children as well. As the business has grown it’s become full-on seven days a week, so he’s taken a lot of pressure off me.

It’s good we’re enjoying it. Richie gets to see the kids more than he would do if he were still working full-time at Punchestown. They come up after school and their ponies are kept here and Jack has just started riding out with the string in the mornings. Jack is ten and Max is seven and they both love going racing. They got to go to Cheltenham and they were there at the Curragh for Granny’s first Classic win.

They understand the highs and lows.

I don’t know what we would have done had Richie not come on board. We were at breaking point and just too busy. Mum is amazing, it’s incredible what she achieves, but we really want her to slow down a bit and especially be able to take more holidays. So she can now see we have a good structure in place here and nothing falls apart in her absence. And it’s good to have a man on board, too; it was an all-female environment and it’s good to have a man’s perspective.

Richie is working so much harder now and I feel sorry for him. He has two jobs and works seven days a week now, whereas before he just came back in on a Saturday. But from a family point of view, if he’d stayed full-time in Punchestown we’d both be working flat-out and that would have been tricky.

You never really know when you come through the gates in the morning what’s going to happen and it’s all full-on. We do our own things too, but we’re still there for each other to talk anything over. We’re very lucky and now we know the business is so well supported we have the confidence to put in a huge investment. We spent over ₣500,000 in improvements to the gallops and we just hope it will pan out for the future. In this game you never know what’s round the corner, but if we put in the work we can hope.

RICHIE ON EMMA: IF WE DISAGREE, SHE’S ALWAYS RIGHT Emma is very methodical and logical in her thinking. She is commercially minded and sensible and very reasonable – most of the time! Emma and Kate each bring different qualities to what they do. It’s widely known that Kate and Jessie deal with the day-to-day care of the horses, but Emma is a very accomplished horsewoman in her own right and knows as much about horses as anyone.

She was a successful event rider but gave up eventing to support our sons Jack and Max and, boys being boys, she does all the donkey work with their ponies. If they get their ponies handed to them tacked up and ready for them they’re happy!

We didn’t find it difficult to work together, horses are our lives and our full-time conversation. You have to find the time not to talk about them, park it and let it sit and we’re both mature enough to be able to do that. Emma’s parents worked together all their lives and my parents also worked together in the family business, so it’s something we’ve both grown up with and always seen.

Obviously there are days when I disagree with something Emma suggests and she might disagree with something I put forward, but that happens in any workplace and you have to try and get on with anyone in business who’s putting in the work and coming up with ideas.

Going into such a tight-knit group was a little hard at first. When Johnny [Harrington] was around I’d take a more mediating role if I could, but now if there are any disagreements between the three I’ve told Jessie that I have to take the view that Emma is always right.

Jessie has come through a period in society where women didn’t have an equal footing with men. She considers herself a trainer of winners, not a female trainer, and she treats those working with her in the same way, with the same respect. She expects them to work hard and she has great loyalty.

I became involved with Commonstown because it needed additional support and was growing so big. I had a brilliant job at Punchestown and I enjoyed every day I worked there, so it wasn’t easy to leave them. Ending up at Jessie’s is only due to the hard work Jessie, Kate and Emma have put into building up the business. They don’t really notice the impact the business has on the local community. We just see it as training winners and working hard, but in such a rural economy the business is crucial for a lot of people and local businesses.

We haven’t found working together a huge issue, it hasn’t created conflicts. We have our own little farm and it’s just an expansion of that.

Richie and Emma were in conversation with Lissa Oliver.

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AINTREE Sale

KEY NUMBERS

88%

Clearance rate

£115,095 Average price paid for 21 horses sold

£325,000 Malone Road fetched the top price

Malone Road is held in high regard by trainer Gordon Elliott and owners Cheveley Park Stud

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AINTREE Sale

THE ROAD TO RICHES

By Stuart Crawford TRAINER & VENDOR OF MALONE ROAD

In the end, it all boils down to the horse.

If you have got the right horse he is very saleable.

Malone Road was always going to be popular, once he won his point-to-point at Loughanmore. Not only had he the result and the performance but he was also a nice model with a good pedigree. It was a pleasure for me to bring him to the Goffs UK Aintree Sale.

The sale is well placed in the calendar for two reasons. It comes shortly after some good point-to-point meetings, and the atmosphere at Aintree is less pressurised than at other festivals for owners, trainers and agents. They have a bit more time on their hands to view potential purchases.

All the top people were interested in Malone Road. Anthony Bromley [Highflyer Bloodstock] had seen the horse before he ran and made enquiries immediately after the horse won, but it was Tom Malone who came away with the horse for Cheveley Park Stud.

It’s great that the horse has already gone and won his bumper. I was speaking to Gordon Elliott recently and he told me he is very excited about Malone Road and won’t be taking any chances with him. I’d like to think the horse is Grade 1 material.

Aintree is very handy for me, based in Co Antrim, and I just hope I can find another good horse to bring there in April.

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PUNCHESTOWN Sale

KEY NUMBERS

€320,000

RECORD TOP PRICE FOR LECALE’S ARTICLE (PICTURED)

9

Of the 14 lots offered made €100,000 or more

€125,143 Average price at 2018 sale

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PUNCHESTOWN Sale

A SUBLIME SALE

By Kevin Ross

BLOODSTOCK AGENT AND PURCHASER OF COEUR SUBLIME

As a Goffs agent, I’m bound to say nice things about the Punchestown Sale!

The timing of the sale is perfect, as owners and trainers are starting to think about restocking for the following season. The venue is also ideal. There are great viewing facilities at Punchestown.

The 2018 sale was particularly memorable for me as I bought Coeur Sublime, on behalf of owner Chris Jones, for €280,000.

I was underbidder on him as a yearling and, like everyone else who saw it, I was impressed with his winning debut on the flat before the sale. His trainer Peter Fahey felt there was a lot of improvement to come, so I was happy to recommend the horse to Chris. We saw Coeur Sublime as an ideal replacement for Mega Fortune, who had a fatal fall at the start of the season.

We had a rough idea of the price we would need to pay for Coeur Sublime and hopefully he will prove himself worth every cent once we get some rain and a stiff stamina test. We were delighted to see him finish second in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.

For a sale that never has more than 20 horses, the Punchestown Sale has a great record. Last year’s sale also produced the mare Honeysuckle (€110,000), now a leading novice hurdler and it has also produced Elegant Escape and Charbel this season.

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Spring Sale

“HE COULD BE A GOLD CUP HORSE”

By SEAMUS COFFEY

VENDOR OF ASK FOR GLORY

We were expecting Ask For Glory to sell well, the way he won his point-to-point.

There was plenty of interest in him but it was high-pressure stuff. We had sold Give Me A Copper to Tom Malone at the 2016 Goffs UK Aintree Sale for £240,000 and it was Tom again who bought Ask For Glory for £280,000. We couldn’t complain, but it was emotional at the time. Mike Cattermole interviewed my father Donal and my 15-year-old son James, and the video went viral. James is doing the trainee jockey course at RACE now and he loves it. Ask For Glory made his debut for Paul Nicholls in a bumper at Chepstow over Christmas and won easily.

That was no surprise to us. He’s a very good horse, who just needs time. My father hopes he could be a Gold Cup horse.

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Spring Sale

KEY NUMBERS

£140,000 Top price paid in the store horse section

27

Stores sold for £50,000 or more

92%

Clearance rate for the HIT/PTP section

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Land rover Sale

KEY NUMBERS

€325,000 A RECORD TOP LOT (PICTURED)

€10.4 million

Turnover up 21% for Part 1

€48,389

Part 1 average price up 12%

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Lots made €50,000 or more

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land rover Sale

IMPROVING ALL THE TIME

By David Minton

HIGHFLYER BLOODSTOCK

The Land Rover Sale has got stronger year by year. The standard of individual is improving all the time. Last year we [Highflyer] bought a total of 28 horses for various clients and there was a real buzz throughout the day. I think restricting Part 1 to a single day helps bring more British buyers, particularly the leading owners, who will come for one full day. My wife Juliet and I [Mill House Stud] sold two stores at Part 1 and they did very well.

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DECEMBER NH Sale KEY NUMBERS

€4.6 m

Sale aggregate jumped 8.4%

€230,000

Price of Whistle Dixie was highest in Ireland paid for AN NH broodmare in 10 years

€90,000 Record sale price for a NH foal

19%

Rise in average price to €14,532

TOP QUALITY ON OFFER

By Adrian Costello

PURCHASER OF TWO OF THE TOP-PRICED FOALS

We deal in both Flat and National Hunt horses at Clenagh Castle Stud in Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co Clare. Our focus is on buying and rearing quality young stock and my family has a long tradition in buying and selling National Hunt horses.

There was a very good selection of foals at the Goffs December National Hunt Sale. Trade was very strong for the best quality individuals.

One foal made €90,000 – a record for the sale. That Walk In The Park colt was part of the Ballincurrig House Stud draft, as was the Mount Nelson colt out of Grade 1 winner Glens Melody, which I bought for €82,000. I also gave €62,000 for a Flemensfirth colt consigned by Galbertstown Stud, and I bought a few others as well.

I’d love to think there was another Best Mate or Florida Pearl among them. Presenting Percy and Waiting Patiently have done us proud in recent seasons.

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JANUARY NH Sale KEY NUMBERS

9

Point-to-pointers sold for £58,000 or more

£105,000 Top price paid for pointer Presentandcounting

£1,454,300 Day 2 aggregate was up 2%

HEALTHY MIDDLE MARKET WORTHY OF SUPPORT

BY JAMES READ

SELWOOD BLOODSTOCK

Goffs UK put in a massive effort to bring Irish buyers across to the January Sale at Doncaster. There was a dinner put on for them in the Hilton, next to the racecourse, and that went down extremely well.

We sold a two-year-old by Midnight Legend to the Bleahens’ Lakefield Farm for £35,000, and a Blue Bresil yearling to Kevin Ross for £50,000. I was especially delighted with the Blue Bresil as I was co-breeder. The colt is out of Mickie, who was rated 145, and the TBA elite mare scheme pays a percentage of the covering fee for mares like her.

It’s a great scheme. We put the yearling in the January Sale because we felt it would stand out and it definitely worked.

More British breeders should consider this sale.

Fiona and I have had more flat horses than jumpers but this is a market we would like to explore further. It seems to have a healthier middle section than the flat.

I would like to commend Goffs UK for the conscious effort they make to help young people get a foothold in the business. We have no family background in the industry but George Stanners – and before him, Michael Dale – have been extremely supportive. I can’t speak highly enough of them.

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Equine Portrait & Sporting Artist

Artist in Residence at The Curragh Racecourse

“Early morning exercise”Oil on board, also available as a limited edition print.

www.johnfitzgeraldart.ie Email: info@johnfitzgeraldart.ie • Tel: 00353 (0)86 256 7797 246248_2L_John Fitzgerald_JM_Goffs NH_V4.indd 1

D&E BEHAN

30/01/2019 12:18

Suppliers of quality all weather surfaces for the past 25 years 200 group winners trained on gallops supplied and maintained by us.

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Wood Chip Surface

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Horses trained on our surfaces have won in excess of 170 Group 1 Races in the last 10 years.

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01/04/2019 14:48

Property

THE AMERICAN DREAM MICHAEL DICKINSON’S WORLD-FAMOUS TAPETA FARM IN THE USA HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE MARKET IT goes without saying that a farm designed and built by Michael Dickinson will be faultless.

The former trainer, equally renowned for his achievements with jumpers in England and flat horses in the USA, is affectionately known in racing as a “mad genius”.

His racing achievements include training the first five finishers in the 1983 Cheltenham Gold Cup, saddling 12 winners on one day in 1982, and winning the Breeders’ Cup Mile in 1996 and 1998 with Da Hoss.

Famed for his innovation and thirst for knowledge, Dickinson went on to develop the revolutionary Tapeta training and racing surface, which is now used around the world.

The original thinking, expertise and attention to detail which Dickinson brought to those enterprises are also evident in Tapeta Farm, a near 200-acre property in on

America’s east coast which has been placed on the market with Goffs Property.

Tapeta Farm is one of the premier thoroughbred training centres in the United States. Situated at the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay on the Elk River. Tapeta Farm is mid-way between New York City and Washington D.C. and is within easy vanning distance to 10 major tracks.

Its natural beauty with rolling hills, forest trails, streams and 30 acres of luxurious paddocks is augmented by six turf tracks, main house and elegant tree breaks placed along the entrance drive, which give the property a decidedly countryside appeal.

The centrepiece of the facility’s impressive layout is the 40-stall barn built by skilled Amish craftsmen. Each horse has its own outside window with enough overhang to be protected from rainfall while providing a

view and plenty of fresh air. Half of the stalls have friendship grills for companionship.

The barn also features a well-water treatment facility, six air changes per hour ventilator system, three hay steamers, organic fly-spray system and a hay storage area.

Centrally located on the ground floor are the tack room, offices, break room and restroom, all dressed in knotty pine, a theme carried throughout the facility. Five more offices, including the trainer’s office, are located on the first floor.

The six turf tracks make training in any weather possible. Running parallel are a 60-foot wide grass track for normal weather, a 40-foot wide track for drought conditions and a track they call Noah’s Ark, which is for wet weather. Beyond that, a 100-foot wide hill track provides a unique training opportunity.

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PROPERTY

Finally, the seven and a half furlong Tapeta 10 track boasts a three-stall starting gate. Intermingled is the tractor barn and forest trail, which helps connect training areas to the barn.

Of the 30 acres for turnout, there are 10 turnout paddocks covering 20 acres, two movable round pens, organic grazing areas and two sand pens.

Next door to the barn is the performance centre that boasts the latest in equine equipment such as a cold saltwater spa, salt room, vibrating platform and three examining stalls. The performance centre also houses the auxiliary energy system as well as a covered eight-horse horse-walker, and the synthetic track surface research lab.

Adjacent to the performance centre is the swimming pond with central dock.

Tapeta Farm is a stunning facility of unequalled infrastructure combined with natural beauty. It has been meticulously conceived, built and maintained, offering the seriously minded a rare opportunity.

Contact Andrew Nolan of Goffs Property on +353 45 981048 Email: property@goffs.ie Web: goffsproperty.com

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MAIN HOUSE

The 4,500-square foot main house stands at the head of the property, on a rise that overlooks the farm with views of Chesapeake. The tree-lined drive leads to a modern Englishstyled home with attached three car garage.

The pillared entranceway opens to the foyer and the great room, sitting room, den, dining room, kitchen and laundry There are two half-baths and two fireplaces on the first floor. A separate guest suite is located in the eastern wing with private bathroom and laundry. The layout is warm and friendly and is augmented by beautifully finished randomwidth aged pine floors.

The second floor features four bedrooms and three baths.

The master bedroom has two expansive (his and hers) walk-in closets, an elegant bathroom with spa tub and glassed in shower.

A private deck off the master overlooks the entire property.

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EQUINE LANDSCAPE SERVICES

Grass gallop construction • Stable yard construction • Weed control Suppliers of hay and straw • Tree and hedge planting • Rodential pest control Contact: Derek Pessers, Equine Landscape Services Ltd, Middlemount, Rathdowney, Laois, Ireland Tel: 353 (0)877 640 474 • Email: info@equinelandscapeservices.com • Web: www.equinelandscapeservices.com

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Contemporary Equestrian Art & Commissions

11/01/2019 12:43

Equizart celebrates contemporary art and a love of all things equestrian.

Artist Julie Duffy brings her passion and energy to Equizart by creating unique equestrian artworks that are printed onto lightweight metal.

These beautiful prints make wonderful gifts for art lovers and people who enjoy a touch of luxury. Equestrian coach Julie, creates the stunning Equizart range in Co. Tyrone where she owns an Equestrian Centre.

To view more visit www.equizart.com

Carricklee Road, Strabane, Co. Tyrone Web: www.equizart.com Email: info@equizart.com Tel: (0044) 787 9897601

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The brand of choice throughout the UK & Ireland • Quality Equestrian Woodshavings, Sawdust and Woodchip • Cotton Paper Bedding and Rubber Matting • Waste Collection and Haulage Services Available • Road Recycling and Resurfacing

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cadammark@gmail.com 12/02/2019 09:37

01/04/2019 14:28

O’KEEFFES

Kilbricken Storm won the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle

PATIENCE

PAYS OFF BREEDER AND TRAINER RICHARD O’KEEFFE TELLS EOGHÁIN WARD HOW CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL WINNER KILBRICKEN STORM ALMOST MISSED HIS CALLING

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O’KEEFFES

Finian’s Oscar won three Grade 1 races in his short career.

I

RELAND is the largest producer of thoroughbreds in Europe.

As in most industries, there are a number of powerhouses which play a big role. However, in the case of the Irish breeding sector, it is the countless, small family breeders dotted all across the country, each with their own individual story, which make it so special.

For many, the breeding of thoroughbreds is a passion, rather than a business, co-existing alongside their daily pursuits, and this is very much the case for Richard O’Keeffe and his family.

The eight broodmares Richard has under his care at Taghmon in Co Wexford share the land with his primary job of farming over 100 cattle.

But whilst breeding may not be all about business for the O’Keeffes, their results certainly highlight a family with a proven track record for producing stars. Grade 1 winners Kilbricken Storm, Finian’s Rainbow and Finian’s Oscar have all been born on the farm, before being sold in Goffs sales rings.

The last-named Grade 1 winner epitomises their longstanding roots, with the O’Keeffes having bred and raced Finian’s Oscar’s dam line all the way back to his great granddam, Trinity Air. She won twice between the flags, including at Newcastle in 1983 when ridden by none other than Ted Walsh.

“I can still remember riding Trinity Air myself, as a chap, and that tells you how long we have had the family!” quips Richard.

Finian’s Oscar’s dam, Trinity Alley, was owned, bred and trained by his uncle Jimmy, who also saddled Trinity Gale, Finian’s Oscar’s granddam, and the dam of Nicky Henderson’s Queen Mother Champion Chase victor Finian’s Rainbow, to win her maiden at Ballon in 1993.

The three-time Grade 1 winning Finian’s Oscar flew the flag on the highest stage prior to his untimely death at the age of six, and the headlines which he gained within the sport after winning the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle, just two months after he had won a Portrush point-to-point for Denis Murphy, was a particular joy for Richard, who had bred him with his first cousin Martin.

“He was easy up along the whole way and never gave us a bit of trouble. He was a nice, quality foal and sure he turned out to be a nice quality horse too,” remembers the 53-year-old, who sold him as a foal to Dick Frisby for ₣24,000 at the 2012 edition of the Goffs December National Hunt Sale.

Whilst Finian’s Oscar is tragically no longer with us, Richard still has plenty of the family on the farm. The dam of ‘Oscar’ remains an integral part of Richard’s breeding operation at the age of 18 and, at time of writing, was in foal to Soldier Of Fortune.

Her more recent offspring include an unraced fouryear-old Jeremy filly who herself is in-foal for the first time to Diamond Boy. Richard also has a two-year-old half-sister to ‘Oscar’ by Sageburg and she is already being aimed at the 2020 Goffs Land Rover Sale.

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Having been sold as a foal, Finian’s Oscar is the exception to Richard’s preferred route, opting to traditionally offer his young horses for sale as three-yearolds. That was the plan with Kilbricken Storm but it didn’t work out that way.

Another son of Oscar, he was bred by Richard’s mother Statia and consigned for the 2014 edition of the Land Rover Sale by his sister, Muriel.

However, as every consignor will sadly confirm, lastminute hiccups can be all too familiar. That was the case for Lot 199, the then-unnamed Kilbricken Storm.

“He got a knock on his leg going into the lorry and cut himself. We were going up for vetting and he got that knock, so he ended up going a little bit lame and wouldn’t pass the vet,” remembers Richard.

“Over the years we have sold a good few horses at the Land Rover – it’s a good sale and that’s why it was the plan with him - but any that we can’t sell, we throw a saddle on them and that’s where we went with him.”

Ideally situated in the new heartland of point-to-point racing in Ireland, just like with his broodmares, training is not a big business for Richard, who prefers to now only keep a half-dozen horses in training, which allows him to give each horse the individual attention to thrive, as was the case with Kilbricken Storm.

“Everything was easy with him, but he always had trouble with his feet. If any of the other lads here had him, he would never have seen the track. I just had to have loads of patience with him.”

Statia and Martin O’Keeffe receive a Connolly’s Red Mills The Irish Field Breeder Award from Gareth Connolly (left)

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O’KEEFFES

TOP: Margaret, Gillian. Martin, Chris, Jeanette and Irene O’Keeffe at the ITBA National Breeding & Racing Awards.

ABOVE: Richard and Martin O’Keeffe

Patience was the key. Beaten a combined 57 lengths in his opening two runs at Lingstown and Ballinaboola, having made his debut just two weeks before turning six, he improved for a break, when winning an older maiden at Curraheen in Cork in April 2017.

It was a performance which sealed his ticket to the Goffs UK Spring sale a month later, where it was Colin TIzzard who secured the then six-year-old for just £22,000.

“There were three or four people looking at him. Evan Williams loved him and I had thought that he was going to buy him, but Colin [Tizzard] had a customer for that money and he ended up getting him.

“I told Colin he was a good horse and that he would win loads of races for him, but it’s easy for me to say that, so it’s great to see him going on to do so well.”

That summary downplays what the horse has gone on to achieve.

Within 10 months, Kilbricken Storm was lapping up the adulation as he walked into the winner’s enclosure at the Cheltenham Festival as a Grade 1 winner, having sprung a 33/1 shock to land the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. His proud former trainer was in attendance to witness the success.

Richard had kept in close contact with the Tizzard team, offering advice when issues with the seven-year-old’s feet flared up again ahead of the Festival, and he was invited over to Dorset last August, where he spent the day riding out his former charge on their impressive gallops.

Richard follows all the horses produced by his family with that same interest and attention. This is a love affair with the game and not a commercial pursuit. As Richard put it: “Sure if I was to look into my pockets, I wouldn’t be long throwing it all in!”

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HORSE FEED

FEEDING GRAND NATIONAL WINNERS At the Moorcroft Racehorse Welfare Centre in West Sussex we re-train ex-racehorses to do another job in life. We then find good longterm homes for them. It is possible to get a nice retrained horse for low level dressage or just safe hacking from the charity. A small donation is required when re-homing one of these lovely horses. Great trial facilities.

Tiger Roll – Gordon Elliott Randox Grand National Aintree

See www.moorcroftracehorse.org.uk or call 0044 07929 666408 to discuss

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12/12/2018 15:56

General Principle – Gordon Elliott Irish Grand National Fairyhouse

Raz De Maree – Gavin Cromwell Welsh Grand National Chepstow

Bluegrass Horse Feeds T: +44 (0)28 3754 8276 E: info@bluegrasshorsefeed.com Follow us on:

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NH.indd 1 31/08/20184C_IKA_JM_Goffs 14:05

01/04/2019 12:30 01/04/2019 14:31

INSIGHT

Aidan sold the mare Kupatana for €120,000 at the Goffs UK Aintree Sale

How and when did you first get involved in bloodstock?

I started in the half-bred game.

I did a lot of hunting with the Stonehall Harriers in Limerick and started trading a few ponies.

I suppose I got the buzz of a sale selling ponies and got the bug that way. I spent time with my cousin Davy Fitzgerald and then went on to Michael Hourigan to learn a bit more.

OFF THE RECORD WITH …

AIDAN FITZGERALD POINT-TO-POINT HANDLER & SALES CONSIGNOR

Who has been your biggest influence and why?

Denis Murphy. He’s a brilliant horseman and he’s been at it for a long time.

He has to be admired.

Tell us about one of your best Goffs or Goffs UK purchases or sales.

I sold Kupatana (by Westerner) to Nicky Henderson at the Goffs UK Aintree Sale in 2017. I had bought her for a modest price and managed to get £120,000 for her.

The Aintree Sale worked well for me as she had won her point in Monksgrange the week previous to the sale. I bought a filly by Bourbon Rose in the Land Rover Sale for €10,000 and went on to have a bit of luck with her too. She was named Daylight Katie and was sold to Gordon Elliott for €100,000. She has gone on to win a few bumpers.

“Work for the best and you’ll learn from the best.

Open your eyes, shut your mouth and don’t be afraid to work”

What young National Hunt stallions are you keen on?

I am a big fan of Shirocco, I took a chance on a few of them last year and I’ve been impressed so far. The few I have I’m happy with, they’re good looking horses.

Describe some of the physical characteristics you like or dislike when buying a horse.

I like a horse with a presence and a good walk. The dam-line matters to me as well, I like to see that the mare has done something herself.

I suppose I like to see the mare

has been well covered and that she is by a decent broodmare sire herself.

It’s nice to buy from consignors who you know will have reared the horses well. To make a fouryear-old, the day that they come home from the sale is the day it all starts. We start work from then on. When they’ve come from a good farm, and they’ve been fed and looked after, it’s always a great bonus to us. We know the horses have a base in them to work on and hopefully get their nose in front in a fouryear-old maiden.

What advice would you give to anyone wishing to work in the bloodstock sales?

Starting out you should work for someone at the top of their game.

Work for the best and you’ll learn from the best. Open your eyes, shut your mouth and don’t be afraid of work.

Outside of racing and sales, what are your interests?

Playing with the kids is always a bit of craic. I’m a big fan of Netflix as well.

What is your biggest ambition in racing or breeding?

The dream is to sell a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner.

But I suppose my biggest ambition is to keep training winners. If you’re training winners, you’re selling winners and that’s what matters at the end of the day.

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SOCIAL

ABOVE: AMY HORGAN, ROLLINE O’CALLAGHAN, SOPHIE BARRETT ABOVE: MICHELLE CURTIN

RACING

STYLE THE EXCELLENT PERSONAL SHOPPING TEAM AT BROWN THOMAS HOSTED A FASHION SHOW AND BRUNCH IN THE RESTAURANT AT BROWN THOMAS WHERE STYLE TRENDS AND TIPS FOR THE COMING SEASON WERE SHARED

ABOVE: MARYSE and HAZEL DOYLE

TOP: TREASA O LOUGHLIN, HEATHER FITZPATRICK and ANDREA ROCHE ABOVE: RHONA BLAKE, ELIZABETH MC CALMONT and GINA LONDON

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LEFT: MARCELLA BURNS, GILLIAN WALSH and TAMSO DOYLE

GOFFS NATIONAL HUNT 2019

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SOCIAL

RIGHT: KATHERINE and JANE MULROONEY

ABOVE: DERVILLE MEADE and ELAINE MONAGHAN BELOW: ANNA DOYLE, ROWENA BOYD and ORLA MORRIN.

TOP: JOYA BURNS and SHEENA UMANEE TOP: DENISE KENNEDY and CAROLINE FITZPATRICK

ABOVE: EMER FALLON and CIARA HOGAN

ABOVE: NIAMH SWAIL and ZOE WELD

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commercial feature

A HAPPY HUNTING

GROUND FOR NH FILLIES ITBA AT THE LAND ROVER SALE When the ITBA NH Committee established their highly successful selfhelp scheme in 2013, one of the main objectives was to enhance the prices of fillies at store sales and encourage breeders to return their fillies in training. The ITBA scheme pays out a bonus of €5,000 to any eligible filly who win their Mares only maiden bumper, maiden hurdle and beginners steeplechase. Therefore, each filly has the opportunity to win €15,000 without deduction on top of the prize money. In 2018, the scheme was extended to include a number of Mares only handicap hurdles for fillies that did not win their maiden. With the number of incentives increasing and improvements to the race programme for National Hunt fillies, owners needed a place to purchase them and the Goffs Land Rover Sale certainly provides just that. Stats show why this sale is fast becoming a very happy hunting ground for NH filly owners. This makes for very positive reading with the average price for a NH Filly in pt 1 of the Land Rover Sale almost trebling in value in just 5 years. The scheme itself boasts some very impressive results since its inception as follows: • €1,300,000 paid out to winning owners • 260 individual winners • 127 individual winners bought at store sales • 10% increase in the number of fillies returned in training with HRI

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Success Stories When you buy a horse be it a filly or a gelding, you’re buying a dream and the Weatherbys ITBA NH Fillies Bonus scheme is the cherry on the top when you win. Hello Sweetie was bought at the Land Rover Sales in Goffs for €14,000 and has been a model of consistency for her Owner/Trainer Patrick Collins. She won five times and was placed on nine occasions and collected over €68,000 in prize money. On top of that she won her mares only bumper and maiden hurdle and gained an extra non-deductible €10,000 from the Weatherbys ITBA NH Fillies Bonus scheme for her lucky owner. Golden Flowerpower is another who won two bonuses for her owners.

She was bought as a foal from the Goffs December Sale for €24,000 by Harry Kavanagh and his daughter Marie and proved a very lucky addition to their farm.

She won her point to point in Dromohane, followed quickly by her bumper and maiden hurdle with the bonus attached.

She is now retired to stud at Harry’s Co Wicklow farm as a two time winning broodmare. Redhotfillypeppers is just one in a very long list of winning fillies trained by NH Maestro Willie Mullins.

She was purchased in the Land Rover Sale for €29,000, she has run 11 times, won five including a p2p, bumper, twice over hurdles and once over the fences. She has amassed over €38,000 in winnings

for her owners and has won an additional €10,000 in bonuses from the Weatherbys ITBA NH Fillies Bonus Scheme.

Longevity of the Filly The joy of buying and owning a filly is the longevity she provides. If you buy her, race her and enjoy a level of success there are a range of options available to you.

You could keep her for breeding, sell her in a horses in training sale or privately, cover her and sell her as a broodmare.

Whistle Dixie is a filly that fits the last option profile perfectly. From the family of Kicking King, this superbly bred filly was a very consistent race-mare winning on three occasions and gaining two ITBA NH Fillies Bonuses on top of her prize-money.

Her owners Gigginstown Stud put her in foal to Mount Nelson and sold her at the Goffs December NH Sale. She set new heights for Goffs as she fetched a recordbreaking €230,000 for her connections.

This highlights the versatility of buying, owning and selling fillies. Weatherbys is the title sponsor and the scheme is financial supported by HRI. The figures for fillies at store sales have never been better and with the enhanced racing programme, now is the time to buy a filly and get involved.

Should you require any additional information on the scheme, contact Regina in the ITBA on 045 877543.

Year

No of Fillies Sold

Avg Price

Total Sales of Fillies

Top Price

2014

53

€14,311

€758,400

€45,000

2015

55

€17,127

€942,000

€62,000

2016 pt 1

14

€28,429

€398,000

€85,000

2017 pt 1

14

€35,143

€492,000

€75,000

2018 pt 1

10

€38,900

€389,000

€70,000

2016 pt 2

39

€11,146

€434,200

€57,000

2017 pt 2

31

€14,758

€457,500

€45,000

2018 pt 2

42

€15,917

€668,500

€40,000

GOFFS NATIONAL HUNT 2019

DIGGING THE DIRT WITH DIARMUID GAVIN

GARDEN DESIGNER AND TELEVISION PERSONALITY DIARMUID GAVIN IS A LAND ROVER AMBASSADOR. A FORMER AMATEUR SHOW JUMPER, HE IS A REGULAR VISITOR TO THE DUBLIN HORSE SHOW. WE FOUND OUT MORE ABOUT HIS EQUINE CONNECTIONS AND TRIED TO TEMPT HIM TO BUY A RACEHORSE. Q: Tell us a bit about your connection with horses?

DG: I learned to ride a horse in Brennanstown Stables in Kilmacanogue in preparation for a Sports Relief programme called Only Fools on Horses. The basis for that show was that 10 well-known people would become show jumpers and have a nightly live competition on the BBC. In the UK I was tutored by the late, great Tim Stockdale. Initially I was a mess on a horse - I looked like a cowboy but seemingly had a great sense of balance. It was one of those rare reality shows in which

I did well. I loved it so much that when I came back to Ireland I wrote a show for RTE called Diarmuid’s Ponykids. It involved top show jumper Jessica Kuerten training five youngsters from disadvantaged areas.

The children eventually went to Gatcombe where Zara Phillips treated them like kings and queens. They jumped in their own competition immediately after the Aga Khan Cup in the RDS and through the process learned skills such as taking responsibility for their steed, discipline and camaraderie. Through both of these endeavours I

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DIARMUID GAVIN

learned that if you are willing to give the horse industry a go, that community would group around and support you.

Q: Have you ever been to the races?

DG: I’ve been to the races many times from the Galway Races to Ascot, Leopardstown and Punchestown. I even entered a competition to redesign the amenity areas of Punchestown but didn’t get over the first jump in that one.

DISCOVERY OF THE YEAR

COME AND TEST DRIVE SOME REAL HORSE POWER

Q: Unlike in show jumping, racecourse fences are all the same. Do you think you could add a touch of colour to them?

DG: I think my designs might frighten the horses and get them to turn away. There would be a stewards’ inquiry and I have enough of them at the Chelsea Flower Show, thank you very much!

DISCOVERY COMMERCIAL:

BY THE NUMBERS

A NEW ultra-versatile commercial version of the Land Rover Discovery is now on sale in Q: The Grand National has Becher’s Ireland. Featuring 1,856 litres of Brook, the Chair, Valentine’s, the Canal flexible load space replacing the PRICE: €43,367 Turn and so on. Imagine if you were second and third row seats, the EX-DELIVERY (EXCLUDING VAT asked to design a floral fence for the new Discovery affords driver Grand National. What would you do and passenger premium levels AT €9,974) IN IRELAND and what would it be called? of comfort and entertainment.

FLEXIBLE LOAD SPACE: DG: It would be called Gavin’s Folly and it would Available with Land Rover’s 1,856 LITRES be a fence festooned with roses but one that would 3.0D SDV6 306PS engine, Discovery TOWING have a pneumatic ability to rise and fall, controlled Commercial shares the fundamental remotely by me! I’d watch from the stand and ensure that underpinnings of the Discovery, from its whoever I’d bet on had an easy jump but the rest of the field wide-spaced double-wishbone design at the would find that (as if by magic) the roses grew taller as they front to its advanced multi-link layout at the rear, approached. I suffer from an evil over-active imagination! the Discovery Commercial’s suspension delivers more responsive handling without compromising Land Rover’s Q: You don’t live too far from Leopardstown. hallmark all-terrain capability and makes all journeys Would you be up for a day at the races, maybe confident, comfortable and engaging. have a chat with their resident horticulturalist?

Discovery Commercial comes exclusively with four wheel DG: I’d love that. I’ve always loved Leopardstown, especially drive, automatic transmission, twin-speed transfer box and the Christmas Festival. It’s an amazing oasis in the midst of air suspension. Fitted solely with Discovery’s front row suburban Dublin. Like any racecourse, the heightened sense of seating; driver comfort and convenience remain unchanged theatre and the drama that you get during a race lingers over with the HSE model featuring heated seats and a cold climate the landscape long after a meeting. pack as standard; this includes heated windscreen, heated washer jets and heated steering wheel.

Q: You’re a big fan of the Land Rover Discovery The second and third row seating have been replaced Commercial. Would you recommend it to horse with 1,856 litres of hardwearing load-space. Discovery owners? Would it be suitable for towing a Commercial’s load-space measures 1,635mm long, 939mm horsebox? high and 1,411mm wide. The boot aperture is large enough DG: Ah sure it’s great! The strength, the comfort, the space, to accept loads measuring up to 1000 x 735mm. the sheer robust nature of the vehicle and the hint of luxury, the Discovery Commercial comes with Land Rover’s unique height above traffic which allows you such clear vision. It could terrain response systems which optimise the vehicle’s engine, tow a horse box from here all the way to the Melbourne Cup. gearbox, centre differential and chassis systems to match the demands of the terrain.

Q: In June there will be 500 untried racehorses Retaining the exterior design of Discovery, rear window for sale at the Goffs Land Rover Sale in Kildare. concealment panels are masked by privacy glass so Discovery Prices to suit all budgets. Let’s say you and a few Commercial can be undistinguishable as a commercial more celebrity garden designers put together a vehicle if desired. syndicate to buy a horse. What would you call it?

Discovery Commercial features a host of technology, DG: I’d name it Fallopia, a plant whose common name is Mileconvenience features and driver aids necessary when A-Minute. Monty Don would relax it with his dulcet tones, transporting loads for business.

Charlie Dimmock would get the blood running through its veins, Alan Titchmarsh would introduce it to the Queen and I Speak to Land Rover Ireland’s David Ford (pictured) would be its champion jockey. at this year’s Goffs Land Rover Sale.

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Become a Member of the RDS RDS Membership offers you an exclusive Dublin city base to use for business and pleasure. And of course, as an RDS Member you will also be supporting the Irish sport horse industry, as well as our other work in the areas of agriculture, the arts, enterprise and science.

RDS Membership will also give you access to: > Our elegant Members’ Club > Use of reciprocal clubs worldwide > Superb catering & free Wi-Fi > Warm and friendly service > Vibrant program of social & cultural events > Free parking in Ballsbridge for you and your guests > Complimentary five day entry to the Horse Show (7 to 11 August 2019) > Borrowing rights from the extensive Library

To find out more contact us now e: catherine@rds.ie

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SOCIAL LEFT: A scene from the sales ring BELOW: BOBBY O’RYAN

ABOVE: DAVID MINTON BELOW: JP MCMANUS

GRAND AMBITION THE GOFFS UK AINTREE SALE HAS A REPUTATION FOR PRODUCING TOP-CLASS RACING PROSPECTS

ABOVE: CHARLIE SWAN, AP MCCOY and JUSTIN CARTHY BELOW: EDDIE O’LEARY

ABOVE: NICKY HENDERSON BELOW: JONJO O’NEILL

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ABOVE LEFT: COLIN TIZZARD BELOW: MARGARET O’TOOLE, COLIN BOWE and GORDON ELLIOTT

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ABOVE: JOSEPH O’BRIEN BELOW: TIMMY HYDE

ABOVE: CHRIS JONES and KEVIN ROSS ABOVE: WILLIE MULLINS

STOCKING

UP

THE GOFFS PUNCHESTOWN SALE IS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR OWNERS AND TRAINERS TO ACQUIRE FRESH AMMUNITION FOR THE NEXT SEASON

ABOVE: DAN SKELTON, NICK SKELTON, RYAN MAHON BELOW: ANTHONY BROMLEY and WARREN GREATEX

BELOW: GORDON ELLIOTT

BELOW: EDDIE O’LEARY ABOVE: JD MOORE BELOW: AIDEN MURPHY

BELOW: HENRY and HEATHER DE BROMHEAD

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ABOVE: AIDEN MURPHY BELOW: ROBERT TYNER

BELOW: KEVIN ROSS

LEADING THE WAY

AFTER ANOTHER YEAR TOPPING THE TABLES AT CHELTENHAM, IT WAS NO SURPRISE TO SEE A HUGE CROWD OF UK AND DOMESTIC BUYERS DESCEND ON GOFFS FOR TWO DAYS OF RECORD TRADE AT LAST YEAR’S LAND ROVER.

LEFT: HAROLD KIRK and WILLIE MULLINS ABOVE: DAVID and JULIET MINTON

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RIGHT: ANTHONY BROMLEY

ABOVE: TOM MALONE BELOW: NICKY HENDERSON

ABOVE: DEMI O’BYRNE, EDWARD O’GRADY and HENRIETTA KNIGHT LEFT: GORDON ELLIOTT

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ABOVE: BOBBY O’RYAN BELOW: TESSA GREATREX

SPRING

BREAK ABOVE: DAVID PIPE

THE GOFFS UK SPRING SALE IS THE UK’S LARGEST NH SALE AND ATTRACTS ALL THE MAJOR NH CONSIGNORS AND BUYERS TO DONCASTER. THE 2018 SALE WAS ONE TO REMEMBER WITH SOARING TEMPERATURES AND SUNNY SKIES MAKING FOR A SUPERB THREE-DAY SALE.

ABOVE: NIALL and JOHN BLEAHEN

LEFT: COLIN TIZZARD and NICKY HENDERSON

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ABOVE: CHARLIE SWAN, KIERAN MCMANUS and EIMEAR MULHERN BELOW: GORDON ELLIOTT ABOVE: TREVOR HEMMINGS and DAVID MINTON BELOW: ALAN KING and BEN PAULING

ABOVE: WILLY and NIGEL TWISTON DAVIES

ABOVE: DONAL COFFEY and FAMILY

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insight

records he set. He goes back to a very good French female line and Lomitas is in his sire line. I’m also excited about Casamento, who is starting his NH career with us.

He was the leading third season sire in Europe last year, based on the number of winners and races won. Frankel was third! We’re proud of that. He gets goodlooking horses too.

Describe some of the physical characteristics you like and dislike when buying a horse.

They have to be good movers, good walkers, good to trot on.

They must have size, and pedigree is important. The day is gone when you can buy something for re-sale without a pedigree.

OFF THE RECORD WITH …

What advice would you give to anyone wishing to work in the bloodstock business?

Just the other day I was saying to myself “I’m 40 years in this business and if I was starting off again I think I would have become a vet instead!” To succeed in the horse business, you have to work hard, seek the best advice and be lucky.

MICHAEL HICKEY OWNER OF SUNNYHILL STUD

How and when did you first get involved in bloodstock?

My father, Michael, founded Garryrichard Stud in Foulksmills, Co Wexford.

He bought Arctic Slave as a stallion in 1957 and he became champion NH sire. Then there was Master Owen, Callernish, Over The River and Luso. My wife Sheelagh and I bought Sunnyhill Stud in Kilcullen, Co Kildare, in 1978.

Who has been your biggest influence and why?

See above! My father also won several championships at the Dublin Horse Show and was a great man to go to hounds.

Growing up around somebody so knowledgeable was a great advantage.

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“They must have size and pedigree is important.

The day is gone when you can buy something for re-sale without a pedigree”

Tell us about one of your best Goffs/ Goffs UK purchases or sales.

I bought a very good Aga Khan mare, Afdala, at Goffs.

She was only a three-year-old and she cost a lot but she was very lucky for me. Her first foal turned out to be Balthazar King (pictured), a winner of 16 races and second in a Grand National. Martin Cullinane sold him as a three-yearold at Goffs for €110,000.

What young National Hunt stallions are you keen on and why?

I’ll have to give my own young horses Lucky Speed and Casamento a mention. I have great faith in Lucky Speed because of his racing ability and the track

Outside of racing and sales, what are your interests?

I have a 10-year ticket to the Aviva Stadium for the rugby. I played the game myself and had a Leinster trial. Sheelagh and I go to the theatre every now and then, and I enjoy reading on holidays.

What is your biggest ambition in racing or breeding?

I was fortunate enough to breed a Gold Cup winner in Kicking King and I’d love another one.

Maybe Kalashnikov could do something. Balthazar King went close in a Grand National and that’s another ambition. Watch out for Golden Sunrise, a horse from the Kicking King family and trained by Colin Tizzard.

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