4 minute read
....Girls aloud
Weather issues and the ITM Stallion Trail: Cathy Grassick, chairman of the Irish Breeders’ Association, reports on the new year events
HE NEW YEAR has certainly started with a reality check. Barely was there time for dust to settle on New Year’s resolutions when we were thrown into a melange of weather situations with terrible floods affecting many farms, the harsh reality of plummeting temperatures and snow causing difficulties for many in racing and breeding, whilst, on the other side of the Atlantic, there have been the the catastrophic wild fires in California fanned by the strong Santa Ana winds, with racehorses having to be evacuated from Santa Anita.
This has been an incredibly stressful time for anyone caught up in Ireland and Britain with the winter weather and we are all concerned about the effects on our animals and livelihoods, but seeing the utter devastation and even loss of life in California puts everything into perspective.
Our thoughts, prayers and support go out to the community, and as I write the firefighters are still trying to control the blaze with threats of strong winds resurfacing.
On a positive front, the first foals are making their presence felt and there was a poignant arrival for new father and the future Netflix star Cody’s Wish – the story of the now sire’s incredible bond with the late teenager Cody Dornan is set to be made into a movie by the streaming service. This is definitely a movie that we will be looking forward to seeing.
Sadly, Cody passed away the day after his equine namesake won his second Breeders’ Cup, but his family still visit the horse who made their son and brother so happy.
With a happy new chapter to the story, Cody’s Wish’s first foal arrived on January 6 at Phoenix Farm in Kentucky and is a colt out of the Grade 2 winner Hotshot Anna.
The covering season is almost upon us and in the middle of January there was the annual pilgrimages of Flat and NH breeders visiting stallion farms on the ITM’s Stallion Trail.
The trail is an essential tool for breeders with mating plans and they can get to see the new recruits, it is also useful breeders from around Europe to consider sending a mare to an Irish-based sire.
It also does a little more – it allows racing and breeding fans to get up close and personal with their equine heroes.
This year it took place on January 10-11 with over 30 farms participating, minus a few exceptions that were snow bound and unable to open until the following weekend.
Before the snow I got to Coolmore, which was closed for the trail weekend, as well as Tally-Ho Stud, and I am very impressed with their rosters of proven and new horses alike.
Of the new additions, Tally-Ho’s Bucanero Fuerte is a real eye-catcher and the regally bred Henry Longfellow looks an all-round package for Coolmore.
On trail weekend I got to see the new stallions at Ballylinch Stud and those at the Irish National Stud, whilst the rest of the Newtown Stud team headed off to see the stellar roster at Kildangan Stud.
I was delighted to see how well the Group 1 Prix du Jockey-Club winner Look De Vega has already let down and settled into his new base at Ballylinch, standing alongside his sire Lope De Vega.
Shouldvebeenaring, the newest addition at the Irish National Stud and by the exciting sire Havana Grey, will surely appeal to Irish breeders wishing to access this bloodline.
And it was, of course, a pleasure to see the stud’s Phoenix Of Spain who has stood at the famr since his first covering season in 2020. He has strong ties with Newtown Stud and we are keen supporters.
The hospitality put on by all of the Irish farms was exceptional and everybody we met along the way seemed to be having a wonderful weekend. Happy breeders and racing fans were also treated to promotional gifts and brochures with which to remember the day.
Currently, we have two veterinary students from UCD, Amy O’Donoghue and Siofra Kelly, with us on work placement and they were blown away by the experience.
However, the highest praise for the day came from young racing fan India Mallon, who was treated like a star by the kind staff at Kildangan Stud and declared that it was the “best day ever”.
