it’s leo
Hello everyone! Our new columnist introduces himself... you may have seen him before
L
EO POWELL? Who is he? The face looks familiar; I have probably seen him at the races, the sales or some other event. If that is your reaction to seeing my name appended to a column this month, fear not. I will try to fill in the blanks. Hopefully, Irish readers of this venerable publication will recognise the name and face. I am now a few lengths past the mid-way stage of my 60s, but I was born into the equine business, though not necessarily guaranteed to be professionally involved. My
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late father Brendan, known to all as Benny, managed a number of stud farms throughout his lifetime, was a small breeder himself, and gave something back to the industry when he served a couple of terms as a director of the Irish National Stud. Though my childhood did see me ride to hounds, with the famous Duhallow pack in Cork, and do a small amount of showing, it is fair to say that I was a windy rider, not completely at home over an obstacle. Some discussions at home about perhaps getting me lessons in the art of dressage came to nowt, and my time in
Breeders set to embrace new sire Paddington
N THE category of TMI (too much information), I do have to admit to being a teddy bear collector. It is a fun pastime, owning a Stieff model or two being the grandest of my expectations. One bear who is not in my collection is Paddington (hint, hint Richard Henry!), who originally came from Peru where he was brought up by his Aunt Lucy after he was orphaned when just a few weeks old. Aunt Lucy taught him to speak perfect English, and arranged for him to stow away in a ship’s lifeboat. Eventually, he arrived at Paddington Station in London where he was found by Mr and Mrs Brown, with a label round his neck with the words, “Please Look After This Bear. Thank You.” An iconic figure this creation of Michael Bond is known throughout the world, and epitomises London and Britain for many. When Sue Magnier named a €420,000 yearling son of Siyouni two years ago, she probably had a fair idea that he was above average. How good would have been impossible to say. Just like the bear version, the equine
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“..it is fair to say that I was a windy rider, not completely at home over an obstacle
www.internationalthoroughbred.net
Paddington was sent to England, returning however on each occasion to Ballydoyle, and the care of Aidan O’Brien. A well-beaten fifth on his debut in what has turned out to be a moderate maiden at Ascot, Paddington looked promising when he opened his account six weeks later at The Curragh. Perhaps he had been over-named, if there is such a phrase, and the fact that he made his second-season bow in a handicap at Naas might suggest that even the wizard of Ballydoyle didn’t fully appreciate the heights his colt could reach.
Most expensive
Paddington then rattled off four Group 1 wins in succession, the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas, the St James’s Palace Stakes, the Eclipse Stakes and the Sussex Stakes, and now he starts the 2024 breeding season at Coolmore, the most expensive of the new stallions in Ireland. He was a must-see during the recent Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Stallion Trail, and he stands with his sire’s other Group 1-winning sons, Sottsass and St Mark’s Basilica. He is the costliest
of that trio at €55,000. There has been a relatively small number of new sires going to stud in Ireland this season. The stallion ranks in both Britain and France have undoubtedly strengthened in recent years, and this spread has certainly increased competition among the leading European breeding powers. A decade ago, what did the new sires’ list look like? Frankel started at Banstead Manor Stud at an opening fee of £125,000, while next to him on the British list was Nathaniel at Newsells Park for £20,000. Coolmore welcomed Excelebration, whose racing nemesis was Frankel, at €22,500, and So You Think for a fee of €17,500. We all know that most stallion careers end in failure, and that measure can vary greatly, and many of the some three dozen new European sires of 10 years ago are largely forgettable. Paddington is the dearest sire in Europe retiring to stud in 2024. Ace Impact costs the most in France at €40,000, while Modern Games at £30,000 leads the way in Britain. There are 16 sires standing in Europe who command more than Paddington will this year.
