It's Leo

Hello everyone!

Our new columnist introduces himself... you may have seen him before

LEO 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 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 the saddle petered out. Additionally, it was hard to be compared to my younger brother, a natural, who would go on to have a successful career as a NH jockey, he won the 1988 Grand National at Aintree, and as a trainer.

In my teens I developed an interest in pedigrees, initially fuelled by the fact that my father’s then employer, Elizabeth Nelson of Waterloo House Stud, had an extensive library of stud books, form books and catalogues from all over the world.

Each week’s post would also bring newspapers from Italy, France and elsewhere, all of which I devoured when the opportunity arose.

Integral part

Fortune struck in early 1976 as I was studying for my final school examinations, with the hope of a place at university to study European Law. My parents wanted this for me.

In The Irish Field, later to become an integral part of my life, an advertisement appeared for a person to work in the pedigree department of the fledgling Ballsbridge International Bloodstock Sale, later Tattersalls Ireland.

During a school break before my final examinations I travelled with my parents to Dublin for an interview, conducted by the company’s chief executive, Michael Opperman, with a grilling also from their bloodstock manager, the late John Clarke. I got the job at the interview, sailed through my exams with no pressure now to secure a place at college, and my first day at work was behind the scenes at the second edition of the Derby Sale.

A dozen years of happy service at the company ended just before it moved to its present site at Fairyhouse, though it proved to be a difficult time. The rivalry between Tattersalls, now the owners of the former Ballsbridge Sales, and Goffs, headed by the dynamic Jonathan Irwin, was intense, and the fact that I joined the latter as NH manager did not initially go down well.

Thankfully, time proved to be a healer.

Rewarding time

For 15 years I again enjoyed a rewarding time in Kildare Paddocks, growing the NH sales and starting the Land Rover Sale (now the Arkle Sale) to becoming bloodstock director. Fate was to intervene, and an invitation to lunch one day by Matt Dempsey was to change my career trajectory.

Matt revealed that the Agricultural Trust, owners of The Irish Farmers Journal, was on the verge of acquiring The Irish Field, Ireland’s only dedicated newspaper for the racing, breeding and sport horse sectors.

Founded in 1870, it had a long and glorious history, but The Irish Times, its proprietors, wished to off-load it, and a sale to another trust was their preferred option. Matt wondered if I would take the role of managing editor. The answer was never in doubt, though I did ponder it for a few days.

The first issue of the newspaper under my editorship appeared on September 27, 2003, four days after my birthday. While I had been contributing to the paper previously under the pseudonym Mill House, indulging my twin passions for writing and pedigrees, this was a whole new world.

Subsequently, for two decades exactly until the issue of September 23, 2023 on my 66th birthday, I contributed at least an editorial, and latterly more columns to the paper.

No retirement

Given the synchronicity of the dates, it was timely to make my 1,045th editorial my last, though I continue to write about breeding, stallions and sales, and some features.

Now, in my “rewirement” phase of life, (we don’t mention the other ‘r’ word), I am able to expand my horizons. Imagine my delight then when Sally broached the possibility of my joining International Thoroughbred as a columnist. There was only one response.

I admire the team at International Thoroughbred and the publication produced. (By the way, this is not a case of unnecessary flattery as I already have the gig!)

The crew publishes a magazine that is immensely readable, topical and global. It truly lives up to its name. Hopefully, as the year progresses, I will be able to add an Irish angle and broad international viewpoint that will be both informative, enjoyable and relevant.

There ends my short introduction. If nothing else, it will provide useful cut and paste copy for my obituary –with some positive updates I hope! leobpowell@gmail.com

Breeders set to embrace new sire Paddington

IN 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 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.

Economic impact

How important is the Irish breeding sector to the country and its economy?

The latest report concluded that the thoroughbred equine sector is worth some €800 million, and its economic impact stands in the region of €2.5 billion.

This makes it larger than some agricultural sectors and, with some 30,000 people employed across a broad range of activities, it is of vital importance to the Exchequer.

Nevertheless, there are unfavourable winds ahead, but hopefully not stormy seas. Last year’s sales returns showed that there are cracks appearing, though they largely affected the lesser-quality stock. Quality still attracts premium values, but all breeders will look more carefully at their mating plans in 2024.

When one considers the global woes we are encountering, with climate changes, wars and more, it is remarkable that the breeding sector remains as strong as it is today.

I don’t need to tell you that we are producing the raw material for racing, and the global picture for our sport is being bombarded, whether these factors are from within the industry – poor prizemoney the obvious enemy – or from outside factors such as welfare concerns.

The dream? A super-group of racing minds

One lesson that could be learned from the Irish experience is that working together is key to moving forward.

Yes, we too have our problems, but when it comes to matters of strategic planning, funding and more, we have most sectors represented directly on the board of Horse Racing Ireland.

When they speak on matters, they do so with a united voice, at least in public.

No one country can claim that they have a utopian situation, and my annual attendance at the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities gathering in Paris, held just after the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, reminds me so.

We look enviously at the likes of Hong Kong, where they might claim to be close to an idyll. However, the Asian region has its challenges also.

If Aladdin appeared tomorrow, and offered me three wishes, two would be selfish, while the third would be for the good of racing.

What would that final wish be?

Well, it is a dream, and unlikely to ever happen, but it would be the establishment of a super-group of the world’s leading racing minds, who would bring about all the changes we need to make racing a sport envied by all.

Their task would be clear – get rid of unnecessary drugs, put ownership of the sport in the hands of people who don’t just want to take, take and take more, and ensure that the equine, who is central to what we are all about, has the best welfare regimes in place.

It’s not much to ask for really, is it?

Paddington