Young Guns With Shane Power

[Wandering Eyes]

This is the final installment in the Young Guns series, where we catch up with young professionals in the Thoroughbred business about their experiences and ambitions. We close out the series with Shane Power of Tradewinds Stud.

TDN: Tell us about your career to date.

SP: My career in the Thoroughbred industry began when I met Robert O’Callaghan at a pony club event when we were about 12. We became friends and as a result of this I began to spend time in Yeomanstown Stud, eventually culminating in me working there for six years. The grounding in work ethic, commercial awareness and horsemanship I received during my time there will always stand out to me. I also learned a great deal whilst doing part time work in Kildaragh Stud through befriending Roderic Kavanagh. In 2016 I completed the Irish National Stud Thoroughbred Breeding Course–it is a course I could not recommend highly enough. I also spent time in Arrowfield Stud in Australia, which was another tremendous experience and one I would advise any young person in the industry to pursue.

My first venture into Thoroughbred stock came when three friends and I bought a Rock of Gibraltar mare for €16,000. We sold her foals for a few years for modest profit. My first significant success came when I pinhooked a Champs Elysees filly with two friends for €9,000 into €65,000. It was after this I knew what I wanted to do full time. Last year we had our best year so far in the sales ring, pinhooking a No Nay Never and a Footstepsinthesand for a very satisfactory return.

TDN: If you could be one person in the industry for a day, who would it be and why?

SP: I would have to say Jim Bolger. The ambition he showed to set up his own self-sufficient racing and breeding empire is something I have always admired. It is an amazing brain and personality that can run such a successful business and be a top-class trainer and breeder all at once.

TDN: What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

SP: After I had flunked out of college for the second year in a row my dad advised me not to go for the hat-trick. He told me instead to start up my own business and so far his advice has been vindicated, thank God. College is not for everyone, but I am constantly trying to better educate myself. The difference is I can be much more specific as to what I am educating myself on.

TDN: What is the best aspect of your current job?

SP: The buzz of a public auction is something I have always loved. The rush of adrenalin seeing your own horse go under the hammer is something I love as it is so unpredictable. On a day-to-day basis, working for myself allows me to be a bit more flexible with my working hours, which I like.

TDN: If you weren’t in the horse racing industry what would you be doing?

SP: Without a shadow of a doubt I would be unsuccessfully trying to carve out a career as a professional golfer. I love golf but it doesn’t really love me.

TDN: If you had 24 hours to get someone interested in the horse racing industry how would you do it?

SP: I would take them to the Punchestown Festival, where I would shuttle them from the parade ring to the stands to the Bollinger tent in a continuous cycle. Then into the parade ring for the sale of point to pointers where I would strongly encourage them to buy a future champion. Finally into Naas Court Hotel to celebrate the new purchase.

TDN: What was your biggest achievement in 2018?

SP: Somehow managing to not go broke in my first year working for myself, especially when the lower and middle end of the yearling market was so selective. We prepped two yearlings for a priest last year and successfully sold them both for him. I would imagine this means there is a slot reserved in heaven for me now.

TDN: Who was your horse of 2018 and why?

SP: I love a good comeback, so when Faugheen (IRE) came back to win at the Punchestown Festival I was going bonkers. I think he is a horse that has really endeared himself to the racing public and the reception he received that day was heartwarming. He is an absolute legend.

TDN: What was your New Year’s Resolution?

SP: Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are worth about $60-billion each. They both say that reading more than 50 books a year is one of the biggest secrets to their wealth. So I figure if I read a book a month this year I will be a billionaire in no time. 2019, a book a month.

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