New Faces, Old Heroes: Something For Everyone on the Irish Stallion Trail

[Wandering Eyes]

Whether you're a racing fan enjoying another glimpse of champions of yesteryear, or a breeder assessing the new intake to the sire ranks, the ITM Irish Stallion Trail is unmissable. From toddlers up, the throng of visitors to the 37 studs who opened their doors across the country on Friday and Saturday stand as testament to the draw of the annual showcase.

Many readers of this publication will be in the fortunate position of being able to visit stallion studs at their leisure and to be welcomed with open arms. Granting access to those who are not active breeders but who could recite race-by-race form of some of their old favourites from the track is every bit as important, if not from a commercial viewpoint then certainly from that of good PR for the sport.

“I've come just to see him,” said a delighted lady as she waited, camera phone in hand, for Yeats to appear at Castlehyde Stud on Saturday. Once a brilliant stayer beloved by fans throughout a lengthy racing career, Yeats has longevity as his watchword. Now 25, he still knows how to please those who come to worship him as he poses for photos alongside Matthew Jones, who gives the visitors what they want by taking Yeats on one last turn before he returns to his box in the corner of the yard. 

Of course the draw for many to this corner of Fermoy is to see the recent retirees to stud, Classic winners Henri Matisse and Los Angeles. But those spring chickens vie for attention with some of the elder statesmen of the line-up, with Holy Roman Emperor and Footstepsinthesand still taking their turn in the spotlight at the age of 22 and 24 respectively. 

The relatively fleeting nature of most top horses' careers means that on retirement from racing they retreat from public life, their names continuing to echo in sales houses and in breeders' discussions but unseen by those who once roared them home on the track. This annual event brings the curtain up once more, if only for two days, and if you can brave the January weather, then a free weekend out paying homage to some of these great names is just the ticket.

This year in Ireland there is no shortage of new stallions to inspect: 11 to be precise, with five of those being sons of the recently departed Wootton Bassett. Breeders' Cup hero Unquestionable has joined a youthful line-up at Rathbarry Stud alongside the brilliant globetrotter State Of Rest, whose first runners are eagerly awaited this term. 

 

State Of Rest at Rathbarry Stud | Emma Berry

 

They also have a Wootton Bassett son at Capital Stud in the form of four-time Group winner Topgear, who has a splendid demeanour for one so unused to relentless posing and promenading. But you mustn't even think about asking to see him without first admiring Authorized, who, at 22, and having stood at five different studs in four different countries, has lost none of that Montjeu swagger. And talking of swagger, if you've never seen Lope De Vega in the flesh then make a note to do so during next year's trail. One of the most revered stallions in the world, he heads a classy roster at Ballylinch Stud where one of his sons, Look De Vega, joined the team last year.

If you planned your route well you could have seen nine Derby winners over the last two days, with Workforce, Camelot, Australia, Harzand, Wings Of Eagles, Masar, Auguste Rodin and City Of Troy also on show. Four of those are all under one roof at Coolmore, where around 1,500 visitors were registered across the two days.

“It's a really good idea and it's a very positive thing,” said Coolmore's director of sales David O'Loughlin. “From Camelot to City of Troy to Australia, to the first-season stallions, the people are very excited to see them. And it's good for the local area as well. There's people staying in local hotels and they've flown over to see the stallions and they're going on tour.

 

Ballylinch Stud's Make Believe in the spotlight | Emma Berry

 

“And even for the team here helping out, be it the stallions or the sales team, it's a bit of fun on the day as well. You're always kept on your toes because there's always somebody in that probably knows more about the horses than you do. There's some real racing fanatics in most groups.”

He added, “In fairness to the government, they're very good to our industry to give us a substantial grant every year. It's great that people can come in and see where that money is going. It's going back into the industry, it's creating jobs, rural employment, and it's great to see that in rural areas the horse business is very strong. It justifies all the government support.”

 

Authorized, age 22, at Capital Stud | Emma Berry

 

At next weekend's ITBA Awards, Ireland's minister for agriculture Martin Heydon is expected to attend once more, and several politicians joined the stallion trail, with TDs Jennifer Murnane O'Connor and Natasha Newsome Drennan both spotted at studs along the way and in conversation with Joe Foley while he showed off his laidback new recruit Magnum Force. Such close links to government remain of vital importance to the Irish breeding industry.

But the weekend is at heart about the fun and social aspect: a chance for breeders to bump into each other and compare notes over coffee or lunch while enjoying the generous hospitality laid on by stud owners. It is also a gentle form of education for those who love racing and want to know what comes next for the Thoroughbreds deemed exceptional enough to be retired to stud. 

Some extra tuition may well be needed for all teams who finished a distance behind the winning quartet of Eoin Fives, Declan Foy, Charles Weld and Mark Boylan at the Mark O'Hanlon Memorial Quiz held at the Lord Bagenal in Leighlinbridge on Friday. Team captain Fives was on the mic for two days of stallion shows at Ballylinch and, we're not saying he takes quizzing seriously, but sources tell us that he and his team-mates have a WhatsApp group dedicated to testing each other on racing and breeding trivia throughout the year. Such devotion to the cause has been deservedly rewarded.

 

Quiz wizzes: Eoin Fives, Mark Boylan, Declan Foy and Charles Weld with Avril O'Hanlon | Emma Berry

 

It is almost 11 years since the passing of Mark O'Hanlon, the popular former member of the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing team. Since his death, his ITM colleagues have continued to organise and publicise the stallion trail as one of the key events of the year in the Irish bloodstock industry, while the quiz, organised by fiendish question master Joe Foley, has also continued as an annual gathering. In a way both events are very much in the spirit of what made Mark so beloved by his colleagues, welcoming as they do new people to our industry while looking after and promoting those who are already key in keeping the bloodstock world turning. 

The flight home beckons, but as ever it has been a few days filled with learning from some of the best in a country which has for so long been a world leader in the pursuit of Thoroughbred breeding. A heartfelt thank you to those who threw open their doors and took the time to show all of us visitors some truly exceptional horses. As ever, it was very much appreciated. 

 

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