DECEMBER 2018 The Irish Trainer THE NEWSLETTER FOR MEMBERS OF THE IRISH RACEHORSE TRAINERS ASSOCIATION Falcon pounces at

Noel Meade lands Down Royal Down Royal Grade 2 for second year running with Snow Falcon

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: STABLE STAFF PENSION UPDATE | AGM 2018 PREVIEW CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL PRIZE MONEY BOOST | EQUINE INFLUENZA UPDATE Win big with Plus 10 With more than 750 races across Britain and Ireland set to feature a €12,500 bonus, it is too good an opportunity to miss.

Pay the Owner Registration to qualify your 2YO to win a bonus More than €18 million bonus prize money paid out to date, rewarding more than 650 different owners

Owner registration: 28 February 2019

For more information visit www.plus10bonus.com or contact 087 67 55232 THE IRISH TRAINER / DECEMBER 2018 Foreword

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the date of the AGM has been changed to Tuesday, 11 December, to be held at The Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge at 3pm. Refreshments will be served before and after the meeting. We are looking for a good turnout. If a member is unable to attend but has a question, please forward it to the office before the AGM so that it can be addressed on the day.

A meeting will take place at the offices of the IHRB between Ireland, Irish Horse Racing Regularity Board and Irish Racehorse Trainers Association, with regard to coming to an agreement to the rules and regulations on passports. The results will hopefully appear in the next issue of the newsletter.

We are currently in the process of setting up a Temporary Recruitment Agency, to help trainers, especially on race days, when there is a shortage of staff. We would hope that this Win big initiative will be of assistance to trainers planning their day-to-day arrangements. I would like to wish everybody a very happy Christmas and best wishes for 2019

Kind regards,

with Plus 10 Michael Grassick / Irish Racehorse Trainers Association With more than 750 races across Britain and Ireland set to feature a €12,500 bonus, it is too good an opportunity to miss. CONTENTS Winners abroad and upcoming sales dates ...... 4 Pay the Owner Registration to qualify your 2YO to win a bonus AGM 2018 preview ...... 6 Stable staff pension update ...... 10 More than €18 million bonus prize money paid out to date, Christmas Festival prize money boost ...... 12 rewarding more than 650 different owners New non-runner line details...... 13 COVER PHOTO: Owner: Mrs Patricia Hunt Trainer: Breeder: Mr Sean Gorman Equine influenza update ...... 14 Jockey: S W Flanagan Photo: Caroline Norris Owner registration: 28 February 2019 Irish Racehorse Trainers Association – Curragh House, Dublin Road, Kildare Chief Executive: Michael Grassick Council Members: Chairman: Noel Meade Jim Gorman Eoin Griffin Vice Chairman: Michael Halford Jessica Harrington Tom Hogan Andrew McNamara Eric McNamara For more information visit Tel: 045 522 981 Mob: 087 258 8770 Aidan O’Brien Andy Oliver www.plus10bonus.com email: [email protected] Patrick Prendergast Jnr. Dermot Weld or contact 087 67 55232 Published monthly by Anderson & Co Publishing Ltd. For all advertising enquiries please call: 041 971 2000 www.anderson-co.com

VISIT WWW.IRTA.IE FOR THE LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES 03 THE IRISH TRAINER / DECEMBER 2018 Winners abroad Aidan O’Brien made the running again when Gavin Cromwell had a treble with A Place Magical annexed the Champion Fillies & Apart at Kempton and a double at Ayr with Mares Stakes (G1) at Ascot and Magna Grecia Callthebarman and Toosey. Canardier in the Vertem Futurity Trophy (G1) at for Dermot McLoughlin and Pearl Of The Doncaster. True Self obliged twice for Willie West for John McConnell also went in at Mullins, winning the Beckford Stakes (L) at Cheltenham, while Honourary Gift scored at Bath and the James Seymour Stakes (L) at Sedgefield for Peter Fahey. Newmarket, while also at Newmarket, Angelic Light scored in the Bosra Sham By any yardstick the overall returns for 2018 Stakes (L) for Michael O’Callaghan. reflects great credit on the Flat and National Hunt trainers that were responsible for the National Hunt wise, Gordon Elliott again achievement. It has been a continuous success leads the parade kicking off with the story and every good wish is extended that American at Far Hills such will be the case for 2019 and beyond. with Jury Duty, followed by a double at Cheltenham with Dinons and Cubomania. Congratulations and Very Well Done.

UPCOMING SALES DATES 28 NOV TATTERSALLS 12-13 ARQANA - 1 DEC December Foal Sale FEB Mixed February Sale 3-6 TATTERSALLS 21 TATTERSALLS (IRE) CHELTENHAM DEC December Breeding Stock Sale FEB Cheltenham February Sale 7 GOFFS UK 14 TATTERSALLS (IRE) CHELTENHAM DEC December Sale MAR Sale 10 TATTERSALLS (IRE) ASCOT 21 TATTERSALLS (IRE) ASCOT DEC Ascot December Sale MAR Ascot March Sale 12-13 GOFFS 3 TATTERSALLS (IRE) ASCOT DEC December NH Sale 2018 APR Ascot Two-Year-Old Breeze-Up Sale 14 TATTERSALLS (IRE) CHELTENHAM 4 GOFFS UK DEC Cheltenham December Sale APR The Aintree Sale 2019 - after racing 22-23 GOFFS UK 15-17 TATTERSALLS JAN January Sale 2019 APR Craven Breeze Up Sale 29-30 TATTERSALLS IRELAND 24-25 GOFFS UK JAN February NH Sale APR Breeze Up Sale 2019 31 JAN TATTERSALLS 26 TATTERSALLS (IRE) CHELTENHAM - 1 FEB February Sale APR Cheltenham April Sale 5-7 GOFFS 2 GOFFS FEB February Sale 2019 MAY Punchestown Sale 2019

IRTA AGM 3pm Tues 11 Dec 2018 Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge, Co. Kildare

04

THE IRISH TRAINER / DECEMBER 2018

Michael Grassick looks back on the year and reviews the progress made in successfully addressing issues raised at last year’s AGM ahead of the forthcoming 2018 AGM at The Keadeen Hotel, 11th December. Michael Grassick

Looking back on a busy year and ahead to Dept. of Agriculture, which will give us more the further challenges facing us, the one thing flexibility in the arrangement of working hours. I must stress is that we can only respond to requests from members and unless you tell us Rates your concerns, we can’t help. A certain number We have received very positive feedback from of members do use the IRTA office well, but trainers on the work carried out by Eamonn there are some who never get in contact with Halpin and Co. with regard to Rates and all us and I am concerned they are the people trainers who used this service are more than who feel we’re doing very little on their behalf. happy. County Meath is the target at the It’s a two-way street and we need to know moment, but changes to Rates seem to have been your concerns. Some trainers believe they put on hold for the time being in other counties. can manage on their own or that we can’t help them, and this isn’t the case. Work permits We have done a lot of work with Elaine Burke in Workplace Relations Committee HRI and I have had numerous meetings with the The problems caused by the WRC are a case in department. During the year the ITBA came on point. Many small trainers from across the board. Our final submission went in on 2nd country came to us for advice and used the November and we have met all the requirements service offered to members by PA Solutions for the first time. Aoife at PA Solutions met these trainers and brought them up to date, and anything they needed Aoife was able to help. That offer is there and is part of the services we provide for members.

Regarding the WRC, the good news is that, having received correspondence from Regina Doherty, we are expecting in a matter of days racehorse trainers will revert back to the Aoife Hanratty & husband Gerry

06 and proved there are no people to take up jobs in of place prize money be paid immediately, Ireland or from the EU. We hope for a positive which would help with cash flow. response by Christmas, if not it will be in the new year. We offered a number of positions and Stable Staff Pension Scheme received no applicants, but following a positive The Stable Staff Pension Scheme is fully up and response these positions may be filled from running, operated by Irish Life Insurance. The outside the EU and the countries we are looking monies from 2014 and 2015 for those qualified to are Brazil, Pakistan and India. have been paid into accounts and each account received approximately €1,800 per year. We hope We were also approached by Barry Brogan, who the monies for those qualified for 2016, 2017 and trained there for 20 years, to include Malaysia for 2018 will be in accounts before the year end. candidates and Barry will base an employment agency here in Ireland to source candidates from Additional fixtures India and Malaysia and he believes there will be Through representations from IRTA we’ve had no problem assessing workers to come over. two extra meetings on the Flat, at Naas and Training fees payable through HRI Gowran Park, and I’d like to thank HRI and AIR for putting on these extra fixtures. Brian Kavanagh Arranging training accounts to be paid Naas Racecourse through HRI met a brick wall as far as owners are concerned. The AIRO committee is totally against the idea, however, their representative on the HRI board feels it Handicap ratings would be a positive step. I will be having further All Flat horses imported from outside Ireland meetings with Denis Egan and Brian Kavanagh rated 60 or less can now run in Irish handicaps, to pursue this further as I feel there is support but off a mark of 60 on their first run, after for the idea from both bodies. which they will be reassessed according to their performance. New proposal for prize money payments I made a proposal to the accounts department Head gear of HRI that place prize money should be paid While we successfully achieved a rule change out immediately and I am expecting news in a enabling trainers to change the head gear after couple of weeks. The trainer’s percentage of declaration time up to 12pm, there was a fine of prize money is paid on the 18th day after the €200 imposed to make that change. We are race, to allow for any subsequent negative pleased to say that is no longer the case and findings, but as placed horses are not subject to fines will no longer be imposed. this I have asked that the trainer’s percentage continued �

07 THE IRISH TRAINER / DECEMBER 2018

facility but the worries of the trainers need to be listened to, for it to remain the success that it is today. It is the trainers that have to deal with the horses that race there. I think the views of the trainers are paramount, as they want the best for their horse.

Racecourse stabling In fairness to some of the tracks we had issues with regarding poor stabling facilities, things have started to improve and we thank those Passport irregularities tracks for their cooperation. We have had a terrible time of it this year regarding passports. The biggest problem being Positive samples that the requirements of what was considered to There is a need to deal with the spike we’ve be a correct passport kept changing throughout experienced in prohibited substances, the year. We’re hoping a final agreement particularly arsenic and cobalt. Since the between trainers and IHRB will be reached contract was removed from Limerick and given shortly and these new arrangements will be to the LGC laboratory in Newmarket we’ve had final, so everyone will know exactly what is a spike for arsenic and cobalt. It’s been difficult required. In most cases the problems arose to get a handle on why this has occurred and from the veterinary side, but unfortunately I’ve been in contact with my UK counterpart, trainers are held responsible. Rupert Arnold of the NTF, who tells me the Trainers need to be reminded that if they have BHA use the same laboratory and they’ve had a problem with a passport it is imperative to get no spike in positive cases in the UK. I am in touch with the IRTA office if they feel they speaking to a number of experts in this field to were wronged in any way. There were a number see if there is any particular reason why this is of occasions during the year when horses were happening to Irish trainers. withdrawn that shouldn’t have been, and only through IRTA were fines waived, and in some Ongoing concerns cases expenses paid to compensate both the Despite positive messages, we cannot deny owner and trainer. horseracing is in a worrying state of affairs, as the sales, attendance figures, drop in trainers’ Dundalk licenses and number of registered owners show. We continue to press Dundalk to replace the In an attempt to find new ways to address this, I surface, as we feel it no longer satisfies the needs am organising a meeting with the representatives of trainers. I have received a number of reports of all the other bodies – the jockeys, breeders, of horses being sore and jarred after racing, owners and racecourse associations, together which is neither helpful to Dundalk or to the with HRI – in the hope we can work together trainers with runners there. It’s a wonderful and discuss possible solutions. �

08 Distributed in Ireland by: Equillence Ltd. www.equillencegroup.com Tel. 086 384 7449 THE IRISH TRAINER / DECEMBER 2018 Stable Employees’ Pension Update

The Committee of Management responsible for We are aiming to have all information up to the Stable Employees’ Pension Plan would like to date and into each employee’s account over take this opportunity to thank trainers for their the coming 18 months. This target, however, assistance in getting the Scheme up and running. can only be met with the continuing support The Committee consists of representatives of of employers and employees; please bear four bodies – IRTA, ISSA, Turf Club and HRI. with us as we work through this process. Within the ROI, we have established a Defined If you have any questions or require further Contribution Pension Scheme and in Northern information please contact the Committee Ireland we are making payment via trainers of Management through: into the applicable pension schemes for eligible employees. Claire Rudd at HRI on 045 455 467 or The establishment of the scheme has been Trish Cullen at the IHRB on 045 445 600. complex due to the legislative requirements Thank you again for your continuing handled by our actuary Joseph Byrne & Co. and support, best wishes for 2019! additionally the appointment of scheme administrators, Trustees, investment managers and auditors. Bespoke systems had to be Committee of Management securely developed and there are significant Margaret Davin Chair volumes of information requiring verification Michael Grassick & Eoin Griffin IRTA on an annual basis, which is time-consuming. Bernard Caldwell & Paddy Curran ISSA We are now in the process of finalising the Donal O’ Shea & Vincent Hughes Turf Club distribution of 2015 funds and also gathering Carol Nolan & Claire Rudd HRI information on 2016 earnings for your employees.

10 Saturday 12 January Hampton Novices’ Chase (Listed) 3m £25000 1 Pertemps Qualifier Handicap Hurdle (Open) 3m 1f £25000 2 Leamington Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 5f £35000 1 Classic Chase (Grade 3 Handicap) (Open) 3m 5f £75000 1 ENTRY DEADLINE FOR ABOVE RACES 12pm, Monday, 7 January Saturday 9 February OLBG Mares’ Hurdle (Listed) 2m 5f £25000 1 Kingmaker Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) 2m £40000 1 Warwick Castle Handicap Chase (Open) 2m 4f £50000 2 ENTRY DEADLINE FOR ABOVE RACES 12pm, Monday, 4 February Friday 22 February Budbrooke Handicap Chase (0-150) 2m 4f £30000 2 ENTRY DEADLINE FOR ABOVE RACES 12pm, Saturday, 16 February

Please contact Jane Hedley (Clerk of Course) on +44 (0)7881 316027 or email [email protected] for further details.

Order your copy today! Call Anderson & Co on 041 971 2000 (IRE) or +44 (0)1380 816777 (UK) or order online at trainermagazine.com/book

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11 THE IRISH TRAINER / DECEMBER 2018

Road To Respect en route to winning the Christmas Chase at Leopardstown, 28 December 2017

Prize money boost for Christmas Festival

The Leopardstown Christmas Festival boasts an increase this year in prize money for eight feature races, including all seven Group 1s, alongside many supporting races. Overall, the total increase in prize-money over the four days is €160,000, to €1.4m, a 12% increase compared to 2017.

Each of the Grade 1 races have a significantly Star Christmas Novice Handicap Hurdle is now higher value than last year. The Racing Post a €20,000 race. The opening race on the final Novice Chase (€100,000), Paddy’s Rewards day is the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Club ‘Sugar Paddy’ Chase (€125,000), Paddy Chase, which goes up from €18,000 to €20,000. Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle In addition, over the four days of the (€100,000), Squared Financial Christmas Christmas Festival, Hurdle(€100,000), (€175,000), is delighted to announce the minimum value Ryanair Hurdle (€125,000) and Neville Hotels for all I.N.H. Flat Races will rise to €12,000. Novice Chase (€100,000) have all seen an All hurdle races will have a minimum value increase in their values for 2018. of €15,000 and all steeplechases will see their There are further improvements to the prize minimum values rise to €17,500. money on offer for all the higher quality handicaps. The opening day’s handicap chase is now worth €30,000, the Paddy Power Handicap Hurdle on the second day is up to €30,000, the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle rises to €30,000, while The Irish Daily

12 IHRB NOTICE Non-runner telephone line/ declaration of reserve telephone line

Notification of a non-runner for a race meeting will only be accepted on the dedicated telephone line (045 445645) at the Office of the IHRB with the excuse for non-running.

To validate the information furnished, the caller will be asked to provide the trainer’s Horse Racing Ireland account number and the trainer’s date of birth. All calls are recorded for verification and security purposes. Veterinary certificates, where required, must be sent as usual to the Office of the IHRB within 72 hours. A trainer failing to lodge a certificate within the time period shall be liable to a fine in accordance with Rule 194 (v)(vi).

Trainers wishing to declare a reserve, a runner or a non-runner, must do so on the same dedicated telephone line number not less than one and a half hours before the time scheduled for the first race. If a rider has not been nominated for a declared reserve the trainer must do so on the dedicated line not less than one and a half hours before the time scheduled for the first race otherwise the declared reserve will automatically be withdrawn.

Declaration of reserves or of non-runners will no longer be accepted at a race meeting.

The dedicated line number 045 445645 is in operation on a race day until one and a half hours before the time scheduled for the first race.

Opening hours for the non-runner line: Race meetings run from Monday to Friday - from 9am Race meetings run on Saturday/Sunday/Bank Holidays – from 9am Saturday evening meetings – from 12 noon

For the avoidance of doubt, when a trainer wishes to notify a non-runner or a declaration of a reserve, the only acceptable method shall be by telephone on the dedicated number 045 445645

IHRB Information Line - 045 445666

13 ADVERTORIAL EQUINE FLU - are you doing all you can? Equine flu is an infectious disease affecting the upper respiratory tract of horses. It is prevalent in Ireland, with 20 outbreaks recorded over the two years to 2016.

A horse with flu needs complete rest and vaccines protect against the circulating strains. isolation, often putting them out of action Recent outbreaks in Ireland are known to be for weeks. Crucially, outbreaks can affect of a strain called Florida Clade 2 (a sublineage competitions at all levels, potentially resulting of H3N8).* in the cancellation of events in order to control Current guidelines from the World the spread of disease. Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Clinical signs usually appear within 1–5 days recommend that vaccines should contain of exposure to the flu virus and can last for 3–6 both Clade 1 and Clade 2 strains of the Florida weeks. They can include a high temperature, sublineage. ** cough, nasal discharge, enlarged glands under Your vet will be able to provide guidance on the lower jaw, conjunctivitis, depression, loss of vaccines and the correct vaccination schedule appetite and filling of the lower limbs. for your horse. If your horse shows any of these clinical signs consult your vet immediately, even if they are Diagnosis and surveillance of equine flu vaccinated. This will allow appropriate tests to be The Department of Agriculture funded Equine carried out to determine the cause, and ensure Influenza Surveillance Programme at the OIE that a suitable treatment plan is put in place. Reference Laboratory at the Irish Equine Centre Remember to keep the horse isolated provides a free laboratory testing service to all from others during this time as flu is highly vets, allowing them to submit swabs taken from infectious. The equine flu virus evolves and horses with suspected flu and confirm not only if changes constantly and it is important that its flu is present but also which strain is responsible. development is monitored in order to ensure

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References: * Equiflunet. Available at: http://equiflunet.org.uk/ (Accessed February 2016). ** OIE Expert Surveillance Panel on Equine Influenza Vaccine Composition – conclusions and recommendations (March 2015). Available at: http://www.oie.int/our-scientific-expertise/specific-information-and-recommendations/equine-influenza (Accessed February 2016).

An educational service from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd (“BI”). Further information available from BI, RG12 8YS, UK. ©2018. All rights reserved. Date of preparation: Nov 2018. AHD 11675. Use Medicines Responsibly.

15 Grade 1 meets Delicious treats Dublin beats

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