APRIL 2018 The Irish Trainer THE NEWSLETTER FOR MEMBERS OF THE IRISH RACEHORSE TRAINERS ASSOCIATION Presenting Percy lands RSA Chase Pat Kelly’s stable star was one of nine Grade 1 successes for Irish trainers at Cheltenham Heavy Sweat landscape ad oscar_Layout 1 19/03/2018 08:58 Page 1 For the Health of Your Horse Bone T: +44 (0)28 3084 8844 development, coat & E: [email protected] “The 30 Day Copper Tonic.” conditioning W: www.horsefirst.net If a horse isn’t performing to potential, his DIGESTIVE SYSTEM may be the real culprit. Ask your veterinary surgeon to test your horses with the SUCCEED® Equine Fecal Blood Test™. Maintaining optimal digestive health is more than just avoiding serious health issues like ulcers and colic. The horse’s digestive system is the key to his ability to train effectively and perform to potential, not to mention his overall health, temperament, physical appearance… everything. That’s why you should have your vet test your horses regularly with the SUCCEED Equine Fecal Blood Test (FBT). The SUCCEED FBT allows your vet to assess whether a horse has an underlying GI tract condition in minutes, right on the yard. www.succeedfbt.co.uk When you know what’s going on beneath the surface, you can take action and keep the digestive system of every horse running like it should. Photos: EQUI-PHOTO, Tammi Nowack Photography. The SUCCEED Equine Fecal Blood Test is a quality product from Freedom Health LLC. SUCCEED® is a registered trademark, and Equine Fecal Blood Test™ is a trademark of Freedom Health LLC. © 2018. All Rights Reserved. U.S. Patent Nos. 7,629,180 and 8,168,446. Canadian Patent No. 2,601,368. THE IRISH TRAINER / APRIL 2018 Foreword Congratulations to all on a very successful Cheltenham Festival. Looking ahead, trainers without runners wishing to travel to the Aintree Festival from the 12th to the 14th April need to apply to our office on045-522981 or [email protected] before Wednesday, 11th April. In relation to the Stable Staff Pension Scheme, some trainers have still not sent in their Deed of Adherence forms, which needs to be signed and returned to Horse Racing Ireland as soon as possible. Sorry to have to point out, but please can trainers ask their employees to return their forms to Irish Life, as we do not want them to miss out on their entitlements. In other news, if trainers feel that there are no available races for their horse to compete in, could they contact our office, to enable us to make representation to the H.R.I. racing department on their behalf. Meanwhile, we are still working with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation regarding work permits. Kind regards, Michael Grassick / Irish Racehorse Trainers Association CONTENTS Winners Abroad & Dundalk barrier trials ....................4 Interview: Nessa Joyce, Irish European Breeders’ Fund .........................................6 Handicapper news .................................................................12 COVER PHOTO: Owner: Philip J Reynolds Trainer: Patrick G Kelly Breeder: Preston Lodge Stud Members’ website & upcoming sales ........................14 Jockey: Davy Russell Photo: Caroline Norris 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 Tel: 045 522 981 Fax: 045 522 982 Aidan O’Brien Andy Oliver Mob: 087 258 8770 email: [email protected] Patrick Prendergast Jnr. Dermot Weld 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 / APRIL 2018 Winners Abroad What a superb success story, 17 winners inclusive of nine Grade Ones, thereby, showcasing and enhancing the National Hunt Industry and by extension the Irish racing industry as a whole. No praise is too high. GORDON ELLIOTT him to the ‘Top of the Heap’ as trainer of Samcro, Ballymore Hurdle (G1); Tiger Roll, the most Festival winners in Cheltenham’s Glenfarclas Cross Country; Veneer Of Charm, history. Fred Winter Hurdle (G3); Shattered Love, To round off, Presenting Percy took the J.L.T. Chase (G1); Delta Work, Pertemps Final RSA Chase (G1) for Pat Kelly and so was (G3); The Storyteller, Merriebelle Plate (G3); winning for the second consecutive year at Farclas, Triumph Hurdle (G1); Blow By Blow, the Festival and making it three years on Martin Pipe Hurdle (Class 2). the trot for Pat to be successful and number Thus, eight winners for Gordon, which seventeen is brought up by Balko Des Flos enabled him to equal the record set by Willie – in the Ryanair Chase (G1) - for Henry De in 2015 and also become the leading trainer Bromhead. at the Festival for the second year in a row. Elsewhere, Angus Milan for Noel Kelly and WILLIE MULLINS Gleno for Stuart Crawford obliged at Ayr and Footpad, Arkle Chase (G1); Benie Des Dieux, Callthebarman scored at Huntingdon for O.L.B.G. Mares (G1); Rathvinden, National Gavin Cromwell. Hunt Chase (G2); Bleu Berry, Coral Hurdle (G3); Relegate, Champion Bumper (G1); On the Flat, Your Pal Tal went in at Lingfield Penhill, Stayers’ Hurdle (G1); Laurina, for Jonny Levins and Ty Rock Wonder at Mares’ Hurdle (G2). Wolverhampton for Keith Clarke. Thus, seven winners for Willie that brought Outstanding work and Well Done. Barrier trials at Dundalk Barrier trials are cleared to take place before racing at Dundalk, starting April 18, May 2 and May 6, restricted to unraced 2yo & 3yos in separate batches from licensed trainers under licensed riders and catchweights. Participants must have a stalls certificate. Trials are limited to two batches per meeting of six horses, over 5f and 6f, taking place 1h 30 mins and 1h 15 mins before first race. €100 payable to Dundalk. Entries to Jeremy Greene, ITM, 087 112 1625, [email protected] 04 IRISH STALLION FARMS IRISH RACING’S LARGEST SPONSOR SUPPORTING IRISH RACING SINCE 1983 €42 million in sponsorship since 1983 from Irish Stallion Farms to Irish Racing Contributing €2.2 million towards Irish prize-money in 2018 Supporting over 400 Flat & National Hunt races in 2018 FOLLOW US @IrishEBF Irish European Breeders’ Fund Greenhills, Kill, Naas, Co. Kildare W91 FY62 For further details, contact Nessa Joyce: T: 00 353 45 910 999 M: 00 353 85 7590970 E: [email protected] www.ebfstallions.com THE IRISH TRAINER / APRIL 2018 Michael Grassick in Conversation with Nessa Joyce, Manager Irish EBF MICHAEL: Could you tell us a little about extremely dedicated and passionate about the Irish EBF? the scheme and freely give up their time and expertise to steer the Irish EBF into the future. NESSA: It was set up in 1983 as a self-help scheme with a very simple and straightforward premise, In total, Irish EBF has contributed over €42 every year the stallion owners in Ireland can million to Irish prize-money since 1983, with voluntarily pay the equivalent of an average the current 2018 annual investment now at €2.2 nomination fee for each of their stallions into the million, making Irish Stallion Farms the largest Irish EBF fund. Only the progeny of these EBF- sponsor of racing in Ireland. The majority of the registered stallions can enter EBF-sponsored sponsorship goes towards the Flat (€1.6 million in races and benefit from the extra prize money. additional prize-money for nearly 300 races), but I believe its popularity and longevity is due to we also make a significant contribution to National the fact is has remained a simple process. Hunt racing (€550,000 in additional prize-money for about 150 races). The vast distribution of Working closely with HRI, the Irish EBF the fund across nearly 450 races represents the Governors’ create a programme of Irish EBF- ethos of the Irish EBF, to ensure everyone has sponsored races targeted to support both Flat an opportunity to benefit from the scheme. and National Hunt races in Ireland that are judged to support the Irish racing industry. The MG: Speaking of National Hunt, the Irish Irish EBF board, superbly led by John O’Connor EBF NH Summer Series of 20 races was (Chairman) and Joe Foley (Deputy Chairman) a great success, are there any further feel a strong responsibility to ensure the funds National Hunt initiatives planned? are best distributed to benefit Irish racing and to recognise the many stallion owners who NJ: We are currently working on another voluntarily contribute every year. They are significant initiative to further help the grass 06 The idea behind the Irish think it has been very well received and so we EBF Summer National Hunt are very happy to run it again this year. We are actively seeking a sponsor to come on board Handicap Series is to give horses a and help us promote it, a series of races like this competitive option that are rated is a very attractive proposition to a sponsor who 116 or lower, thereby targeting will have exposure at the number of different the grassroots of NH racing. venues over a six month period. We also maintain a strong focus on NH roots of National Hunt racing. We are nearing the mares’ races, this year, the Irish EBF will end of the development stage, so we hope to be allocate €550,000 exclusively to over 150 able to bring you news of a new series by Easter. National Hunt races and half of this allocation is solely for mares’ races. We don’t just do things The idea behind the Irish EBF Summer for a year, we keep going with an initiative until National Hunt Handicap Series is to give horses it’s no longer relevant.