'I remember the combination of nerves and excitement as I signed the docket'

Age 25

OccupationGoffs auctioneer

How and when did you become involved in bloodstock?I got started by riding out during secondary school for John Lennon, a local trainer in Baltinglass, County Wicklow. It was a great experience despite almost getting run away with on the gallop most days!

Between transition year and college I did stints with ex-amateur Grangecon-based jockey Jackie McGeer and sport horse producer Patrick O'Neill. While at the University of Limerick I worked for Joe and Jane Foley at Ballyhane Stud, Francois Drion at Taroka Stud and did a yearling prep at David and Diane Nagle's Barronstown Stud under David Moore.

A chat with Nick Nugent at the Goffs Orby Sale led me to bid spotting at the November Sale, and that gave me the bug for the auction scene. I later completed my college work experience with the Goffs team which was very beneficial and helped me decide on the path to auctioneering.

I also did the Irish National Stud breeding course, which was a brilliant six months of learning, and I made friends from a multitude of countries who I still deal with on a regular basis.

After that I travelled to Kentucky to work for Irishman Gerry Dilger at his Dromoland Farm for a yearling prep under Peter Conway and Dennis Fenton.

On my return to Ireland and I began working for Peter Kelly of Emerald Bloodstock, dividing my time between the office and stud with Dick Roche. I also started worked with Richard Milligan of Equine Trucks Ireland who is the sole agent for Theault Trucks in Ireland.

During this time I completed a part-time Higher Certificate in Real Estate with the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers, which gave me the licence to auctioneer in Ireland.

Colin Jackson, father of the Australian-based Irish jump jockey Shane Jackson, Andrew O'Connell and Tinnakill House Stud also had a great impact on my career. I'm very grateful to have worked for very knowledgeable people who all helped me to get to where I am.

Jerry Horan: 'Work hard and you will climb the ladder'Credit: Katie Jane Butler

What are your earliest and favourite memories from the sales ring?One ofmy earliest sales memories was working for the Cloney brothers at the then Doncaster yearling sale, where I learned the basics.

After my first week of bid spotting at Goffs, I bought a Dalakhani filly for €3,200 – my first purchase at public auction – and remember it clearly to this day.

It was a great buzz and I vividly remember the combination of nerves and excitement as I signed the docket. I'd caught the bug and tried to pinhook the filly back at the February Sale but unfortunately didn't sell her. A friend of mine, Richard Fitzsimons from BBA Ireland, purchased her later in the day.

Another favourite memory was purchasing a Dandy Man yearling for €1,000 and selling her for €20,000 at Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale through Danny O'Donovan and Justin Timmons of Dolmen Bloodstock, who do a great job. She was purchased by Steven Hillen and Kevin Ryan and named Dandy's Beano. She won as a two-year-old.

How has your sales day routine changed since becoming an auctioneer?Before making my auctioneering debut I would've spent my each day picking out lots I wanted to view and walking the barns looking at stock.

On an auctioneering day it's quite different. In the morning I'm busy updating the catalogue with any recent pedigree updates and afterwards I'm viewing any upcoming lots and speaking to vendors.

What is your main goal within the bloodstock industry?My goal is to improve my auctioneering skills, while I also want to breed or pinhook a Royal Ascot or Cheltenham Festival winner. I also feel it's very important to put back into the industry, such as being involved in horses in training.

Who has been the biggest influence on your career?I couldn't say just one person as I've taken something away from every person I received advice from, worked for or worked with. All of these people have made a positive impact on my career.

If you could be any figure from the racing or bloodstock industry for a day who would you choose?Joseph O'Brien as he is a similar age to me and I admire that he has a serious head on young shoulders.

I don't intend on becoming a trainer in the future but it amazes me how he juggles everything like the press, advertising events, Cheltenham preview nights and runners every day. His head is screwed on 24/7.

The whole logistical set up is unbelievable and is a credit to him and his Carriganog team. I would also have to tip my hat to the likes of Gordon Elliott, Willie Mullins and other large trainers who can juggle everything, all year round.

What's the funniest thing you have witnessed at the sales?Legendary ex-jockey Willie Carson couldn't get his yearling into the ring at Goffs UK, so the lot was sold outside the ring while Willie led a lady by linked arms around the sales ring – the whole auditorium erupted in laughter!

Willie Carson brings a smile to everyone's face at Goffs UKCredit: Sarah Farnsworth / Goffs UK

Advice for someone hoping to get into the industry?Work hard and you will climb the ladder, but most importantly do something you enjoy and opportunities will follow. There are so many aspects of the equine industry and even though one aspect may not suit an individual, in another position they'll thrive.

Get involved! Create a small pinhooking or racing syndicate – there's a great social aspect with your fellow investors along with the chance to get a return on your investment. When you're involved there's no better feeling than seeing a horse you've invested in go through a sale ring or gallop past you in a race.

Do you prefer Flat or jumps racing and why?I prefer Flat racing as I mainly breed and trade Flat-bred stock. In saying that, both Royal Ascot and Cheltenham are as magical as one another. In Ireland, Punchestown never disappoints with it's five-day festival and the Curragh is shaping up to be a world-class racecourse, which is very exciting.

Who is the most underrated stallion on the market?I'd have to say Elzaam as he's been lucky for me. He's excellent value for money and gets you a runner and it could all happen for him with his crops coming through.

Other underrated stallions on my radar would be Dragon Pulse, Equiano, Fast Company, Footstepsinthesand, Mayson, Raven's Pass and Tamayuz, and dual purpose-wise Casamento.

Who is your nap for the Cheltenham Festival?My festival nap is Paisley Park in the Stayers' Hurdle, because if I didn't choose him my friend Micheál Conaghan of Evergreen Stud – who sold him as a foal – would stop talking to me!

Joking aside, it would be unbelievable for the Conaghan family and all of Paisley Park's connections – Richard Rohan, who purchased him as a foal; Ballincurrig House Stud, who sold him at the Goffs Land Rover Sale; and Goffs agent Gerry Hogan, who purchased him as a store for Emma Lavelle; as well as his owner Andrew Gemmell and Aidan Coleman.

The dream is alive and I look forward to cheering him on.

How do you relax away from racing?I enjoy meeting a friends for a couple of 7 Ups, reading the paper and travelling.

No matter what stage of your career you're at, I would highly advise that you grasp any opportunity to travel you may have. As they say, a change is as good as a rest!

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Matt Houldsworth

Tom Malone

Henry Plumptre and Scott Calder

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