Clare Manning backed by 'Granda' Jim Bolger as she consigns her first yearlings

There should be no excuse for the latest newcomer to the ranks of consignors running green on debut this yearling sale season, as she has a fine pedigree and has flourished in her early training.

Clare Manning is the daughter of Classic-winning jockey Kevin and wife Una, whose father Jim Bolger is a legitimate legend of the turf: master trainer and breeder, far-sighted business brain and the man who made Galileo.

Having been present for many of dad Kevin and 'granda' Jim's joint-exploits on the track while growing up, and often accompanying her family to the sales, she graduated from the prestigious Irish National Stud breeding course and paid her dues by working on bloodstock and training operations around the world.

Manning now presents her first yearling draft from her parents' Boherguy Stud near the Curragh, made up entirely of fillies: one at Tattersalls Ireland September, three at Goffs Orby and Sportsman's, and four at Tattersalls October Book 1.

Reflecting on Manning snr and Bolger's influence on her career, she says: “Both have been instrumental in me being where I am today. Dad has taught me all the hands-on aspects including riding, lunging, driving and general horsemanship.

“Granda has passed down his interest and knowledge of pedigrees and matings. From a young age I would attend Goffs with him, inspecting future stock and understanding conformation. Their work ethic is outstanding and to see what Granda has built from scratch is phenomenal.

“It’s all down to hard work and self-belief. Neither are too far away when I need advice or to run something by them.”

Clare Manning: paid her dues having worked in studs around the worldCredit: Patrick McCann

Manning jnr is undoubtedly fortunate to be born into one of the foremost families of Irish racing, and to have spent time on Bolger's Redmonstown Stud and around his fabulously successful stock. But, lest anyone should think she has relied solely on family ties to become a Book 1 vendor, listen to the hard yards she has put in under her own steam and bear in mind that a famous name is of little use when you're shovelling muck or showing yearlings for hours on end.

“On finishing school, I spent some time at Redmonstown and Kildangan Studs and that’s where my interest really grew and took off,” Manning says, outlining her CV. “After that I spent a year at WinStar Farm in Kentucky and did the sales for Brookdale, Hunter Valley and Eaton.

“On returning to Ireland I worked the sales for Baroda and Colbinstown and went on to do the Irish National Stud course in 2016. After graduation I spent some time in Japan at Dr Harry Sweeney’s Paca Paca Farm and returned to David Cox’s Baroda Stud for yearling prep and sales.

“Later that year I went down to Arrowfield Stud in the Hunter Valley, where I spent my time prepping yearlings and being part of the teams at the Magic Millions Gold Coast and Inglis Easter sales. When I came home I went back to Baroda, and I was there until last year.”

Explaining how the Boherguy Stud consignment venture came about, Manning says: “I felt it was time for a change and to spread my wings a little. I wasn’t sure exactly in what capacity though. During the Goffs November sales I was asked to board a few foals, which led to Dad encouraging me to go out on my own with the use of his yard. That was the beginning.”

Boherguy Stud is situated in the heart of County Kildare horse country, only five minutes from the Irish National Stud and 15 minutes away from Kildangan and Gilltown Studs.

A young Clare Manning (right) with the family after Margarula's Irish Oaks victory in 2002Credit: Caroline Norris

“The yard comprises an American barn, with CCTV foaling boxes, loose stables, an indoor lunge, an outdoor arena, a walker, a gallop, turnout paddocks and good quality limestone grazing paddocks,” Manning says.

“Services include foaling, boarding, sales prep and consigning. This year we foaled down ten mares who we were able to constantly monitor with CCTV and foaling alarms.”

Manning's first batch of yearlings heading to auction from the farm kicks off at Fairyhouse with a filly she bred herself, a daughter of Dandy Man out of the unraced Teofilo mare Areyaam Rose. "Very strong with a great walk and a very laid-back attitude” is the consignor's report.

She is also the owner of a Harzand filly from the immediate family of Bolger's Royal Ascot winner and Classic-placed Banimpire, pinhooked as a foal at Goffs last year and heading for the Sportsman's Sale.

“I love yearling prep so nothing would satisfy me more than putting the work in myself to hopefully be well rewarded,” Manning says.

Boherguy Stud's Goffs Orby draft comprises fillies by the exceptional half-brothers Galileo and Sea The Stars – one the first foal out of Replete, an unraced daughter of Makfi and Banks Hill, and the other also a first foal out of Heroic Heart, an Invincible Spirit mare from the family of Quarter Moon and Yesterday.

“The Galileo filly was pinhooked from Goffs last November for €160,000,” says Manning. “At that price, and with her pedigree – from the family of champions such as Dansili and Banks Hill – I think she was a very shrewd purchase. She's the full package: a standout who is very athletic and has good attitude.”

Of the Sea The Stars filly, she adds: “She was also pinhooked as a foal at Goffs, for €150,000. She's a beautifully put together filly with a super pedigree.”

Proud dad and daughter Kevin and Clare Manning with Verbal DexterityCredit: Caroline Norris

Bolger has entrusted his granddaughter with the task of consigning a handful of the best-bred fillies from his homebred yearling crop to Book 1.

They include a New Approach three-parts sister to Group 1-placed fillies Cuis Ghaire, Gile Na Greine and Scintillula – “a very athletic filly with a super temperament,” Manning says – and a Fastnet Rock sister to May Hill Stakes winner and twice Group 1-placed Turret Rocks who is “a strong, well put together filly from the family of Goldikova with a big walk and great attitude”.

There is also a daughter of Dawn Approach out of Turret Rocks' half-sister Beyond Intensity booked for Park Paddocks – “a strong individual with a loose walk who looks to be an exciting racing prospect” – along with a “racy, athletic” filly by the same sire who is a half-sister to Marble Hill Stakes winner Round Two from the family of champion Easy Goer.

Unsurprisingly, considering Manning's considerable experience in the industry in spite of her tender age and the ammunition at her disposal, she describes herself “more excited than nervous” ahead of her first yearling sale season going it alone.

“I’m looking forward to Fairyhouse and getting the ball rolling,” she says.

All the indicators are that Manning's introduction to consigning will resemble the start made by one of her dad and Granda's greatest triumphs, a horse integral to her early drafts: Dawn Approach, precocious enough to triumph on debut on the first day of the Irish Flat season to kickstart a spectacularly successful career.

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