'Since we moved to Eyrefield we’ve really noticed how the stock has thrived'

Robert and Amber Byrne's Platinum Bloodstock recently secured a long-term lease on the historic Eyrefield House Stud on the Curragh, presently owned by the Dargan family.

Curragh native Robert, who formerly managed Gerrardstown House Stud in County Meath, from where Platinum Bloodstock operated, tells us about the new chapter for the business.

What prompted your move to Eyrefield House Stud?

We'd been keeping an eye out for a suitable farm to move the business to and a chance meeting at Royal Ascot with members of the Dargan family set the wheels in motion.

How have you settled in?

Really well. Moving house and stock, not to mention our family, brings its own challenges. It also takes time to get to know a farm but we're well settled at this stage and are really looking forward to the future in Eyrefield.

Has the move brought any changes to the business?

Our greatest strength has always been our boarding business. With extra acreage we can now expand this side of the business and have the capacity to welcome more permanent boarders as well as those just in Ireland for the breeding season.

We'll continue to consign at the sales but with the facilities in Eyrefield and our proximity to the Curragh there's an opportunity to expand the breaking, pre-training and spelling services. Previously this was an area we offered only really to permanent boarders but we now have the capacity to grow this side of the business.

What do you think sets Platinum Bloodstock apart from other boarding, pre-training and consignment operations?

Since we moved to Eyrefield we’ve really noticed how the stock has thrived and how well the land is taking the amount of rain we’ve had this winter. We're so lucky to have found a farm with such quality land, ensuring young stock are given the best possible start in life.

Our focus is very much quality over quantity. We're very clear of our offering. We are not looking to become hugely commercial; we would rather concentrate on the service we offer than volume.

What did you make of trade for Flat young stock this year?

The market continued the trend of recent years: unbelievable highs and rock bottom lows, with plenty of food for thought. There is under-demand for a lot of the horse population. It's hugely selective, making stallion selection more important than ever.

It's an extremely competitive market and unless as a breeder your stock ticks all the boxes, you're not going to get paid. At the same time, there is plenty of money for a good individual, particularly by a popular sire.

There's a lot of talk about overproduction but there have been other factors influencing the market such as Brexit, labour and prize-money. In Britain, for example, Ireland's biggest export market, prize-money does not offer a healthy return on investment for the end user.

We need to make the sport financially attractive to entice new investors.

Robert Byrne helped to bring through the outstanding Triumph Hurdle winner Our ConorCredit: Alan Crowhurst

How optimistic are you for the industry, particularly regarding Ireland's relationship with the UK market after Brexit?

It's a challenging time for the industry globally with polarisation and welfare to the fore. It's a time for industry collaboration; we all must work in the best interest of the sport to safeguard it for future generations.

With respect to Brexit, the recent election has at least taken the mystery out of it. Ireland has always had a good relationship with the UK and this shouldn’t change.

As long as common sense prevails when it comes to the movement of livestock, it should be business as usual.

Which young sires' progeny took your eye this year?

Churchill’s yearlings performed very well in the sales ring, being bought by all the good judges. A champion two-year-old and dual 2,000 Guineas winner, he has the ingredients to be a very successful sire.

The Last Lion was a tough racehorse whose offspring have impressed me physically. So have National Defense’s foals, who seem precocious. Awtaad was a very good-looking horse himself and his progeny seem to have inherited a lot of his class.

And who would be your pick of the more established sires?

The expensive proven sires all speak for themselves. In a realistic price range for most breeders, Bated Breath has had a good year and represents value.

So too has Footstepsinthesand – he continues to be a great horse to get a young mare on the winners' board.

Give us a young horse to follow in 2020

Sweet Delight is a very nice three-year-old filly for 2020. By Fastnet Rock out of a Sadler’s Wells mare [Sweet Firebird], she's a half-sister to Group performers Ayrad and Dawn Of Hope and goes nicely.

One of the most famous horses you've had through your hands, when managing Gerrardstown House Stud, was Our Conor. What are your memories of him?

As a yearling, Our Conor was a bit backward looking and it was obvious he needed time – but this was in a year when buyers didn’t have time and were after ready-to-go early-looking types. I remember he had massive feet for a yearling – it was like he hadn’t grown into them!

His dam Flamands was by Sadler’s Wells so there was always a chance she could breed something special, but up until that point she had been a shade disappointing. I remember in an attempt to develop a top line during his prep I actually loose schooled him over poles. He loved it.

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