Access all areas: an Arc hero and the champion sire star on Irish Stallion Trail
James Thomas reports from an unmissable two days in Ireland
Friday and Saturday saw the sixth annual Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM) Irish Stallion Trail, an event during which 30 of Ireland's finest studs provided something close to an access all areas experience of the beating heart of the country's breeding industry.
The Stallion Trail ranks as an unmissable two days for bloodstock aficionados and the casual racing fan alike, so the Racing Post Bloodstock team duly hit the road, covered over 250 miles, took in ten studs and visited over 60 stallions.
Rest assured, were it not for the constraints of time and the speed limit, we would have gladly ticked off all 30 studs.
Our first port of call was Rathbarry Stud, where the spritely Catherine Cashman introduced the increasingly influential Acclamation, young guns James Garfield and Kodi Bear, and the farm's elder statesman Tagula, who emerged with a bright eye and a spring in his step, giving no indication he has just passed his 27th birthday.
Having left a dent in Rathbarry's supply of biscuits and the first of countless cups of tea, we headed to the other side of Fermoy to Coolmore's Castlehyde Stud, which is in the midst of some major renovation works.
The farm's diverse roster has also undergone something of a redevelopment in recent years, with highly touted youngsters in Order Of St George and Sioux Nation now standing alongside proven sources of Group 1 talent Mastercraftsman and Starspangledbanner.
Maxios, who recently switched to Castlehyde after six seasons at Gestut Fahrhof, also caught the eye. If jumps breeders do not get behind the dark, rangy son of Monsun it will be an almighty surprise.
Just a two-minute drive away is Grange Stud, one of Coolmore's dedicated National Hunt arms.
Seeing so much sirepower in one place can be, for those initiated in the ways of bloodstock, an experience approaching the profound. Everywhere you look there’s a Classic winner or the sire of a recent Group 1 scorer. At the time of writing, the stallions housed at Coolmore's immaculate main stud have supplied no fewer than 126 Group/Grade 1 winners between them.
The stud has welcomed three new recruits for 2020, namely the explosive Calyx, 2,000 Guineas hero Magna Grecia and July Cup scorer Ten Sovereigns, who most impressed from this trio was a hot topic of discussion on this year's Trail.
With a sublime pedigree, two Group 1 wins on his CV and a notably fluid action, Magna Grecia probably just edged it in the Racing Post's straw poll.
Even among Coolmore's embarrassment of riches, the jaw-dropping good looks boasted by Churchill are something out of the ordinary. Despite his impressive muscular frame the equine Adonis is so light on his feet he barely made a sound as he swaggered around the showing area. In Coolmore's search for Galileo's heir, Churchill must rank very highly indeed.
The Stallion Trail offers something for the industry professional as well as racing and breeding fanatics, and Ballylinch's Eoin Fives reports that six Waldgeist nominations have been sold to visitors on the ITM-backed event.
Few studs go to the lengths that Ballylinch does on the hospitality front, and a few hot whiskies help get the circulation going again before a productive day draws to a close.
Day two
After an overnight stopover in Naas, our Trail resumed at Derrinstown Stud on Saturday morning. The event is billed as a chance to meet your heroes, and nowhere is this more true than when Tamayuz parades at Shadwell's Irish base.
Thankfully the plush surrounds of the Cape Cross centre provided ample refuge before the show began - and not to mention a high-calibre assortment of refreshments ranging from chicken burgers to Darley-branded buns.
Despite a rather ominous sign warning visitors to remain in their car to avoid the guard dog, Pim's rottweiler Tucker forms part of a hospitable welcoming committee. It is, however, with a wry smile that Pim reveals "the T sometimes gets replaced with an F" when Tucker isn't in quite such an affable mood.
The Flood family's stallions enjoyed a stellar 2019, with Califet, Court Cave and Kalanisi each siring Grade 1 winners. John Flood reports that newcomer Poet's Word has received a warm reception from breeders, so, with strong support looking assured, it surely won't be long before the smooth-moving son of Poet's Voice is adding to the farm's long list of success stories.
I urge you to put the Irish Stallion Trail in your diary for 2021 and calibrate your expectations to high. You won't be disappointed.
Read more:
Welcoming public and professionals alike the key to Irish Stallion Trail success
Meet Coolmore's new stallions Calyx, Magna Grecia and Ten Sovereigns
Barcelona striker Antoine Griezmann enters the stallion business with Tornibush
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