Jump in quality proving no obstacle for level-headed McCarthy

For all that Ian McCarthy is modest about a National Hunt riding career which included mounts at the Cheltenham Festival and a Graded success, it is with Flat horses that he is starting to gain recognition.

The Galway man was afforded a guard of honour by his colleagues when bowing out from the saddle at his local track last July, having already begun to establish his own pre-training and breaking business in Kildangan, County Kildare.

He is consigning two American Pharoah yearlings under his Grangecoor Farm banner at Wednesday’s Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale as he builds upon what has been a promising start from several others that went through his hands.

"I had a horse last year that I prepped, Hierarchy, in the Guineas Sale," says McCarthy. "He went on to be second in the Mill Reef [for Hugo Palmer, David Howden and Qatar Racing] and sixth in the Breeders’ Cup, so he’s been very successful.

Lot 36, an American Pharoah colt out of Polar River, should provide plenty of Dubai interestCredit: Goffs/Dubai Racing Club

"And Quick Suzy [who he pre-trained for Gavin Cromwell] was probably the one last year when she won the Queen Mary. She was special all right. A lot of well-known trainers and owners support me, so I’m very fortunate."

Perhaps the headline act of the Grangecoor pair, certainly in the sense of attracting the interest of local buyers, is lot 36. The son of the American champion is out of a very familiar face at Meydan in Polar River, who went right through the grades for Doug Watson in 2016 and won the UAE Oaks before finishing a luckless second to Japanese cult hero Lani in the UAE Derby.

Polar River’s bay second foal is joined by a chestnut colt out of a Mizzen Mast sister to US Grade 2 winner Filimbi (2), both daughters of the Alabama Stakes and Kentucky Oaks scorer Flute.

"They’re two different types of horse," says McCarthy. "Polar River obviously was a great mare herself, she wasn’t overly big and this lad is similar, although he makes up for it in movement. He’s a good goer and looks to have a bright future.

"The other one is more of a rangier horse with a bit of size and scope about him, a lovely horse with a real good attitude. He puts his head down and does everything very easily."

Although many of the vendors and owners have sourced horses with obvious appeal for the Middle East, McCarthy says he had little to do with that stage of the plan.

"They’re the first two American Pharoahs I’ve had and it’s coincidence I’ve got the two of them here," he says. "I actually got them just to be broken, then they were inspected by Goffs for this, and the owners asked if I’d be interested in consigning them.

"They’ve got nice pages and physically they’re both nice types for here. Hopefully now we can finish the job."

He adds that it has not been too difficult to prepare the pair for their sunshine date.

"They’re not going against the clock and we don’t have to be that hard on them," says McCarthy. "It’s an ideal preparation."

The 33-year-old is quite a serious, meticulous figure who usually has around 50 in his stables, with plenty of coming and going of horses at various stages of their careers.

His project seems to be working well and his only adamant answer is whether it could evolve into taking out a training licence.

"It doesn’t interest me," he replies. "I just like working with young horses, maybe trading more so.

"It was the side that always interested me, I’ve built my own place now and I want to expand that. We’ve a farm, gallops, lunge ring and the best of facilities.

"I like the breeze-up game, it’s something I've always been very interested in and, based on having a good year last year, I’m sure looking forward we’ll always have a couple.

"The priority is to have good riders on young horses. It’s just to get them physically prepared to go to their trainers and mentally, even more importantly, so they’re able to cope with it. I’m very lucky to have good staff."

With no pronounced racing background, McCarthy has been quietly absorbing information from some fine mentors. He is amused to note that last year’s Grand National third Any Second Now is being primed by Ted Walsh for the great race again, as he partnered the gelding to win on his racecourse debut at Navan in 2016.

"I rode a few nice horses," he recalls. "I served my time at Dessie Hughes’s. I got a great education there, he was a great horseman. I’ve spent time with Ted Walsh and between both of them I learned a hell of a lot.

Smart mare Jennies Jewel gave McCarthy some fine days in the saddleCredit: Patrick McCann

"I was probably a journeyman jockey but I was lucky enough to ride close to 90 winners and Jennies Jewel was probably the one with a bit of quality for me, she won a couple of black-type races and took me to Ascot and Cheltenham."

As he thinks back to those happy days, a little flicker of hesitation crosses McCarthy's brow before he jolts back into the present.

"I do miss it but I’m kept busy doing what I’m doing now," he says. "I had a great couple of years at it, met some great people, but the business was at home and I’d just concentrate on that. It’s the way I’m looking forward now."

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