‘Leopardstown was terrific but it doesn’t mean anything unless he’s able to sell well’ - Colm Ryan looking to pull another smart move with Cheltenham-bound Karate Kid

Karate Kid has already given Colm Ryan one day to remember, and on Saturday he might just supply another. 

The son of Spanish Moon grabbed the headlines over the festive period when he became Ryan’s first winner with just his second runner since taking out his licence. And that was not the only noteworthy feature of his Leopardstown triumph, as the bumper he won boasts an illustrious roll of honour. 

The likes of Fact To File, Embassy Gardens and Appreciate It all won the race before going on to bigger and better things. Karate Kid’s future appears similarly bright, but his next public appearance is as lot 10 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham January Sale that takes place after racing on Saturday. 

Despite a field of well-credentialled, and in some cases significantly more expensive, rivals, Ryan said he held no fears taking on the likes of Messrs Mullins and Elliott. And with good reason. 

Offers had already been considered after Karate Kid’s debut second at Fairyhouse, when under the care of owner-trainer John Hayes. But the sums involved underestimated the latent talent Karate Kid had shown at home, so connections headed to Leopardstown with the aim of enhancing his profile. 

Held up in last place by jockey Ray Barron, Karate Kid travelled with zest before circling the field turning for home. He quickened to lead two furlongs out and never really looked in danger thereafter, despite signs of residual greenness in the closing stages. 

“He had a nice run first-time-out and there were enquiries about him after that but we felt he wasn’t making enough,” said Ryan. “He was going so well at home that we felt we had to go to Leopardstown with him on the basis we needed to upgrade his form if we wanted to get something meaningful for him. It wasn’t a difficult decision to run. He worked on the grass a month out from Leopardstown and worked like a good horse, so we felt he was entitled to go there. 

“He improved an awful lot from his first run, he really came forward from it, and because we wanted to upgrade his form it felt like the sensible thing and the practical thing to go to Leopardstown. He came out of the race great altogether and he was back in his full routine two days after. If he wasn’t going to the sale he’d have had no issue being aimed at the Dublin Racing Festival.” 

The David versus Goliath nature of a rookie trainer with only a handful of horses getting the better of the major battalions certainly captured the attention of the racing public. However, Ryan said the decision to offer Karate Kid for sale, rather than roll the dice on the track, was a straightforward one. 

“There would’ve been a lot of goodwill after the race but we’re only on a small scale with four or five young horses,” he said. “For it to be sustainable, hopefully this fella will sell away well and we’ll be able to drive on from that. It was always the plan [to sell] as John is busy farming and the horse was bought on the basis that if we could get some form on him we'd be able to trade him on. 

“We’re looking to put more [money] back into store horses in the summer, we have four of those coming along at the moment, so we have no other choice but to sell him. In an ideal world you’d love to keep him but we just can’t do it.” 

Ryan stressed that he has no desire to carve out a career as a public trainer, and instead wants to focus on producing and trading young horses with form. Given this strategy, it is clear he feels Karate Kid winning at Leopardstown was only half the battle.  

“With regards training horses publicly, say training 30 or 40 handicappers, that’s not something I’m interested in as there’s no money in it,” he said. “My sole interest would be the young horses anyway. Training horses publicly isn’t something I want to pursue, so this doesn’t make a lot of difference unless you’re getting the financial result out of it.” 

Just this week major owners Bryan Drew and Simon Davies have spoken about increasing their respective racing and breeding interests in France on account of the more lucrative earning opportunities. While there is no suggestion Ryan will be leaving County Limerick any time soon, he said he aimed to replicate some of the practices French trainers commonly employ in a bid to make his operation financially viable. 

The Tattersalls Cheltenham January Sale takes place on SaturdayCredit: Debbie Burt

“We’d like to get into a position where we have between ten and 15 young horses coming on stream every year,” he said. “I have people who want to get involved and hopefully I can retain half or a leg in each horse myself and we’ll go from there. 

“People talk about the prize-money in France, but a lot of trainers would retain a share, a leg or a third, of nearly every horse in the yard because the prize-money is so good they can justify it. They’re not solely reliant on training fees, and that’s the same when you retain a share in a young horse that can get sold on and you get your money out of it.”

The Leopardstown success not only highlighted Ryan’s ability to bring a young National Hunt horse through the ranks, but his eye for future talent too. The trainer was involved in purchasing Karate Kid from the Doncaster Spring Store Sale in 2023, where he fetched just £13,000. 

“He was a lovely horse but he was still very raw on the day,” he said. “He was the first foal out of the mare and he was late in the catalogue, so he just kind of passed people by.” 

Suffice to say, Karate Kid is now worth many multiples of that initial purchase price, meaning his trainer is looking towards Cheltenham with a mixture of nerves and anticipation. 

“You’d obviously be nervous because the position we’re in at the moment, we need the result,” he said. “Leopardstown was terrific but it doesn’t mean anything unless he’s able to sell well. 

“We’d be disappointed if he doesn’t sell well but obviously we still don’t know what’ll happen on the day. Of course, you’re looking forward to it too. The horse won at Leopardstown, now he’s going to the sales, it’s a very good position to be in.”

Tattersalls Cheltenham January Sale factfile 

Where Tattersalls sales pavilion, Cheltenham racecourse

When Selling scheduled to begin after racing on Saturday at 4.45pm 

Last year’s stats From 22 offered, 16 sold for a clearance rate of 73 per cent, turnover of £876,000 (down 64 per cent year-on-year), an average of £54,750 (down 32 per cent) and a median of £31,000 (down 54 per cent) 

Notable graduates Deafening Silence (sold by G&T Racing, bought by Ryan Mahon for £40,000); Nada To Prada (sold by Cobajay Stables, bought by Tom Malone and Michael Scudamore for £65,000); Val Dancer (sold by Redbridge Stables, bought by Highflyer Bloodstock for £60,000)

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