Owner-breeder accuses 'stallion master' of withholding hundreds of thousands of euros as Sands Of Mali court dispute erupts again

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The bitter dispute between owner-breeder Steve Parkin and stud owner Joe Foley erupted again in the High Court on Monday when it was alleged Foley had not granted Parkin access to, and was withholding hundreds of thousands of euros from, an escrow account set up for money generated by the stallion Sands Of Mali.

The claims, made during a hearing before Mr Justice David Nolan, alleged Foley did not fulfil a direction from the court to give Parkin access to a neutral account into which covering fees for Sands Of Mali would be paid during the legal wrangling, and also failed to provide certificates from vets verifying the health of the mares being covered.

Foley's legal team rejected the alleged breaches of the management terms, and told the court the sales of mares covered by Sands Of Mali had been impeded due to Parkin's refusal to release the relevant covering certificates.

Parkin, the founder of Clipper Logistics and a former prominent owner-breeder, and Foley, the owner of Ballyhane Stud and former adviser to Parkin, have been locked in a row over the ownership and management of Sands Of Mali since their 20-year relationship disintegrated in March 2024.

The court heard that Sands Of Mali covered 228 mares in the 2024-25 season, and while the court directed the covering fee be €6,500, Parkin alleged Foley agreed a reduced fee of €5,000 in respect of "a series of covers" without consultation. 

On the basis of the latter fee, the total revenue from the coverings would amount to €1.14m, but Parkin's team said there was €90,000 in the account set up for the stallion.

It was also alleged Parkin had not been told how Foley had complied with the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association terms to ensure the mares were "disease-free" when they were serviced by the stallion, and that bank statements of the account in question were never furnished. 

Sands Of Mali (near): covered 228 mares in 2024-25 seasonCredit: Edward Whitaker

In November, Sands Of Mali was sold to Yeomanstown Stud in a sealed-bid auction conducted by Tattersalls Ireland but Parkin's legal team described Foley as "still the stallion master", explaining he continued to collect fees for the coverings in the 2024-25 season while the sire was still at Ballyhane Stud given payments from clients are not due until a foal is born, with Parkin believing the money to be due to him.

This was described as a "very serious breach of the agreement" by Parkin's team, who also explained that what had once been a "very close relationship" had completely broken down and that Parkin was unable to place any trust in Foley.

Foley's legal team rejected the alleged breaches and highlighted issues being faced by sellers of mares in-foal to Sands Of Mali. In November, six mares covered by the stallion were sold at the Goffs Breeding Stock Sale in Ireland, making up to €32,000, without covering certificates – an official document that verifies a specific stallion has bred with a specific mare – on the proviso the certificates would be supplied by mid-January. 

Purchasers of the mares are permitted to cancel the sale if the covering certificate is not received, with their release continuing to be blocked by Parkin.

Judge Nolan granted liberty to both parties to issue the relevant motions, in for hearing on February 5, with Parkin seeking an order to enforce its directions and Foley pursuing an order to compel Parkin to release the covering certificates.

"I would urge the parties to take this opportunity to ensure whatever outstanding issues are minuscule by the time the matter comes to me," said Judge Nolan. "I've spent a lot of time on this case already. It seemed to me that this matter would be case managed, but that has somehow now gone off the rails.

"It's behoven on the parties to note that previous views and orders of court may well change in light of changing facts. Just because somebody may feel they have an advantage after the first skirmish does not mean that they would benefit from that same attitude. The clients would be well advised to listen to their lawyers."

Read more:

High Court hears of threats made by Steve Parkin against Joe Foley and his family as legal proceedings between the pair continue 

High Court rejects Steve Parkin's application to have Sands Of Mali removed from Ballyhane Stud 

Ballyhane Stud owner Joe Foley denies Steve Parkin's claim that stallion Sands Of Mali is being unlawfully held in High Court battle 

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