THE first thing to hit you as you drive through Juddmonte’s New Abbey farm in Kildare is the palpable calm. Far from the adrenaline of last week’s Tattersalls December Foal Sale where Juddmonte invested the guts of 2.5 million guineas on four exceptional fillies, the paddocks remain lush as they rest in winter and the proud architecture feels like it’s taking a breath after a busy year.

A vital part of the late H.H. Prince Khalid bin Abdullah’s breeding vision, New Abbey is a dry sandy-soiled farm which allows Juddmonte to winter all 91 of this year’s European weanlings in safety and peace. The calm isn’t just applicable to the atmosphere, it’s imbued in both stock and staff, headed up by Juddmonte general manager of Ireland and European racing, Barry Mahon.