ONE of the most prestigious stud management positions in Britain is held by a Wexford man, and I hope he will not mind me saying that it is a role that flies under the radar somewhat.

Now in his fifth year at Sandringham, David Somers is stud manager at The Royal Studs, the breeding arm of Queen Elizabeth’s thoroughbred operations. John Warren is Her Majesty’s racing manager and bloodstock advisor, and therefore has a high profile when it comes to the success of her racehorses. However, the same horses are cared for, from birth, and nurtured by a dedicated team led by David.

First things first. David is yet another industry leader who can claim to having been a graduate of the Irish National Stud Thoroughbred Management Course, in his case in 1992. It was a vintage year, comprising 16 students from Ireland, two from Japan, and one each from New Zealand, India, France, Australia and Switzerland.

One of the leading figures in Indian racing and breeding circles, Ameeta Mehra featured in this column in late April. Bill Dwan has become one of the biggest consignors in Europe through his and Andrew Mead’s Castlebridge sales. In the past decade, Brendan Walsh has saddled the winners of approaching $25 million, and become one of the leading handlers in the USA and internationally. These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the class of ’92.

What is also inspiring about the career trajectory of David Somers is that he comes from a non-traditional background, but he has shown that dedication, hard work and a desire to succeed are all the ingredients you need to get to the top. Indeed, his own introduction to equines was by way of the sport horse sector, taking summer jobs on a dairy farm in his home village of Ballycanew with Brian Maguire and his family. Brian and his brothers had lots of horses, bringing them to shows and selling them at Goresbridge.

Having parents who encouraged him, David realised early on that the sport horse sector was not for him, but he set his sights on the thoroughbred world. He heard about the Irish National Stud course, research told him that an agricultural qualification would be useful, and he went to Kildalton College for a year, enough to get accepted on the six-month course at Tully.

Lifetime friends

It is fair to say that David loved the course, making lifetime friends. He enjoyed the fact that the mix of students meant that all aspects of stud and racing careers were discussed and contemplated, and the variety of experiences that the students had encountered opened David’s eyes to the many opportunities.

“The great thing about it was that there were some funny times, you worked hard during the day and the lectures were good. I loved the weekends when we spent time together, and there was always someone on Sunday who would cook the best steak ever!”

David set a goal of being the best he could be, and this attitude stood him in good stead when he emerged from the course with the coveted silver medal. “I went on the course with a plan to do as well as I could. I had an ambition to try and get on and manage a farm at some stage. I thought this was going to be one of my good opportunities to try and start a process. Getting the silver medal was one of those proud moments that you can look back on.”

After graduating he stayed on to work with the yearlings. He then applied for a position to run a yard, and was successful. At the end of the 1993 stud season he utilised the INS alumni network and went to New Zealand to Mapperley Farm and joined Pat Connell, the gold medal winner in the class of 1986. Bill Dwan had been at Mapperley the year before David.

New Zealand

This was a very new experience. David said: “It’s a completely different system in New Zealand and it was an eye-opener. I came back to the Irish National Stud and remained there between 1994 and 1998, but I used to go out and back to Arrowfield for the different seasons. Then John Gannon sadly passed away.

“He was a legend. Everyone who did the course had respect for John. After his passing I was stud groom for a couple of years. It was a bit daunting but I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

When I am catching up with former students at Tully, it is remarkable that the same names keep cropping up when they are asked to talk about the team. Helen, Annette, Eileen, Claire, Helena and Sally never fail to make it – and they are recognised by their first names. John Gannon, Mick Murphy (Daffer), Bridget McGing and Dan O’Mahony are also recalled by David. “They made everyone feel welcome,” was his simple summation of the team who at the time were managed by John Clarke.

David found himself back at Tully from 2001 to 2003 where he sold nominations, a new departure for him. This was the time of Indian Ridge, and 2003 was the first season at stud for a certain Invincible Spirit. An expanding curriculum vitae now meant that David felt equipped to try pastures new.

Marriage

The role of stud manager at Eliza Park in Australia was available, and the move down under coincided with marriage to Karen. David spent four years at Eliza Park before coming back to Europe and 18 months at the National Stud in Newmarket. The lure of Oz had not gone away, Eliza Park in particular, and David was back there until he moved into his present role.

“We were always going to come back at some stage. I saw the role at The Royal Studs advertised in The Irish Field. I didn’t believe I would get it, but I thought I would try and see what happened. I got it and I am just so lucky.

“You know, a nicer person you could not work for. Her Majesty’s knowledge is immense and she has bred most of the mares here. Everyone takes great pride in the successes of horses we breed, and it’s lovely to see the fillies come back and become broodmares.”

Estimate

Queen Elizabeth has been a successful owner and breeder for many decades now, winning all of the British classics apart from the Derby, coming closest with Aureole in 1953, the year of her coronation. Sixty years later Estimate provided her with a memorable victory in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, and that Group 1 winner is now a member of the broodmare band at Sandringham.

This year Queen Elizabeth has had three stakes winners that she owns and bred, all produced since David came on board – Light Refrain, King’s Lynn and Tactical. The Wexford native’s influence is telling, and is not going unnoticed.