IT is hard to believe that Michael Osborne died in December, 2005, at the age of just 71 years. He was, and remains, an icon.

He made an immeasurable contribution to Irish racing and breeding, but his influence did not stop in Ireland.

There is no corner of the world that you can go to, and where thoroughbreds are bred or raced, that his name is not known, or that people he mentored are not in positions of authority.

He founded the Irish National Stud Thoroughbred Management Course, first run in 1971, and the final cohort of students he personally oversaw was the class of 1982.

As chance would have it, that class included his son Joe, now managing director of Godolphin Ireland, and he has also gone on to become an industry leader. The family connection with Tully did not end either with Michael departure to pastures new, or Joe’s graduation with a gold medal in his pocket.

John Osborne, a veterinary surgeon by qualification, returned to Tully to take over as CEO, overseeing a particularly successful period for the stud, before he handed over the reins to Cathal Beale, yet another INS graduate, and a then Darley Flying Start graduate to boot.

This week I caught up with Joe Osborne, and I started by asking him how he felt the establishment of the course ranked with his late father?

“He had such a long list of achievements and has left such a lasting legacy it is difficult to put a ranking on them. But it must be right up there because of the number of lives and careers it impacted on.

“He was a huge influence on, and inspiration to, the students who were there during his tenure at Tully. It is a testament to his vision that the course he developed has endured. It still has his imprint on it to this day.

“My father loved people and I have never met anyone who came close to his level of enthusiasm and positivity. He achieved a lot in the bloodstock and veterinary aspects of his career, but my guess is that he was proudest of the friends he made along the journey. Many of those friends first met him as students at Tully.”

Father’s memory

Joe rarely finds himself anywhere in the world that his father’s memory is not evoked. “Dad was a great advocate for young people getting international experience, and he was a great believer in people. That encouragement resulted in a talent diaspora to every country where there are horses. I have lost count of the conversations which begin with ‘If it wasn’t for your father…’”

What might have seemed like a potential issue for Joe, being the boss’s son, was turned into a golden opportunity by the student. Joe explains: “I had a huge advantage over my fellow trainees, having lived at Tully for 10 years. I was working weekends and school holidays from the age of 12, and was sitting in on the course lectures throughout that time.

“That gave me a head start on the content for the final exam, but I was surprised to win the gold medal. It was an exceptionally talented group of students that year as their career subsequent achievements confirm.”

Flying Start

Two decades after Michael Osborne left the Irish National Stud, Sheikh Mohammed was developing his strong advocacy for training within the industry, and again the handprint of the former INS supremo was to be seen. “My father was very involved in the development of the Flying Start programme, and he was a trustee of it up to the time of his retirement.

“The conversations with us and Sheikh Mohammed in 2002 were about providing an holistic education which would better equip future industry leaders to make a positive impact,” Joe says.

He added: “The INS course helped us work out a successful blueprint for Flying Start. Furthermore, the INS course has proved to be an ideal stepping stone for those who have Flying Start as a goal. There are obvious synergies, particularly for international students who want to gain experience outside their home country.”

Family pride

The Tully ties, never lost, were firmly re-established when Joe’s brother John was appointed CEO. “It meant a lot to us all and we were very proud of John. I suppose because the five Osborne children grew up at Tully, we will always have a strong emotional connection to the place.

“When John was appointed to the role of CEO it was a great way for us to reconnect with the stud and Japanese Gardens, and we were delighted to see the success he brought to the role. At the end of his contract his successor was an INS and Flying Start graduate, Cathal Beale, so the narrative of connection has continued.”

Often overlooked in discussions about the work of Michael Osborne is the staunch, loyal support of his wife Ann. Joe agrees. “My mother was very much part of the stud, particularly in situations when my father was in the role of ambassador for the Irish bloodstock industry,” before adding “but there is no doubt that the five of us kept her busier than we should have!”

Strongest memory

As he looks back at his own time on the course, what is Joe’s strongest memory? “The lasting memory is of the great team at Tully. People like John Gannon, Don Magee, Mick Downey, Tommy Reidy, John Kenehan, Pat Mullarkey and Charlie Broughall who spent most of their lives within a few miles of Kildare town and dedicated their lives to what was just called ‘the Stud’.

“A lot of people have had a positive influence on me, but I would not be where I am today were it not for them, and I single out John Gannon as a particular inspiration to me.

“I have often used a photograph of the class of 1982 when giving career talks to young people. The many on the list who have had successful careers were already displaying the traits of ambition, hard work and attention to detail back then, even though most were barely 20 years old.”