Should stallions meet a criteria before going to stud?

Joe Foley felt it was a good ambition to have, but too hard to police, given the number of wind operations available and differentiating between genetic faults and those not passed on. Mark Johnston questioned whether wind operations should just be banned altogether: “If they don’t work, why bother, and if they do work, we shouldn’t do it!” He was not in favour of going down the German route of setting criteria but did wonder why we have a closed stud book. “If anyone’s got something fast they should breed from it!”

Is scoping necessary?

One interesting revelation was the panel’s thoughts on scoping and its relevance. Ger Lyons declared it cruel and felt veterinary surgeons were making money, while agents were just “covering their arses”. “In our job you are spending a considerable amount of someone else’s money and Ger’s right I’m covering my arse,” Ed Sackville ventured. Johnston and Colin Bowe didn’t consider scoping a lot of value and had both seen numerous good horses left behind as a result of bad scopes. Johnston cited an instance of a subsequent Group 1 winner who had failed a scope at the sales. The consensus was definitely against scoping and paying too much heed to the results.

Would you buy the produce of an old mare?

Lyons has a cut-off point of 20 years old, because it is a system that has always worked for him. Johnston didn’t worry about age and Damian Burns had nothing against older mares, reminding us that age is a state of mind, some mares looking older than their years, some younger. He did, however, refer to research completed by University of Limerick student Alison Brassil, showing that as a successful stallion ages, although his stud fee increases, the number of stakes winners he produces decreases. “If it’s a good-looking horse by a sire that’s popular I’d take a chance on him,” Bowe accepted.

Which are the first season sires to watch for?

For Burns it was Intello, who Johnston was also tempted to pick, having been pleasantly surprised by those in his string, but opting for Epaulette. Both Lyons and Foley went with Lethal Force and Foley also confessed a sneaky feeling about Dabirsim. Sackville regarded Camelot as an exceptional racehorse and loved his yearlings, although he made Foley’s day by adding: “Red Jazz was very good value at €4,000 and he had nice looking yearlings.”

Bowe is a fan of Getaway: “Under National Hunt Rules he has some exciting horses to come from not very large numbers.”

And if you were racing’s benign dictator?

Bowe looked for a race for horses that cost under €10,000, to give “the small lads” a chance.

Johnston would love the role and promised more central control of fixtures, prize money and the running of the industry. Sackville was in agreement and called for one unified body.

“We have a fantastic sport, but we’re too worried about the person we haven’t got in the gate, instead of concentrating on the ones who have come in,” stated Lyons. He added: “I would love it if every one of you paid the Plus 10 Bonus, it’s a humungous help to the owners.” Sackville agreed again and pointed out: “When I’ve a client who is a bit reluctant, I say ‘imagine if you win the £10,000 bonus’ and they go another bid.” Burns was another Plus 10 advocate: “If you’re breeding racehorses it will come back into your pocket. If you’re doing it right, you’ll get it back.”