AT last Friday’s Irish National Stud Thoroughbred Breeding Management Course graduation, a prize of €250 and a trophy was awarded for The Irish Field Blue Hen Essay competition.

Students were given a choice of subjects, and the standard this year was high. All 24 students made an entry, and choosing one winner was difficult.

The winner was Tara Carroll, one of her class representatives who spoke at the graduation. She also graduated with as one of the select high achievers. She chose as her subject to “Propose a mare that you think should be considered a ‘Blue Hen’, even if she did not fit the narrow category outlined. This is her winning entry.

Kind: A broodmare with a lasting legacy

It is often in the paddocks that true greatness can reveal itself. While stallions tend to receive

the most press, it is regularly the mare who leaves the deepest impression on the breed. Among the elite few who earn the title of ‘Blue Hen’, one mare stands out as a true matriarch of the modern era. She is Kind, bred and owned by Juddmonte Farms, and dam of none other than the unbeaten Frankel.

The term ‘Blue Hen’ is reserved for mares who consistently produce high-class runners – horses who not only excel on the track but often go on to influence the breed through their own stud or broodmare careers. Kind ticks every one of these boxes, and then some.

Though she had a respectable racing career, winning six races including a listed contest – Kind never competed at the highest level. It was in her second career, as a broodmare, that she truly flourished. Her pedigree, by Danehill out of the Rainbow Quest mare Rainbow Lake, placed her within one of Juddmonte’s most successful families. Even so, few could have predicted the legacy she would leave behind.

Her most famous son, Frankel, by Galileo, needs no introduction. He was unbeaten in 14 starts and crowned world champion. He was awarded a Timeform rating of 147 – the highest mark ever given. Frankel did not just win races, he dominated. His performances redefined what excellence looks like in the modern age.

Yet what truly elevates Kind is that Frankel was not a one-off. She also produced Noble Mission, Frankel’s full brother, who developed into a Group 1-winning middle-distance horse and now stands as a stallion in the United States. Then there is Bullet Train, a stakes-winning son of Sadler’s Wells who played a pivotal role as Frankel’s pacemaker, and Joyeuse, a listed-winning filly by Oasis Dream who has already made her mark in the paddocks.

“What sets Kind apart is not just Frankel,” said Juddmonte Stud director Simon Mockridge, “but the fact that she produced multiple high-class runners”. It was her ability to produce tough, talented, and valuable stock from different sires and over multiple seasons that defined her. That is the hallmark of a true ‘Blue Hen’.

Kind passed away in 2021 at the age of 20, having shaped the breed in ways few mares ever do. Her legacy, however, continues to expand. Frankel has rapidly risen to become one of the leading sires in Europe, producing top-class horses such as Cracksman, Mostahdaf, Chaldean, and Inspiral. Through him, Kind’s influence is rippling outward across pedigrees in Ireland, Britain, Japan, America, and beyond.

In a breeding landscape that often focuses on fashion and fleeting trends, Kind’s story is a reminder that true influence takes time to build, and lasts far longer. She never sought the spotlight, but her sons and daughters, and now grandsons and daughters, ensure that her name will endure in racing and breeding circles for generations to come.

Kind was aptly named. “To us at Juddmonte she will always be Kind by name and kind by nature,” said Mockridge. There was nothing flashy or loud about Kind, but what she passed on was class, durability, and depth. She may not have worn a Group 1 crown herself, but as the foundation of one of the strongest sire lines in modern history, Kind is every inch the queen.

About Tara Carroll

TARA’S passion for horses began 19 years ago as a member of the Meath Pony Club, where she advanced to competing on the international eventing circuit.

This sparked a deep passion that led her to pursue a degree in Agricultural Science at University College Dublin. During her time there she served as captain of the UCD Equestrian Club and vice-chairperson of the UCD Horse Racing Society.

Alongside her academic commitments, Tara actively sought hands-on experience within the equine industry. She worked with racehorse trainer Sheila Lavery during holidays, gaining valuable insights into training. Tara also completed a placement at Springhouse Farm in Kentucky, where she broadened her knowledge of the thoroughbred industry.

Eager to further develop her skills, Tara moved to Chantilly to work with Francis-Henri Graffard as a pupil assistant. This opportunity provided her with invaluable experience in a top-tier racing environment, allowing her to deepen her understanding of the international racing world. She was one of four recipients of a Gerry Dilger Equine Foundation Scholarship.