Directory 2018

THE Irish Field Directory 2018 will be free with The Irish Field next Saturday. The Directory has updated contact details for the entire racing and equestrian community. Normally €15, it covers stud farms, trainers, jockeys, racecourses, hunting, riding centres, accredited coaches, clubs, sales companies and bloodstock agents.

Correction

SPEAKING at the recent Equine Summit, trainer Jim Bolger recommended that the Government introduce a 3% betting tax on winnings. The suggested rate was incorrectly reported as 10% in a letter published last week in The Irish Field.

Bullet Train to Woodfield Farm

BULLET Train, a three-quarters brother to Frankel, will stand at Woodfield Farm Stud in Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford next year. The 10-year-old son of Sadler’s Wells was originally standing in Kentucky and had also shuttled to Australia. His first northern hemisphere crop are now three-year-olds. When trained by Sir Henry Cecil, Bullet Train made a winning debut as a two-year-old and won a Group 3 race at three. He ended his racing days as a pacemaker for his year-younger close relative.

St Leger winner in Templemore

CHAMPION stayer Lucarno has joined the stallion roster at Longford House Stud, Templemore, Co Tipperary. Winner of the 2007 St Leger and two Group 2 races for John Gosden and owner-breeder George Strawbridge, Lucarno (by Dynaformer) has been standing at Shade Oak Stud in England. His jumps winners include multiple scorers Monbeg Worldwide, Global Dream and Persian Delight. The Nicky Henderson-trained Dame De Compagnie, owned by J.P. McManus, was another exciting winner for the sire recently.

John Baldwin of Longford House Stud said: “Lucarno is an absolute magnificent-looking horse, an oil painting.” His stud fee is €2,500 and he stands alongside another new arrival, the Group 1 winning miler Fuisse (by Green Tune).

Brexit dominates EFTBA meeting

LAST Monday Ireland, under the stewardship of ITBA president Joe Hernon, hosted the European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders’ Associations (EFTBA) autumn meeting in Newmarket.

The agenda was dominated by Brexit and its implications for European breeders.

The EFTBA represents 23,000 thoroughbred breeders across Europe, who in turn sustain over 150,000 jobs in the European breeding and racing industry.

Group 1 winner at Clongiffen Stud

THIS year’s Group 1 winner Shakeel has been retired to stand at Robert Honner’s Clongiffen Stud in Enfield, Co Meath for the 2018 season. His fee has been set at €7,000 and a small number of breeding rights are available. The Aga Khan-bred son of Dalakhani was trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre to win the Grand Prix de Paris last July. Due to be aimed at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, his career was curtailed by injury and he retires having been placed in all six of his lifetime starts.