EDWARD Daly, the bloodstock agent with an encyclopaedic knowledge of form and the stud book, died suddenly on Saturday. He was 61. His career encompassed most areas of the bloodstock business and he enjoyed success in every sphere.

At the tender age of 14 years he saw Nijinsky win the Triple Crown and this encouraged him to pursue a career in the thoroughbred sector. He began learning the stud business at a variety of farms, Collinstown and Coolmore in Ireland, Yarraman Park in Australia and Burley Lodge Stud in England.

He spent some time as assistant to Neil Adam, at a time when the stable housed stars such as Gentilhombre, Cawston’s Clown and Haveroid, winning races such as the Prix de l’Abbaye twice, July Cup, Nunthorpe Stakes and Coventry Stakes.

Edward considered Captain Tim Rogers as the person he most admired in the business, crediting him with starting the ball rolling which has ended in Ireland’s prominent positon in the world of breeding. He joined the team at Airlie and took charge of Loughtown Stud from 1982 until the Captain’s death. Then he managed Simmonstown Stud before becoming a bloodstock agent.

The list of successful deals he brokered is too long to reproduce. Noteworthy was the sale of El Prado, the Group 1 National Stakes winning son of Sadler’s Wells, to Frank Stronach who was starting in the stallion business in the USA.

El Prado became champion sire and has earned a reputation as a leading sire of sires. His champion turf horse Kitten’s Joy and Medaglia D’Oro are just two examples of his influence on the breed. Also sold to Stronach’s Adena Springs farm was the Derby winner North Light, while a notable stallion deal in Ireland was the sale of Kalanisi to William Flood’s Boardsmill Stud.

Edward had a particular talent for horses in training, but the deal brokered for the Group 1 Matron Stakes winner Fiesolana was especially sweet, Edward describing it as “more like a fairy-tale.”

Asked by Kevin Foley to buy a filly to breed from, Edward learned from his friend Federico Barberini about a Saint-Cloud winner who was injured when fifth in a listed race. She was purchased for €20,000.

Being too late in the year to cover her, Fiesolana was given lots of rest and never was lame. A discussion took place between Foley and Edward in December and the decision was made to lease her to Willie McCreery. Three group wins later and she was sold for 960,000gns before going on to land her big win at Leopardstown.

Edward didn’t narrow his focus to flat horses and partnered with John Durkan to purchase horses for a number of trainers, including Kim Bailey.

Ger Lyons paid a fulsome tribute to Edward this week. “I spoke with Edward only last Friday about some recent races and horses. When he rang you about a horse you knew it was ok. He was a good judge of a horse and of people, but was not made for the cut and thrust of this business.

“I like people who are honest and have integrity and Edward had both of those qualities in abundance. It was hard to see him suffer over the last few years but he was a very private, independent individual who did things his own way. May he rest in peace.”

In an interview two years ago with Amy Lynam, Edward was equally praiseworthy of the trainer. He said: “If you have to work with a limited budget, select and purchase yearlings on your own gut feeling and then consistently turn the raw material into stakes horses year after year, then you have proven that you are a good judge. One man who does this consistently is Ger Lyons.”

Boardsmill Stud owner William Flood spoke about his friend. “I engaged Edward to act on many bloodstock transactions over the years and I can endorse the many complimentary comments already written about him regarding his shrewd judgement and honesty. More than that, he was a true friend and he will be missed by his many close and loyal friends who understood him so well.

“What many people might not know about Edward was that apart from the pleasure he took in caring for his son Peter and watch him grow into a fine young man, he had a great love for the GAA. He played for Enfield and Meath at inter-county level as a minor, following his father Edward ‘The Farmer’ Daly who was a Meath county player in the 1940s/1950s. He kept up the interest by supporting the Meath senior team. He, along with his great pal and colleague Patsy Walsh, followed another friend Kevin Foley who was a member of the great Meath team of the 1980s/early 90s.”

Derrinstown Stud tweeted: “We are all very sad to hear of Edward Daly’s passing. He was a client and a friend of the stud. He was sincere, honest, very knowledgeable and good company. RIP our friend.”

The funeral mass for Edward took place on Thursday at the Church of Our Lady and St David in Naas, followed by cremation at Newlands Cross crematorium. He is survived by his son Peter, sisters Jean, Maria, Anne, Dympna and Florence, brothers John and Michael and by his extended circle of family and friends.

LP