SEAN Kane (31) combines a career as a fireman/paramedic at Dublin Airport with running a busy barn at the family’s Mooreside Stud, The Naul.

Sean’s father Ger has been held back by poor health in recent seasons. Everyone in the sport wishes him well as he has helped many newcomers get established.

Ger concentrated on trotters long before French Trotters became de rigeur. Trotters are known to be harder to balance and keep sweet than their lateral gaited cousins, the pacers.

Ger raced Kavalier Hoff, Manab Star and sold on Baltaj Lancher, who went on to win $500,000 in Canada.

Ger and team have enjoyed success with young horses and cast-offs from other stables, which is a good testimony to the care that is taken at Mooreside.

Sean told The Irish Field that his highlight of 2025 was winning a third consecutive Paddy Connolly Memorial at Ballabuidhe: “I’m not sure if that has been done before”. He drove Helios De Lara at the Dunmanway track for Caffrey and Pidgeon.

Sean also mentions upstaging the long odds-on shot Ayroplane along with his catch drive, The Groomsman, in the IHRA juvenile series.

Ayroplane is co-owned by Sean’s uncle Paddy, so it’s safe to say that Sean had to buy his own steak on the way home.

As usual, the yard is brimming with trotters not to mention Blippi and Whitey Mac, the bombproof ponies of Jason and Rosie, his sister Mary’s kids. We have narrowed Sean’s horses to follow down to six.

Hot To Trot (Ire)

9yo m Hulk Des Champs - Auby De Champigmy

She is some tough mare. I didn’t rate her at three, but she is still racing while the others we had from that crop didn’t last like her. I’ve mentioned her at least three seasons to your paper.

She is so hard to get past, so we can use her to assess any other horses. She wins three to five races per year.

Mary owns her and will breed from her eventually, but they are having fun racing for now.

Komete Du Lion (Fr)

6yo m Challenger De Mye -

Oriagine

She galloped first time out with me. I’ve put her head-check up a few holes and fitted a martingale. I added weight in front and went from boots to bandages on her hind legs.

I’ve given Mary a half share as the yard wouldn’t run without her.

Kondor De Vandel (Fr)

6yo g Fabulous Wood - Maelia De Vandel

He was a €28,000 yearling in France. I had big aspirations early last year. He was working the house down, but disappointed in some races.

He is very hard on himself - even though he had a light season, you’d think he had raced for six months steady.

We have changed some equipment and given him a slower foundation this year. He did win two in a row and made some decent money.

Lieutenant Dan (Ire)

5yo g Apprenti Sourcier - Brise Ludoise

He was champion at three and also at four. Jeremiah O’Mahony and I own him. Jeremiah has done the spring prep with him.

We gave him a minor wind operation, as he was choking down and raced very tamely once or twice. He’ll be in against the big boys this year.

Atlantic Bolt (Ire)

4yo g Bolt The Duer - Amy Camden

Ricky Hanson bred him from his good mare Amy Camden. He came down in the middle of February.

Ricky has given him a good foundation. He is easy on himself. It’s unusual for me to have a pacer, but I’m enjoying him.

Nuts And Bolts (Ire)

3yo g (Ire) Rachmaninov Seven - Ella Lou Lo

The latest from our classic winning mare. We really like this fellow.

COINCIDENTALLY, Sean Kane’s grandfather Paddy sold the Murdock brothers of Belfast, the black pacing gelding Volunteer around 1967.

Some 60 years and 100s of horses later and the green and black of the Belfast family will jostle for position against various Kanes wearing red and black. Gavin Murdock has introduced some white into the family colours, but the harness is still green and black, the stables (at Annaghmore) routinely spick and span.

Gavin states that he is merely helping his brother Jay with the horses. Their father Harry passed away in 2023 and was the ultimate tactician. Big Deal, Billy Adios and Don Juan all benefited from Harry’s gentle touch.

In recent years, his sons have worked the oracle with the like of Springhill Alibi, Blackwell Ruby, Blackwell Hall Star, Oakwood Paddy and others.

Gavin’s son Jack is now 16 and hopes to get his harness drivers’ licence this year. Jack’s sister Ruby (13) and their cousin Georgia (14) are adept plaiters of manes.

“Fun In The Sun winning the IHRA four-year-old series was the highlight of last season,” adds Gavin.

Gavin (46) and Jay (48) have been involved with the sale of 30 individual winners in the USA. “There’s not a lot in these islands for horses over four years of age. A 1.58 or 1.59 performer in Ireland or Britain could be worth in the region of £40,000 to go to America.”

Don’t be surprised if some of these well-bred pacers end up in New York or New Jersey.

Oakwood Paddy (Ire)

6yo g Foreclosure - Carmel Camden

Owner Ruairi McNulty has brought him home from the USA, where he had a good couple of seasons. He seems better than ever. There’s a £15,000 race at Tregaron (Wales) in memory of Jack Manning from Limerick, which is a target. He’ll race in Free-for-alls *

Captain Closure (Usa)

2yo f Foreclosure - Sarita Hanove

She is owned by Clive Richardson, who has been a good owner for us. She is down to 2.18 and has the right attitude. We’ll keep her in Ireland as the IHRA juvenile races are for great money. The dam is by Captain Treacherous.

All Bets On Crunch (Ire)

2yo g Captain Crunch - All Bets Are Of

He is owned by the Maughan brothers. I trained the dam for them. He is a big, strapping colt, but is well-proportioned, so should make the races. He is also working in 2.18. He is staked in the Vincent Delaney and the various juvenile races.

Tarawood Larry (Ire)

5yo g Tom Hill - One Mile Me

As you can tell from the Tarawood prefix, he is owned by Charlie Bennett. We raced him twice last autumn and he clocked around 2.01. He had a broken tooth, which we have since removed. I think there’s a nice handicap in him.

*Free-for-all: top-class race with no allowances.