Where did your love of horse racing come from?

My love of racing came from my dad, God rest him. We spent many, many days poring over the racing pages, and his whole life revolved around who won the Grand National or the Derby. It was a life-long passion of his, and we were very close. I enjoyed it just as much as he did. I went around the pony circuit as a kid, but I never got into the racing side. I loved watching the horses come home safe and getting their nose in front and cheering them home.

Dad unfortunately passed away in November 2020, so he never got to see the success that we’ve had, but I think that’s why I’ve had all of this luck. My colours of the double cross of Lorraine are for my dad and my sister, who both passed away in 2020 and 2021 and I think they bring me a bit of luck. Long may it last.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago, and it’s one of the reasons I push to enjoy the experience. It can happen to anyone. You only live once, so if you’ve ever dreamed of being an owner, you have to go for it.

Tell me about your recent win with Princess Child.

Sunday was an absolutely magic day; I don’t think it gets any better than that. She has worked so hard and been an absolute warrior, so to get her listed win, on probably her last race of the season was amazing. We were all there to see it.

John Curley, the other 50% co-owner was there with his family, so it worked out brilliantly. Once she gets her ground she just goes to war, she never gives up. When you look at her in the parade ring she grows a foot taller, and she always gives her heart and soul to her races.

She did it in true Princess style, waiting until the very last minute! She’s been on the wrong side of a few bobs herself. I don’t think I’ve ever been disappointed with a run from her, maybe once or twice, but even when she came second the week before, she was still driving all the way to the line.

Joey (Sheridan, jockey) said on Sunday that, even 100 yards out, he knew she’d catch Faiyum, and that just sums her up. She’s been an absolute dream. I’ve never missed any of Princess’ races. I think that it’s an absolute privilege, and there’s nothing like it, to be shouting your horse home. It’s such a great feeling. In what other sport can you compete as a normal owner, up against these huge global entities, and I still have a day job! That’s the beauty of this sport, everybody can get involved, it’s very inclusive.

You get a full day seeing elite athletes doing their job, and I’ve been all around the country at race tracks. I’d drive anywhere to see my horses run, you never know what might happen next year. When you’re living the dream, you have to take every single piece of it and enjoy it.

You’ve assembled a nice team of horses, what’s your process in buying them?

John is a successful breeder in his own right, and we’ve known each other 20 years, but it was only in the last three years that we decided to get into ownership. I much prefer the horse racing side of things, but our partnership works well, because we’re coming at it from those different angles.

Princess was sourced by a long-term friendship in Stuart Boman and John. Stuart is all about the data and John reviews things, we’re very selective in what we buy. Stuart is great because he gives great advice and support and narrows down a list. John reviews the list and picks out a couple to have another look at. I get involved at the end and discuss the finances. If we don’t get them, we don’t get them. We aren’t millionaires, so we have to stick to a process and a budget, and we’ve been really lucky that our process works.

A lot of people judge a horse by what’s on their page, and they can forget to look at the animal in front of them. She outperforms her page.

I can’t afford to buy A-rated horses, we have to give in somewhere, and that’s where Stuart comes in to help us in identifying value. When we brought Princess to Newmarket last December, unfortunately she didn’t sell. I didn’t particularly love that process, because I don’t place as much value on the page as I do for the animal in front of me.

How did you get involved with trainer Joseph O’Brien?

It was through Stuart. He was working with Joseph and recommended him to us. We met with him, and I find him really approachable and he works so hard, I think that’s why he’s so successful, but he’s also very accessible. He always responds whenever we have a question.

We try to keep it simple, we don’t call down too much, we let him do his job, but at the same time, he’s always available if we need him. He’s having a super season, and it really is because of all the staff down there, they have been brilliant to us. The facilities are so quiet and so safe, the horses are so well looked after, and they always come out in top form. I think sometimes people don’t appreciate how much it takes to get a horse onto the racetrack and home safely, so it’s amazing to see all of the work that goes on behind the scenes. I like the patience that they can afford the horses in a nice, quiet environment, it gets the best out of them.

You’ve had a very successful season, have you got anything to look forward to for the rest of the year?

This year so far we’ve won two maidens, two listed races and a handicap, and we’ve won seven races in total, and here we are going from Bellewstown to the Breeders’ Cup! What other sport could you do that in? Alwaysanangel is officially going to be entered into the Juvenile Fillies’ Turf over a mile.

We’re all going to head over, and I think it’ll be a magical few days. It’s the dream. Angel has been really lightly raced this year, and that’s what I love about Joseph and the team there. They are very patient. The race is over in less than two minutes, but the level and planning and work that everyone in the yard does is amazing, they work at it for months. This to me is like going to the World Cup, so to get her to the pinnacle is a dream come true. All I can hope for now is that she comes home safe. If they could win from my cheering them on, they’d all win!