THIS week saw change at the Curragh, but it was not the only racecourse to welcome a new chief. Just up the road, at Naas, Monday morning saw the first day as general manager for Eamonn McEvoy who has taken over from Tom Ryan.

I caught up with a busy Eamonn on what was a manic introduction to his new position at Naas. On Wednesday there were overseas runners, the feature €60,000 Listed Yeomanstown Stud Irish EBF Stakes, after racing music and a barbecue night at the track. Talk about hitting the ground running!

I first asked Eamonn about his background, and whether it prepared him for the new role he has undertaken. He said: “I do not come from a racing family. I grew up on a beef farm in Clogherhead and my father Noel was a permit trainer and always had a few National Hunt horses.

“I became hugely interested in pedigrees as I grew up and I was only heading in one direction. I spent 13 years in Saudi Arabia and the last eight with Rick Barnes in Grangecon Stud.” By coincidence, his Naas predecessor is now taking on a role in Saudi Arabia.

In June the Casamento gelding Amade won the Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup and he was bred by Eamonn. Is breeding something that he plans to stay involved with? “I love breeding a winner, so I do indeed plan to keep involved with a few mares, and hopefully will breed some more. My best mare Sheba Five has now produced two group winners and her daughter Nakuti had a first foal by Dark Angel and is in foal to Kingman; so I’m hoping for some updates! “

What lured Eamonn from the world of breeding to racing? “When I saw the advertisement for the job at Naas I immediately thought I want to try this. I have always enjoyed racing here as Tom [Ryan] and the team always had the place in great shape, though it was also really frustrating as we never had a winner here.

“The two-year-old races are seriously competitive and it is testament to the place that all the top trainers bring their best horses here.”

Tom Ryan brought Naas forward, overseeing huge developments and the racecourse absorbed a lot of the pressure on the racing calendar caused by the redevelopment of the Curragh. How does Eamonn plan to build on that? His reply indicates that he is as ambitious as his predecessor and the racecourse chairman Dermot Cantillon.

“The aim will be to improve anywhere we can, and the main aim is to get a Group 1 flat race to match the Grade 1 National Hunt race we have. That will be hard to achieve, but we will do all we can to get there. The main thing that has impressed me, after Tom and the team, is the board. They are very serious about pushing this course as far as possible and they also deserve great credit for what has gone on here.”

Finally, what personal ambitions has Eamonn as he takes on the mantle of general manager? “Personally I want to get the racecourse as involved with Naas town as much as possible. We are trying hard to get as many local people to come racing as we can, and the barbecue evenings were always something that I enjoyed coming to. So I would encourage anyone to come along; the atmosphere is always enjoyable.

“I want to meet as many business people as possible to show them what we can offer. We have a great facility here and are very much open for business.”