TWO horses of the same name, sent out from the same stables to win races over a century apart – that unlikely scenario came to pass when Glenmoore credited me with my first success as a licensed trainer early last month.

Despite growing up in a busy supermarket in the middle of Killala town, I always had a huge interest in horses and racing. My great grand-uncles were jockeys in America and I was brought up on tales of their exploits on the racecourse. My cousin, Padraic Judge, a well-known showjumper, was also a big influence on my early career. I used to go and stay with my grandparents in Crossmolina during the holidays and Padraic lived right across the road. In our teens I learned how to ride in the sand arena at their yard.

After finishing my Leaving Cert, I studied a course in Equine Science, Business, Computers and Management in Galway. As part of this course I completed preliminary BHS exams and later, when I commenced work with Philip Scott, I completed the BHS exams to qualify me to become a riding instructor. My work in Scott’s was wide ranging, from teaching at many levels to breaking and pre-training horses of all types, especially show horses. My 10 years at Barnfield provided me with a wealth of experience and I also loved listening to Philip’s dad Bernie, recount his time as a jockey.

I hunted with the North Mayo Harriers for many years and was Chairman of the hunt for four years. In 2003, I took out an amateur jockey’s licence and later that same season a restricted trainer’s National Hunt licence. For the most part I trained and rode my own horses although I also took in a few horses for outside clients. In conjunction with working my racing interests, I took in horses for breaking, showing, show jumping and working hunters. I had a lot of success in this endeavour, winning many in-hand classes and the prestigious four-year-old ridden working hunter class in the RDS in 2007. However, in 2008 I developed back problems and had to cease my work and training for a time. Thankfully with successful treatment I was able to get back to working with horses again.

Killala House had been a stud farm and training facility over a century ago, but no trainer had been based there in the recent past. I have a long history with Killala House as I have taken care of the house, land and kept horses in the stables for many years while it was under various owners. However, two years ago Daniel MacAuliffe and Anoj Don bought the entire estate and house as in investment. As I was there looking after the estate and upon hearing my background with racehorses they approached me with the proposal of taking horses to train for them from Killala House.

FAIRYTALE

Both men own horses in England with trainer Harry Dunlop and were keen to develop Killala House as a racing centre. I was delighted to accept their invitation, in fact it was like a fairytale becoming a reality, getting the chance to train from this once great yard. I leased the yard from them and as the two lads had many horses in training with me I took out my full dual licence as opposed to a restricted licence.

The whole yard was refurbished and a new one-mile polytrack gallop was created, complete with starting stalls, hurdles, fences, exercise walkers, a lunge pin and grass turnout paddocks. There is a beach 100 yards across the road from the Killala House and the horses are often worked on the beach as I find this keeps them interested and their minds fresh. This is helped greatly by walking them in the cool Atlantic seawater which has a renowned therapeutic effect on their lower limbs and prevents many common injuries.

We had our first runners from Killala House in 2016 and achieved many places in various races with Sir Danilo being the flagbearer, placing second on three occasions. Lady Augusta Knox Gore, the original owner of the property was also a prominent racehorse owner in her time. She liked to name her charges after local areas around Killala – one such place is an estate called Glenmoore near Crossmolina. A horse bearing that name won for Lady Augusta Knox Gore and we were keen to give one of ours the same moniker. Fortunately, the horse we chose, a three-year-old by Equiano proved up to the task and delivered for us at Dundalk a month ago tomorrow.

I am very thankful to Daniel and Anoj for allowing me to follow my dreams in racing. I always wanted to stay at home and bring a viable racing business to the West. Without their support it would have been extremely difficult to make that a reality. My wife Fiona and young daughter Annabel live with me here at Killala House, while Mark Rogan and Jason Birrane are invaluable staff members. We have 12 horses in now although there is space for up to 40. Currently, most of the horses are owned by Daniel and Anoj, however, I would be open in the future to train for a few syndicates or individual owners if the opportunity arose.

My ultimate ambition is to train top class racehorses in the West of Ireland. Horses that can compete at the Curragh, Newmarket and further afield in Meyden. I hope we can improve the quality of our string over time, until we are recognised as big players in Irish and international racing. It is not a feat that will be easily achieved but with hard work and plenty of luck it may just be possible.

Fergal Birrane was in conversation with John O’Riordan