ALTHOUGH my background is in accountancy and finance, I changed career path a number of years ago and now make a living in the equine industry. My passion for horses and racing in general eventually led me to my current role as Marketing and Nominations Manager at Ballylinch Stud.

I developed my initial interest in thoroughbreds from my neighbour Ruairi O’Coileain, owner of Ennistown Stud. As a teenager, I spent most of my weekends and school holidays helping out at the stud and continued that involvement into my college years.

I got a great thrill from following all the horses that had been bred at the stud both in their racing and subsequent breeding careers. Saoirse Abu, who won both the Phoenix Stakes and Moyglare Stakes (Group 1s), before finishing third in the 1000 Guineas, was the undoubted star during those years.

I went to all the sales in my teenage years and read up as much as possible on breeding and pedigrees. My dad was a keen racegoer and my mother rode in showjumping/eventing classes so my own pedigree wasn’t totally bereft of potential!

Also, my best friend Shane O’Rourke, is the son of former Meath legend, Colm, who is closely associated with Jim Bolger. As a direct consequence, I found myself taking a particular interest in stable runners such as Teofilo and New Approach.

GREAT FRIENDS

After finishing in secondary school, I went on to do an Accountancy and Finance Degree in DIT. I continued my involvement with horses, both through my weekend work in Ennistown Stud and regular days out with the college Racing Society.

I also joined the YITBA (now called ITBA Next Generation) where I became great friends with Richard Fitzsimons, Justin Timmons, Cathal Beale and current Chairperson of the ITBA Next Generation, Eleanor Dunne.

Joe Osborne was very helpful, advising me to remain on the career path I had chosen and continue on with my studies before deciding where my future lay. So after graduating from DIT, I went on and worked for an accountancy firm for three years. I then made the decision to leave that position and complete the Irish National Stud Course.

I had previously met John O’Connor (manager of Ballylinch Stud) a couple of times at the races but got to know him better during the course. He suggested that I should travel a bit to gain further experience and kindly arranged for me to spend seven months at The Oaks Stud in New Zealand.

I returned home from that trip on a Sunday and started work in Ballylinch the following morning.

A BLANK CANVAS

Initially I went in without any definitive role – a blank canvas if you like. I got to work closely alongside John [O’Connor] who proved a great mentor, willingly imparting some of his vast knowledge and experience of the industry.

Over time the job developed such that I now work in nominations, marketing, pedigree research and at the front of sales consignments. It is a very varied and exciting position where I am always meeting new people and constantly learning as I go along.

I deal with a lot of clients, be it breeders who come here with their mares or those that want to research stallions.

Ballylinch buy, sell, race and breed horses in Ireland, France and the UK, so I get to work alongside Paul Starr (Racing Manager) and see how the horses’ seasons are mapped out with our trainers and how it leads to success with horses like Fort Del Oro, Hollowgraphic, Laws Of Spin and the hugely exciting Bella Estrella.

IMPORTANCE OF ADVERTISING

Marketing and advertising has become increasingly important in recent years and I am particularly busy during the sales and covering seasons. We need to promote our stallions to the best of our ability, particularly the first season sires who have yet to prove their ability in the breeding sheds.

It is my job to convince potential breeders as to why they should use our stallions for their mares. Make Believe has his first foals at the sales this autumn and we have some real exciting sorts to consign at Goffs and Newmarket in the coming weeks. Aside from the yearling sales I am also very active at the breeding sales where we are constantly looking to bolster our broodmare band.

I love researching pedigrees and find it fascinating how particular lines keep coming back again and again. It is something that one can never know enough about and I am very fortunate to have a man of John O’Connor’s experience to call upon.

I do a small bit of pinhooking myself as I feel it’s important to put your money where your mouth is.

GREAT SUPPORT

Despite never having had racing on my CV growing up, I always had a huge interest and was driven forward by those around me.

Ruairi O’Coilean, Shane O’Rourke, Joe Osborne, John O’Connor and of course my parents Mairead and John, all contributed to making me the man I am today.

Indeed, everyone I worked with or came in contact with over the years has played some part in seeing me carve out a career in racing. It is a full-time job for me so in effect your work colleagues become your friends.

It would be very difficult to spend two or three weeks away at the sales every season with people that you don’t get on with!

It’s a small, close-knit circle and I look forward to the sales at Goffs, Newmarket, Arqana and so on. I love to catch up with some familiar faces, be they breeders, consignors, agents, former colleagues, members of the YITBA or ex-class mates at the Irish National Stud.

Mark Byrne was in conversation with John O’Riordan.