SHAY Barry has enjoyed a fine season and while his stable might lack a real star, he has proved that he is a more than capable operator and he is keen to try and attract new clients and horses to his fine base just outside Kilmeaden in Waterford.
Barry was a strong and determined rider and he brings similar traits to his new profession.
His facilities are impressive (you can view them in a well-put-together video under Shay Barry Racing on YouTube), and, he rarely has to bring his horses away to work.
“When I first got my licence, I was based in Piltown, but I moved down here a couple of years ago and I have to say that I love training.
“It was always my intention to train and we have some very nice young horses. It is all about trying to get good owners and it is great to train for the likes of J.P.
“I don’t cut corners. If you are going to do this job, you have to do it right and while it is not easy to attract new owners, I have found the new owners department in HRI is a big help,” Barry explains.
“We have our website up and running (shaybarryracing.com) and you have to get out there and keep working hard to get new people into the game. We’d like to think that we can get the best out of any horse which is sent to us.
“Bentelimar developed into a fine money spinner, but his owner was made a very good offer after he ran the last day and he has been sold to continue his career with Charlie Longsdon.
“He’ll be a hard horse to replace as he brought us to all the big festivals including Cheltenham, but we have some very nice young horses coming through which I think will be competitive on the track.
“We’d always have horses to sell and if they have to leave yard, so be it, but ideally you’d love to keep them as the prize money here is so good at the minute. If you have a horse that is competitive in its own grade, that horse has now a real chance of paying his or her way.
“That is what owners want – they want the horses to run well, but it’s great when the horses can contribute towards their own keep.”
ABRAHAM
5yo g (F: 508941, NH: U17)
Hernando – Guana
Colm Herron
We bought him at the sales in France last year and he has done well for us. He won at Dundalk last Friday and we might keep him on go up there for the winter as he loves good ground. He has won his maiden hurdle at Cork and he stays well on the flat. We might give him a break around January time, but he is a grand horse that will mix it away and we’ll get him back over hurdles in the spring/summer on better ground.
AFTER RAIN
7yo br g (093034-567)
Al Namix - La Lorelei
J.P. McManus
He has done really well for us over hurdles, winning twice as a novice and then running well in some valuable handicaps last season. He finished third to Thomas Hobson at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival and then fourth in another 100k handicap at the Punchestown Festival.
The plan is for him to go chasing now and he has schooled well over fences. He will be out very soon and we’re looking forward to running him.
CHESTNUT BRAVE
5yo ch m (3221P40)
Dubai Destination – Musical Accord
Mrs Hannah Lee
She is a grand mare. She was third first time out in a bumper at Punchestown and we do like her. She had a few disappointing runs after that on bad ground, but she has since won at Wexford. I’d say we’ll give her a little break now and bring her back for the spring when she can get her favoured better ground. I can see her jumping a fence as well.
EAGLE RIDGE
6yo b g (53-9)
Oscar – Azaban
J J Power
He ran well in bumpers at Navan and Punchestown on his first two starts, but we have had his wind done and the plan is that he’ll go point to pointing in the next couple of weeks. I’d be hopeful that he’ll go back on the track after Christmas time or early spring.
GENI JOHNSON
5yo b m (869870)
Mountain High – Garrymorris
C Cody
She has run respectably in bumpers and maiden hurdles and we have given her a break since September. She’ll be competitive in her own grade in handicaps once she gets her ground.
LET HER CRY
6yo b m (P896038P-09)
Westerner - Cherry Sent
Two Plus Two Syndicate
She has been placed a couple of times, but she has been a shade disappointing and there is a chance that she could go to the sales. She jumps a fence very well though and if her owners hang onto her, she will go novice chasing on soft ground.
NAUGHTY MOLLY
10y br m (22749646-332F)
Presenting - Kinincha Girl
J A Lee
She was very unlucky the last day at Wexford when it looked like she only had to jump the last to win well but I think a loose horse may have caught her eye and she came down. She is a great mare to jump and it is unusual for her to even make a mistake. She likes a bit of nice ground and I’d say unless it dries up a bit, she’ll have a little break and we’ll have her back for the nice ground in the spring.
ON HIS TOES
5yo br g (0-551)
Presenting - Kinincha Girl
J A Lee
I ran him last year when I probably shouldn’t have as the horses just weren’t right at the time, but he came to form to win his bumper at Tramore earlier this month and he is a nice horse that will win more races.
He is a typical Presenting and he will go on over hurdles now and I can see him making up into a nice horse for next year. He won’t run too often on that bad winter ground and there is a chance that he might go to the sales eventually. He is not overly big, but he jumps well and he is very athletic. I’d say the penny is only starting to drop with him now.
OVER THE ARCH
5yo br g (3-U)
Presenting – On The Outside
Donna O’Connell
He was third first time out in a point-to-point and he looked like he was going to win the last day only to come down at the second last. He is ready to start off and he’ll go for another point-to-point . If he is not sold, I think he is a horse that will be competitive in a bumper. He should have won his point-to-point by now and he is a great horse to jump.
PATSIO
9yo b g (34465550)
Moscow Society - Supreme Favour
Colm Herron
He has dropped to a mark of which he should be competitive. He was disappointing at Punchestown on Wednesday but previously he ran well at Clonmel where he made bad mistake four out and only for that he would have finished a bit closer. There is another day or two in him yet.
SMITTY BACALL
5yo b g (6/1394P-3)
Marienbard – Beths Bell
Circle Of Six Syndicate
He won his bumper last year at Tramore and then ran well under a penalty at Listowel. His last run was in June when he was placed in a maiden hurdle. He is ready to start back now and he is a horse that should jump a fence. Hopefully he’ll be good enough to win a maiden hurdle. He had a nice break over the summer.
TERRIBLE BEAUTY
6yo b m (1-)
Milan – Brierfield Lady
Martin V O’Gorman
She won her point-to-point first time out and she is a brilliant mare to jump. She was impressive when she won her point-to-point (at Ballyragget) and we might bring her to Tipperary for a schooling race before we send her for a bumper at Wexford in a couple of weeks’ time.
THATS MYPRESENTING
9yo b g (33574035-164)
Presenting – Musical Accord
Mrs Hannah Lee
He is another horse that will go back chasing next year and anywhere from two miles and six plus will suit him. He won his beginners chase at Tramore in good style and he ran well behind a good horse in Sir Jack Yeats at Killarney on his previous run. He is a typical Presenting in that he loves nice ground and he is a great horse to jump. He has been a good servant and there are more races in him.
UNRACED
CLOUNCERNA
4yo b g
Presenting – Kinincha Girl
J A Lee
He is a gorgeous horse and I have my eye on the four-year-old bumper at Fairyhouse on Hattons Grace Hurdle Day. He does everything right and I think a good bit of this lad.
Bumpers are always difficult to win but I think he can be at least competitive there before going on. He works like a good horse and hopefully he’ll go the track and perform – I love this lad. He ticks all the boxes at the minute.
SHERRYORPORT
4yo b g
Grandera – Mou’s Express
J R Barry
I had him entered at Punchestown this week, but I kept him back and he’ll go for a bumper at Thurles next week instead. He works well and I won’t say that he’ll win first time out, but I think he’ll run a respectable race.
TORNADO BELL
5yo b g
Stowaway – Beths Bell
Declan Dowling
He is a massive horse that has needed plenty of time. He will start off in a point-to-point and I’d say he’ll be a horse that will go to the track.
UNNAMED
We have a five-year-old mare (Milan - Double Glazed) whose half-brother won a bumper for us before he was sold. She is a lovely, big, scopey mare that goes well and I hope to get her started around Christmas time.
We also have a three-year-old by September Storm (out of Fooling Around) and I’m hoping he will be an early four-year-old. We did a bit with him after he came from the sales and he is horse that we like.
I’d say he will go for a bumper early in the New Year. We also have a four-year-old gelding by Milan (out of Roses Of Picardy) and he is a nice horse we’ve had for about three months. He is a real chasing type.
Finally we have a five-year-old by Ragg out of a Bob Back mare and he is a lovely scopey, horse who goes very well. He will be ready to run shortly and we are looking forward to seeing him - we really like him.
Address: Rockfield House, Johnstown, Kilmeaden, Co. Waterford.
Phone: 00353 86 157-6794
Numbers: 20-25
Jockeys: Brian O’Connell and Richie Kiely. Outside of them, I use the best available.