How did you get into racehorse ownership?

Good question. I’ve been involved with racing since 92/93. I had a horse back then with Noel Meade which came from John Oxx.

Michael O’Callaghan put together the Amethyst Syndicate and some other members are Noel Hayes – he was one of the Man About Town Syndicate who owned Our Conor when he won the Triumph Hurdle – William Murphy, Frank Harty, Brian McIlhenny, and three unnamed partners.

We bought into five yearlings and three have won: Sebastian Bach, Veneer Of Charm, and Night Of Glory (sold at the Goffs London Sale on Monday for £340,000), bred on the same Sea The Stars/Sadler’s Wells cross as Taghrooda and Storm The Stars. That’s a pretty good return for our investment. We also have Heavy Artillery and one who hasn’t run yet, Fashionable Man.

You pay in whatever percentage you want to take out, €25,000 is the smallest share, and there are no training fees for two years. For me that means you put in your few pounds and then have no worries about monthly bills.

What was your best day at the races and why?

Well for me it’s split between two days. Last year on the Friday of the Galway Festival, Intrepid Prince, owned by MDOC Intrepid Syndicate, where I had a 25% share, won the €15,000 Arthur Guinness one-mile handicap. It was a dream come through for me to lead up at Galway.

A couple of weeks later at the Curragh, De Boss Man, trained by Michael in my black and yellow colours, won the six-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. He was named after my father. The bay colt by Dandy Man was bought by Michael at the May breeze-up sales in Goresbridge and was ready for his maiden in July; he has a great eye. The horse went on to be third in a Group 3 and fourth in a York listed race.

What is the biggest drawback about being a racehorse owner?

Well it is fairly expensive. That’s why I like the syndicate model, especially the terms of the Amethyst Syndicate.

In your experience, which racecourse in Ireland treats owners the best and why?

Leopardstown, especially their new owners’ lounge, then the Curragh. Some courses don’t even give you a cup of tea – that’s not good enough. Navan is good too – they give meal vouchers.

Flat or jump racing, which do you prefer and why?

The flat, it’s where the money is. But I used to be involved in jump racing. I had a leg in Our Vinnie who won two Grade 3s and was brought down in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ won by At Fishers Cross (2013). I own a Duke Of Marmalade gelding, Duke of Kilcorral. He might be sent to Niall Mulholland at the end of July. There are more opportunities in the UK for him.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

Honesty. You have to have someone in charge who tells it straight; there’s no point in them saying let’s give this horse another year.

Michael is great to keep in touch. We have a WhatsApp group and he sends us bit of information and videos of our horses working. It’s so important that he communicates and nine times out of 10 he will send a text or ring you if you contact him. Some of the syndicate members are big into racing and this is all part of it.

What improvements would you like to see racecourses in Ireland do for owners?

Some facilities still haven’t been improved. You do get an email thanking you for entering your horse. With the Amethyst Syndicate, the O’Callaghan office finds out who wants tickets and organises everything for us as we want.

What significance do your colours hold?

Michael chose the colours – they are very smart, blue and red.

How did your syndicate get its name?

Michael decided to theme the syndicate names around precious stones. He has had a Sapphire Syndicate and ours is Amethyst.

When buying a horse, what do you look for?

I have been to Goresbridge with Michael and I really enjoy the buzz of the sales. You learn so much when you go along with someone like him, studying for a good pedigree and looking for good confirmation.

I’m trying to get into breeding. I have a mare by Dansili who won a maiden for John Oxx, Pour Deaux. Her dam Gagnoa is well-related to Pour Moi.

What horses do you currently have in training?

Night Of Glory is now sold. I have a share in a Dandy Man colt (Point Zero) who runs in my colours. He ran in a Navan maiden won by Ken Condon’s Romanised, who was a good seventh in the Coventry Stakes at Ascot on Tuesday.

Point Zero ran a nice race at Navan, sixth out of 18. He probably didn’t handle the track.

What’s next on the agenda for your horses?

Well we were going to Ascot to see Night Of Glory run in the Queen’s Vase on Friday (yesterday) but we’ll still watch him and wish the best for his new owners. He was bought for €50,000 and sold well. I’m not usually reluctant to sell horses as it’s business. You have to keep the money flow going. But I was reluctant to sell De Boss Man because of the connection with my father

Have you any horses to look forward to? (i.e. young/unbroken horses)

I have a share in a two-year-old by George Vancouver bought at Goresbridge, a nice colt.

What would help to make Irish racing more competitive for the smaller owner/trainer?

In the flat sphere you need more races for the smaller owner and trainer. Perhaps the flat could get some ideas from the improvements the National Hunt have done with the race programme. Sometimes at a Curragh maiden you feel you shouldn’t be there at all with the Godolphin and O’Brien horses all around you.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of becoming a racehorse owner?

The main thing is to make sure you get the right people and the right advice about those people so ask about them first and hopefully you can’t go wrong.

I saw an ad in the newspapers by Michael O’Callaghan looking for syndicate members and I just like the set-up there. Siobhan (O’Sullivan) and the staff are so hard working. They’re having a good year this year and the success is well deserved.

Michael is a young man, 28-29, and he has the right temperament for this business. I notice how he’s not afraid to pitch for the big races. He had two horses placed in two Irish Guineas last year. He’s confident in the best possible way and believes in his own ability.

John Kehoe was in conversation with Olivia Hamilton