How did you get into racehorse ownership?

My wife Sasha had a former racehorse, Proserpina, which we bred from initially. Her first foal was named Drombeg Pride; we bred a few more from her but he was the only one to make it to the track.

Sasha started to work for Islanmore Stud soon after moving to Ireland, she has a degree in equine science. She is from Beverley, Yorkshire. I am a farrier and was working in England and she followed me home!

We acquired Drombeg Dawn from Islanmore Stud – she gave us a taste of success.

What was your best day at the races and why?

At the Curragh in 2011 when Drombeg Dawn won the Lincolnshire at 25/1. This was backed up by Dawn’s second progeny Drombeg Dream winning at Cork as a two-year-old which is no easy thing to do in Ireland.

Cian McAuliffe with family members and trainer Austin Leahy (hat) and jockey Shane Foley after winning at Cork Photo Healy Racing

What is the biggest drawback about being a racehorse owner?

The prize money can be low compared to the running costs of owning a racehorse.

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

I think Cork Racecourse treats owners great. There is a lovely meal laid on for all owners and if you are lucky enough to have a winner, being taken to ‘the hut’ with food and drink laid on for you and your friends really makes you feel special. We really appreciate the complimentary winners’ photo that Navan Racecourse always send too.

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

I enjoy the high end of both equally but Cheltenham would be my favourite meeting of the year.

I would attend more flat meets purely because at present that’s what we have in training.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

Honesty – it costs the same to train a good one as a bad one so we really appreciate a trainer who tells us truthfully if they will make it.

The McAuliffe cousins, Evan, Kayla, Jessica, Billy and Graham with Shane Folen Photo Healy Racing

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

A copy of your horse’s race send by email would be a nice touch as you are so wound up during the race you don’t take in what’s happening live.

How do you feel owners are treated when not having a winner?

I think as owners we don’t expect anything on a bad day at the office, but the track should provide all owners that make the effort to travel to the course with at least light refreshments.

What significance do your colours hold?

Our farm buildings, gates etc. are painted green so we chose colours that complimented that. We run sucklers on the property and also have our horses and board for others at Drombeg Stud in Killmallock, Co Limerick. We have about 40 horses here.

When buying a horse, what do you look for?

We don’t buy horses, we prefer to breed and race – it gives us a lot of satisfaction breeding a winner. Winners come in all different shapes and sizes and one thing we have learnt is that perfect conformation is not always required to produce winning stock. You need a tough horse, one that’s willing to push its way through a crowd.

What horses do you currently have in training?

Drombeg Dream is a three-year-old and currently rated 96. Drombeg Duke is a two-year-old by Approve. Both are out of Drombeg Dawn and are with local trainer Austin Leahy.

We also manage racehorses for a client, Nicholas Varney, and so follow a filly called Blue Uluru, now rated 100 (trained by Ger Lyons). She is being aimed for a Group 1 at the Curragh in Irish Champions Weekend and runs in the Rockingham today so that’s exciting. Mr Varney lives in America and he owns a beautiful property, Shannon Grove Pallaskenry. It’s about 20 minutes from us and we look after the foals and yearlings for him. We also board some National Hunt mares for another client so we follow his stock too.

What’s next on the agenda for your horses?

We are chasing blacktype all the time. Dream needs the soft ground though and her best chance this year was in Gowran Park in a listed race but the meeting was cancelled due to flooding.

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

Drombeg Dawn is in foal to Starspangledbanner this year so we look forward to that arriving.

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

I think races for owners who own less than five horses or similar or races for trainers whose prize money was under a certain figure could help.

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

If you are doing it with the expectation of making a few quid – try another sport.

You need endless patience and be aware that there is not always a return on your investment but the good days are so worth it, there is no feeling like watching your own cross the line first.

Cian McAuliffe was in conversation with Olivia Hamilton.