How did you get into racehorse ownership?

In 2002 I was living in Melbourne Australia, Never having been to a racetrack before, a work colleague took me to Flemington on the first Tuesday in November, the Melbourne Cup. Not too shabby a start to my racing experience.

I was completely blown away by the size of this event. I had been working in sports medicine having come through a full season of Aussie Rules football working 56 days without a break so I had my fill of sporting events, but this was different.

That year, Media Puzzle, ridden by Damien Oliver, won for Dermot Weld. I had a few dollars on to win with my colleagues betting Vinnie Roe. I was hooked at that point.

Within two months of coming back to Ireland my brother asked me to join a syndicate and the rest is history.

What was your best day at the races and why?

A friend, a horse owner/breeder himself, Patrick McCann has continually told me that I’m a lucky owner!

He recants stories of men having spent thousands on horses and have little to show for the privilege. In fact most people who know I’m involved in horses start conversations with “I know a man’’ and end it with, “lost the lot’’.

My experiences on balance have been positive, Ado (McGuinness) knows how to place a horse to win.

In 2012, Bubbly Bellini won three races in one week. In 2012 he won the Rockingham and Joe McGarath Premier Handicaps but the most memorable day was winning at the Curragh on March 20th 2016, the day after I got married. Ado had told most of the guests that this horse was a certainty.

I don’t know how I would done that day if we hadn’t won, it could well have been the shortest marriage in history.

Everyone at the wedding, even my old aunts had a bet on, and the word was this horse was laid out to pay for the wedding - if only it were true!

What is the biggest drawback about being a racehorse owner?

Anticipation, exhilaration, jubilation and all too often disappointment.

Racehorse ownership will bring you all of these emotions not least in equal amounts. You invest in a foal/yearling and bring it to the track only to find this is a fairly average sort.

Sign the cheque and kiss it goodbye. If there’s a return, well your luck’s in.

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

I think all the tracks are upping their game with regards to owners. However, they still have a little way to go to reach the levels of English tracks.

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

Only involved in flat racing.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

Horse trainers have an unenviable task. You can’t just shut the door and go home, horses have to be attended to constantly seven days a week, early morning and late nights, grabbing sleep where possible eating on the hop, dealing with impatient owners, injury, and poor performance. Few occupations require this level of dedication so I believe I am ill equipped to list the virtues of a good trainer.

John Gosden list three simple things required for success in racing: good horses, good staff and good owners, most likely in that order. We’re all stake holders in this process, all playing our part.

What significance do your colours hold?

Very significant – my good wife Olive choose the colours. I still have no idea why however, they remain very lucky.

When buying a horse, what do you look for?

A great bloodstock agent (Eamonn Reilly, BBA) and trainer (Ado McGuinness). I listen to them, trust in them, believe in them, respect them and let them do what they do well. I never believe I know better than they do and have been fortunate over the years to have benefited from there experience.

What’s next on the agenda for your horses?

At the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale last year Stephen Thorne (assistant trainer to Ado McGuinness) convinced us to buy Aussie Valentine, with one jockey telling me in Dundalk at the start of the season that we stole him!

Aussie is a horse that has been a revelation this year and has exceeded all expectations of him.

Not having won in two years but running fairly consistently Ado has definitely found the key to this lad. He has amassed over €80,000 of prize money, winning three races in Leopardstown, Tipperary and Dundalk and being placed in the Galway Mile, Lincolnshire, and Nasrullah Premier handicaps, beaten by some very good horses on the way.

I think this horse deserves to pick up one of these premier handicap as he’s a model of consistency.

It’s not easy keeping him competitive at this level all season.

My partner in this horse, Joe McCrory, is very keen on National Hunt and we expect to put Aussie over hurdles at some point in the future.

We have a two-year-old filly, Fox Hill, who has won for us at Naas and will hopefully pick up a nursery later in the year.

We recently purchased Scorching Heat in the July Sale at Newmarket, previously trained by Andrew Balding and owned by Qatar Racing. He has won three races including the Stewards’ Sprint Handicap Stakes (Class 2), Goodwood, and was second in the Porsche Centre Cambridge Handicap Stakes (Class 2), Newmarket. He’s an exciting sprint prospect for next year.

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

We currently have two yearlings in the field, both purchased with the assistance of Eamonn Reilly, a filly by Heeraat whose full-brother is competing well in England and a sister of Aussie Valentine by Gale Force Ten, who with a bit of luck might be useful.

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

I think the Foran EBF Series has been a great idea making two-year-old maidens more competitive.

Perhaps a similar scheme for handicappers would be of benefit.

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

Getting involved in racing should be a calculated risk, make sure that no one risk is going to topple everything. In a given year a small percentage of the thoroughbreds foaled are destined for a career on the track.

Even more sobering is that only 5% of these thoroughbreds will go on to win bigger pursed races.

Mitigate your risk by finding some like-minded people, pool your budget and purchase a few horses.

Younger horses carry most risk with greatest returns and older tried and tested handicappers will hopefully win at their level and pay their way with prize money.

It’s easier to enjoy racing if you get a winner.

Gary Devlin was in conversation with Olivia Hamilton