How did you get into racehorse ownership?

I always had an interest in horses from a very young age and we had few ponies growing up but my lack of balance stalled any plans for progression. When Ronan Whelan, my cousin, started pony racing my family got very involved and held a leg in a couple of the horses trained by Ronan’s father, Thomas. We had great fun and a lot of success in a short period of time.

We naturally progressed to horse racing when Ronan went to work for Jim Bolger although I did try to train a couple of horses for pony racing myself, with limited success to say the least!

My first foray into racehorse ownership proper was at the Goffs Open Yearling Sale back in 2010. I was in college and had a quiet afternoon so decided spending it at the sales would be more beneficial. As trade wasn’t very strong I set about inspecting a number of fillies with the aim of breezing one at the sales the next spring.

However, within a week of purchase I had formed a syndicate, and the rest, as they say, is history.

What was your best day at the races and why?

Luckily for somebody relatively new to racehorse ownership I have had some great days at the races. Winning at the Curragh on both Oaks weekend (Balladiene, 2012) and Derby weekend (Sea The Lion, this year) stick out as being particularly memorable. I also take great pride in helping provide Ronan with three wins (all on Balladiene) in 2012, the year in which he was crowned champion apprentice.

What is the biggest drawback about being a racehorse owner?

Cost is always a factor but the biggest drawback I find is having to relay bad news to syndicate members. It’s not possible for the horse to race in every race you would like or win every day you race hence I find it’s very important to enjoy each win to the utmost. Fortunately, none of the owners I have been involved with have been afraid to enjoy the occasion.

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

The Curragh and Leopardstown would be top of the list. I have to give a quick mention to Sligo Racecourse, I have never been there as an owner but as a spectator there is always a great atmosphere and you meet some wonderful characters. It is great to see racing resuming there last weekend.

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

Flat racing. I have grown up following flat racing and enjoy researching the pedigree side of it, even winning the inaugural YITBA Fantasy Foal pinhooking competition. The fact that Ronan is a flat jockey also helps as I follow his career closely.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

Honesty, first and foremost, accessibility and approachability are also key. I am a very hands-on owner in that I like to research the race programme, visit they yard regularly and try to help formulate a plan for the horse and so a trainer who is open to that input is very important to me. We find that Jarlath Fahey fits the bill perfectly; being a Royal Ascot-winning trainer also helps!

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

On the syndicate side I feel that the allocation of four cards is not enough and that there could be some means by which racecourses could offer additional entry passes.

Also, I think large screens should be mandatory at all racecourses as, when it boils down to it, we spend all our time and money to get our horse to the races – being able to witness those rare couple of minutes in their entirety is not a big ask.

What significance do your colours hold?

The owners hail from both Monasterevin and Laois, blue and white being the GAA colours for each.

When buying a horse, what do you look for?

A good physical specimen as this minimises the risk of issues appearing further down the line. With fillies we would like their page to be commercially attractive as the end game is to breed from them and hopefully sell the offspring. When choosing a mating for a mare we try to pick the best physical and pedigree match within our budget.

What horses do you currently have in training?

Currently, Sea The Lion, trained by Jarlath Fahey of Monasterevin, is the only horse I am involved with in training.

What’s next on the agenda for your horses?

Our long term plan is the big handicap on Irish Champions’ Weekend but we may try look for something across the pond in the meantime

Have you any horses to look forward to? (i.e. young/unbroken horses)We have a couple of yearlings coming through with a Slade Power filly out of Balladiene (currently in foal to first season sire Markaz) and a Lilbourne Lad filly from the family of sire Bahamian Bounty.

We have also used Red Jazz this year and, from modest fees, are impressed with the early promise his runners are showing. The aim is to sell but, if for any reason they stay with us, we are happy to put them in training ourselves.

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

There are many options already outlined in this column before on how to aid smaller owners and trainers, many of which are valid. However, I feel that winning a race where the larger stables are in direct competition make it just that little bit sweeter for small owners.

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

Join a syndicate. It’s a great way of getting the full ownership experience at a fraction of the cost. It also helps to connect you with like-minded individuals and it can be very enjoyable when part of a larger group. As part of this larger group you may also have access to a calibre of horse which would not normally be within your price range.

Jamie Whelan was in conversation with Olivia Hamilton.