How did you get into racehorse ownership?

I was a professional gambler so I have been following racing for some time. I initially bought a share for my father as a birthday present. He was interested in the horses, but not as much as I was so it became a bit of a joint present.

What was your best day at the races and why?

I’ve had a few good days, winning the Group 1 Sprint Cup with G Force was a good one (September 2014), but winning at Royal Ascot with Commissioned, with Gordon Elliott, was very special (Queen Alexandra Stakes 2016). We had lots of confidence going into the race and it was a great feeling telling the owners beforehand that we were as certain as we could be that he would be winning first time out for us on the biggest stage of flat racing.

What is the biggest drawback about being a racehorse owner?

The system in Britain is not set up to look after the owners or syndicate owners, in my opinion. The entry costs for races are high, the admin costs for syndicates seems to be very inefficiently run and the trail of paperwork required to set things up again never ending. I haven’t been racing often enough to answer about Irish racecourses.

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

We have 60 horses in training and they are all campaigned on the flat. Nick Bradley Racing tries to offer owners the maximum return on their investment on all fronts. Flat horse run more often than their NH counterparts, as a rule they pick up fewer injuries, therefore should incur fewer veterinary costs. We try to sell a couple of horses each year to help make the sums add up and the market for flat horses in training is far bigger both domestically and internationally.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

Choice of trainer is one of the most important decisions an owner can make. There are lots of qualities I look for: first of all they have to be successful in what they do, there is no point handicapping your horses by sending them to trainers who underperform the field.

The trainer has to be a good communicator, has to be ambitious and not afraid of running their horses at the highest level both at home and overseas.

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

It depends on the specific racecourse, some racecourses cater for all owners and their facilities are excellent. All owners should be offered a table and lunch when they go racing as a minimum. I was over at the Breeders’ Cup in 2016 and have been to Sha Tin a couple of times as an owner in Hong Kong. On both occasions we were treated to the best view in the house, a first class three-course meal, betting facilities at our table and complimentary wine. If they can offer that level of service I see no reason why our premier racecourses can’t match their level of service.

What significance do your colours hold?

They don’t really hold a significance, I would have loved to have been in a position to secure a single-coloured set of silks so what we tried to do with the trim was the closest thing to it. I’m very proud that within 18 months they are recognisable on the racetrack and all the investors seem very happy to use them.

How did your syndicate get its name?

When I decided to set up the syndicates on my own, I wasn’t sure what to call ourselves and did mull over lots of options. The guys who were keen for me to setup my own syndicates told me that my biggest asset was my name given the success I had previously brought them so we therefore went with ‘Nick Bradley Racing’. I am delighted that so many people have invested in the horses and have continued to trust my judgement on the racetrack and in the sales ring.

When buying a horse, what do you look for?

I try and find angles for my investors and have an idea of how we will campaign the horses before we buy them. So for example, the two-year-olds we have sent to Gordon were all strong, good-moving with pedigrees that suggested we could have them on the track in May and June as two-year-olds. We succeeded with that plan with Beckford and hopefully we will have another three or four to run in the first couple of weeks of June.

What horses do you currently have in training?

We currently have about 60 horses in training in Ireland and Britain. We have some good three-year-old fillies, the star being Melesina who won at Group 3 level at two and listed level at three. She would have had a huge chance in the French 1000 Guineas and Oaks but an injury has seen her miss the race. We have a lot of good two-year-olds, with some of them heading to Royal Ascot if things go our way. Consequences, Queen Penn, Klosters and an unraced two-year-old called Monkeylou could all be heading to Berkshire in mid-June.

What’s next on the agenda for your horses?

We start looking towards Royal Ascot. A lot of the time the syndicate owners don’t realise how hard it is to get runners good enough to run at Royal Ascot never mind having a chance of winning.

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

Of the 30 two-year-olds we have in training, two-thirds of them are yet to see the racetrack so there is plenty to look forward to. Only William made his debut at Fairyhouse on Thursday (finished out of the frame). We run a nice Dream Ahead colt in Listowel on Sunday (tomorrow), called Monkeylou, who is in training with Gordon Elliott. We also have a nice Lawman colt with Joseph O’Brien called Remmy D who will make his debut in the second half of the season. Hugo Palmer did very well with a colt by Famous Name called Escobar last year and we have a son of Famous Name with him that is doing everything nicely at this stage.

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

Definitely get involved with a syndicate initially, there is a lot to learn in this game and many of my investors dipped their toe in before they jumped into the pool. Spread your interest and rather than investing in just one horse or even with one trainer, split your investment amongst horses in different yards. Do plenty of research and invest with ambitious people who want the same things as you do.

Nick Bradley was in conversation with Olivia Hamilton

The AIRO have secured free entry for members to the Curragh on Sunday, July 2nd, featuring the Pretty Polly Stakes. Contact Ciara Doyle at the Curragh on 045 441205 before Monday, June 5th to book tickets.