JOHN Nallen has his hunter certs processed early this season and yet another team of nicely-bred young horses to unleash in the upcoming point-to-points.
Nallen has always surrounded himself with a good quality youngster and isn’t afraid to pay to secure the right sort while not unaware that the changing demand for stores is bound to have an impact on the business model.
“Horses are getting very expensive and it’s getting harder to get the ones you want. A few years ago if you had a very good winner and sold well he might cover five or six of the other ones that didn’t work out. Nowadays he is lucky to carry about three of them and that has to be factored into things.”
He admits that although this is something he has to monitor, he is still happy enough to continue and the model has been serving him well for some time now.
Another long held strategy and even tradition is branding all his horses with the Minella name made famous by his hotel in Clonmel. He admits that when they underperform it’s not ideal but sees the overall benefit.
“It’s great when they are running well and winning and the likes of Minella Present and Minella Rocco at present are two that could develop nicely this season. I’m also surprised at the number of people who frequent the hotel that I would not call racing people who identify us from seeing the horses running on the TV.”
It seems there is a synergy to Nallen’s strategy and he is of course a businessman with more than one string to his bow.
His team looking after the charges this season are as always Paddy and Helen Doody along with Pat Harris and David Kiely. James Carroll will continue to ride them in point-to-points and that team, along with the continuity it brings, have been producing results for some time now. Looking at the ammunition he has at his disposal, there is another successful season ahead.
MINELLA SELFIE (IRE)
5yo b g
King’s Theatre - Kaniskina (Bob Back)
Breeder: John O’Connor
This is a very nice horse who will run later in the spring. He has good action so good ground will bring the best out in him and he cost €43,000 from the 2013 Derby Sale. He is out of an own-sister to Bobs Return.
MINELLA TREASURE (IRE)
5yo b g
King’s Theatre - Ringzar (Shernazar)
Breeder: William Scallan & King’s Theatre Syndicate
This fellow has taken everything well and will be ready to run as soon as there is any bit of nice ground. Everything went well for him last year and he has matured well so it won’t be long now before he is out once the weather improves. He came from the 2013 Derby Sale and is from the family of Jodami and Gemini Lucy and is a half-brother to three-time winner Rough Justice with Willie Mullins.
MINELLA ARIS (IRE)
4yo b g
King’s Theatre - Liss Rua (Bob Back)
Breeder: Niall Flynn
His dam won a bumper for John Kiely and the grandam Shuil Liss won eight and therefore he is closely related to Liss A Paoraigh, Liss De Paor, Blazing Liss and Baronet. He cost €28,000 as a foal and is the best looking horse in the place - a lovely, big, rangey type. He is extremely easy on the eye if he can carry the bucket he could be something to look forward to. He has done everything well so far and once he gets some nicer ground will be out.
MINELLA AWARDS (IRE)
4yo b g
Oscar - Monty’s Miss (Presenting)
Breeder: J Mangan
Jimmy Mangan bred this fellow and has since won two races recently with his full-brother Montys Meadow. His pedigree goes back to Montys Pass, Harbour Pilot and Get Me Out Of Here. At the moment it looks as though he could be going to back home as it were as Tallow could be the start point for him. He seems a soft ground type and has taken everything well so far and is forward and ready to go.
MINELLA BEAU (IRE)
4yo br g
King’s Theatre - Ney Will (Pistolet Bleu)
Breeder: Tom Egan
This is a full-brother to Chatterbox who from only six runs for Nicky Henderson won his first three and was fourth to The New One on another start. He is showing a lot in everything he has done so far and is about six weeks off a run. He cost €30,000 in the November 2011 Sale and is also from the family of My Will.
MINELLA EXPERIENCE (IRE)
4yo br g
Westerner - Southern Skies (Dr Massini)
Breeder: Miss Jane Mangan
This is another one which came from Mangans and he is out of a half-sister to Strong Flow. He himself is a full-brother to the Dan Skelton trained three-time winner What A Good Night and he is a half-brother to two other winners. He is a fine, staying chaser type who will appreciate soft ground. He is a good jumper and stays at it well and could well go to Durrow at the end of February.
MINELLA FAIR (IRE)
4yo b g
Flemensfirth - Bell Walks Run (Commanche Run)
Breeder: Robert O’Callaghan
This is a full-brother to Time For Rupert and cost €33,000 at the 2011 November Sale. He jumps well and isn’t a flashy type but keeps finding more which is always a good sign. He will appreciate softer ground. Jet Rules, Jet Tabs and Hillwalk are all in his pedigree.
MINELLA SUITE (IRE)
4yo br g
Oscar - Ballymaguirelass (Phardante)
Breeder: Oliver Loughlin
This fellow is out of an own-sister to two blacktype performers in Dantes Battle and Sunshine Cabs and is from the family of Go Roger Go. This is a fine horse but big and weak so he won’t be rushed to run in the spring and we will wait for the autumn if we have to so as to give him the best chance.
MINELLA WHISPER (GB)
4yo b g
Kayf Tara - Celtic Native (Be My Native)
Breeder: Mickley Stud and Mr & Mrs P Emery
His dam was high class winning 10 races for Philip Hobbs from only 16 starts. Indeed the races she didn’t win were behind Baracouda, Deano’s Beano and Monsignor so she was always in good company. She has already bred four winners and this fellow cost €56,000 in last year’s Derby Sale. He is doing everything we have asked of him but I wouldn’t be surprised if we let him off with a view to training him for the autumn once he has done enough in the spring.
MINELLA DADDY (IRE)
5yo b g
Flemensfirth - Old Moon (Old Vic)
Breeder: R McCarthy
He is a full-brother to three winners including Noble Endeavour who has won three times for Gordon Elliott. He is coming along very well and I am delighted as we thought he would and we gave him time last year and that really seems to have paid off. He will probably go to Knockanard and could well run in a bumper after that.
MINELLA ARTS (IRE)
6yo br g
Presenting - Norabelle (Alamo Bay)
Breeder: Seamus McKeogh
This is a nice horse I bought as a foal from Tattersalls for €13,500 in November 2009 and I also bought his full-brother in 2012. He is a nice scopey sort and is the sort who jumps and stays well. He goes to Tallow next and should run well there. His dam was a very sound mare winning six in France and placed 14 times over jumps and on the flat.
RING MINELLA (IRE)
4yo b g
Kings Theatre - Ring Of Water (Northern Baby)
Breeder: Gerard Mullins
This is a typical son of King’s Theatre. He is all quality but not overbig. I know the family well as I have had four and they have all won. He is in fact a half-brother to seven winners including Plinsky who won 18 races. Although he might not appear scopey, he is extremely brave and can hold his own with the bigger types we have. He would like some nicer ground and I’d like to see him run at Inch or somewhere like that.
UNNAMED
I also have a King’s Theatre closely related to Atteses who is very forward and will be named soon as I think he could be one to aim at Inch or somewhere like that.