Kilfrush Stud sale in negotiation

NEGOTIATIONS are continuing for the sale of Kilfrush Stud in Co Limerick.

The property was brought to auction on Wednesday with a guide price of €5.5 million. Bidding opened at €4 million and progressed in €100,000 increments with two bidders, Andrew Nolan (pictured) from Goffs Property and a British solicitor.

After a bid of €6.1 million, the property was withdrawn and remains under negotiation.

Horsebox used to transfer cocaine

LAST week’s seizure of an estimated €2.5 million worth of cocaine at Rosslare was one of the biggest such discoveries in Ireland this year. The find was revealed when, with the assistance of a sniffer dog, Revenue officials stopped to search an Irish registered horsebox. The box was transporting eight horses and had travelled from Cherbourg, France.

A Co Laois man in his 40s was arrested at the scene and detained for questioning at Wexford Garda Station under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. He was released on July 20th without charge and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Sea Of Class loses battle to colic

LAST year’s Group 1 Irish Oaks winner and Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runner-up Sea Of Class has died after losing a battle with colic.

The daughter of Sea The Stars, owned by the Tsui family and trained by William Haggas, also added the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks to her haul of victories. At the end of the season she was rated the third best three-year-old filly in the world behind Almond Eye and Alpha Centauri.

On July 3rd Sea Of Class underwent surgery after she contracted colic and four days later it was reported that she would not race again. This week she was confirmed to have died from her ongoing battle with colic after surgery revealed the cause was a malignant lymphoma.

Jockey under investigation

A MULTIPLE Grade 1 winning Irish National Hunt jockey is under investigation for an alleged sexual assault on Sunday morning. The rider strenuously denies the allegation of assault at a social event. A complaint was made to An Garda Síochána and the alleged victim interviewed.

Dubai carnival programme

THE 2020 Dubai World Cup Carnival programme has been announced. This year will see the 25th running of the world’s richest race, the $12 million Group 1 Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline. The total prize money for the 10 nights of the 2020 DWC Carnival is $12,740,000.

ITBA to run management development programme

The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association is running a management development programme in Co Meath and Co Tipperary next month.

Topics at the three-day workshop include developing a business plan, finanical planning and marketing, promotion and communication skills.

The workshops are set to take place in the Horse & Jockey Hotel, Thurles (Tuesday 6th, 13th & 20th August) and in the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan (Wednesday 7th, 14th & 21st August).

Contact the ITBA office for more details.