“THE harder I practice the luckier I get,” is the often-resurrected quote about sport attributed to the golfer Gary Player.

The horses at the Corey yard at Mallusk are as well done as those in any other sphere of equestrianism. In keeping with the modern method, there is much emphasis on turning animals out. Some of the stables are cleverly designed with a cat-flap type arrangement letting the animals in and out of a sand paddock.

“Our haulage business comes first,” says Kevin Corey. “but to my eye a fair bit of time is given over to the needs of the racehorses. Kevin takes a lot to do with the training and Adam, buoyed by a great year in 2022, spends hours on the trotters and pacers.

Back to form

“Double Deuce coming back to form in the late season was a highlight for us last year,” Kevin told The Irish Field,“and the old horse (Fairdays Western) won the consolation pace at The Red John in Cork and a heat of the All-Ireland. He was going for three All-Ireland finals in a row, but Old Father Time caught up with him.” Fairdays Western was, to borrow commentator James Griffin’s phrase, ‘a winning machine’. He is now retired and the Coreys will struggle to find another trouper like him.

“My father hasn’t been bothering much with horses, but he recently started breaking a Kikicolt which goes back to his old foundation mare Mystery Girl ‘’

Kevin offered three pacers and two trotters which will carry the orange and black, which matches their fleet of artics.

Double Deuce (Ire)

7yo g Armbro Deuce – Art n Soul

He has filled out another bit. He is only in work three weeks. We think he runs best fresh, so he’ll be campaigned that way. He can pull a bit behind the gate, but he is a 2.00 performer.

Montanas Prince (Ire)

2yo g Foreclosure – Mahogany Montana

I drove the dam myself and this is her first foal. He’s only been in eight weeks, but he is doing everything right.

Unnamed (Ire)

2yo f Sweet Lou – Art n Soul

She is from an American mare that has thrown winners already. We’ll start some fast work this weekend. Both two-year-olds were handy to break - very civil.

Fanchon Du Roche(Fr)

8yo m Korean – Quelle Jolie Idee

She won first time in Ireland for Adam. She is a small mare and she trots very level. We have minded her for this season - she was a bit weak but now she is better muscled. She needs her tail tied tight to keep her balanced and she goes with a low head check so she can really stretch for a stride.

Extrem Ryld (Fr)

9yo Pagalor – Minette Florette

We bought him late last year from my cousin Kevin Rafferty. We spent a lot of time getting him sorted and he put in a nice run at the last meeting of 2022. He has some turn of foot if we can keep him right. I’d love to win a few with him - it would please Kevin as well.