ALTHOUGH I have no direct background in the racing industry, I worked my way up to become yearling manager at Newsells Park Stud.

Personally, I have always found that once you put in the hours and are prepared to learn, those above you acknowledge that effort and show their appreciation. Like in any job, nothing is handed to you but those that want something bad enough will eventually attain their goals.

While none of my family worked in the industry, racing was always on television when I was growing up. My dad is a big fan of racing and Cheltenham was a huge deal in our house, with the legendary battles between Hardy Eustace, Brave Inca and Macs Joy some of my earliest memories.

I spent summers down in Co Waterford on my grandfather’s farm. It was mainly a dairy and cattle farm, but he kept a couple of sport horses and mares. My mam often reminds me that it was there that my passion for horses started. I did learn to ride but it was never something that I was passionate about or good enough at to pursue.

I got a summer job with trainer Tom Hogan in Nenagh. I worked on the ground, loving every minute of it. An uncle of mine worked down in Castlehyde Stud, so I also got to spend a bit of time shadowing him.

Early on in secondary school, I knew that I wanted to work in the farming side of the industry, so when I chanced upon the brochure for the BSc in Equine Science at the University of Limerick, I knew it was for me.

Around the halfway point in that four-year degree course, I spent a semester on work placement at Castleton Lyons Stud in Kentucky.

If I hadn’t already made up my mind, I knew from very early on in that stint that I wanted to work in the stud farm sector once I graduated.

Enjoyable

I did a bit of everything at Castleton Lyons, working with mares, foals and yearlings. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience which reaffirmed my desire to make my career within the industry. Once I completed my studies, I spent a season working with the yearlings at Vinery Stud in Australia.

During that period, I did all the sales from the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast, to the Premier sales in Melbourne, right up to the Easter sales in Sydney. Given that my work placement was so enjoyable, I always planned to return to Kentucky after college. After Australia, I went to Lane’s End Farm.

Initially I started prepping yearlings for the Keeneland September Sales, then stayed on to work with mares and foals. Lane’s End was a brilliant place to work and learn.

Laurence Gleeson, who I had worked with in Kentucky, moved on to Newsells Park Stud. In 2013, he texted to let me know of an opening in the yearling prep side of the farm.

Having done my travelling, I jumped at that opportunity, as it brought me a step closer to home. Initially, my intention was to stay the season, before applying for the Darley Flying Start programme, something I had always wanted to do.

However, those particular plans never came to fruition as I didn’t get on the course. I had settled into life at Newsells Park and after two seasons doing the yearlings, I also started helping with the stallions during the breeding season.

Nathaniel had only recently retired from the track, so everyone was excited to be working with him. He is a brilliant stallion to have anything to do with; I learned so much working with him.

My next role was as barn leader of the main yearling barn – Valley Barn – working under Gerry Meehan. We got on very well together and he showed me the ropes.

In 2019, when Gerry moved on from Newsells Park Stud, the General Manager Julian Dollar appointed me as Yearling Manager. I am very grateful to the latter for giving me the opportunity and showing his faith in me by promoting me to that role.

I currently oversee the yearling division, with around 15 people working directly under me at this time of the year. At the moment we have over 60 yearlings at the farm, most of which would have been born here, to prep for the upcoming Tattersalls sales in Newmarket.

Progress

I feel very privileged to be working at Newsells Park Stud, where we have some of the best stock in Europe. I was assigned to Legatissimo during my first year, so was essentially spoiled from the beginning!

I keep a close eye on the progress of the yearlings once they leave the stud to pursue their career on the track. For me it’s the most exciting part of the job and to see them become champions like Legatissimo is pretty special.

Obviously that filly went on to win the 1000 Guineas for David Wachman in her three-year-old campaign, and I was lucky enough to be there that day to see her win. The Tin Man, who was also part of that same crop, went on to establish himself as a leading sprinter.

Juddmonte International winner Japan and Arc winner Waldgeist were others that stand out from the yearlings that I have worked with.

In terms of yearling prep, even how after a decade at Newsells Park Stud, I feel that I am still learning. Each season we discover something new and are constantly questioning, asking why one particular crop may achieve more on the racecourse than another.

The most important thing is that we can keep producing top quality horses and every day at the stud is a learning day.

Mark Grace was in conversation with John O’Riordan