DAVID Bowe, manager of Jeff Smith’s Littleton Stud, was a popular winner of the ITBA’s Wild Geese Award, created to recognise Irish people who have achieved notable success in the racing and bloodstock world overseas.

Born and raised in Waterford city, Bowe came from an equestrian family and was bitten by the bug at an early age. He skipped university to work as a student at Coolmore Stud and went to work in Kentucky and Newmarket before joining Jeff Smith’s Littleton Stud in Winchester over 20 years ago.

In a video tribute, Smith said: “He has transformed the farm, not by spending vast amount of money on mares, but by gradually upgrading the broodmare band, giving me better direction and interfacing on mating plans, horse management and pasture management, incrementally improving the stud from where it was. David has been a major asset.”

David Elsworth, Andrew Balding, Kevin Buckley and Christy Grassick were others to praise Bowe’s work and wisdom.

Among the horses to have passed through Bowe’s hands and carried Smith’s purple and pale blue silks are Persian Punch, Lochsong, Arabian Queen, Lochangel and Barshiba. More recently he famously bought Alcohol Free as a foal for €40,000. She won four Group 1 races before being sold for 5.4 million guineas.

Bowe said: “This means everything, I am honoured and humbled in equal measure.”

Asked which racehorse gave him the most enjoyment, he said: “The one that stands out for me was Arabian Queen wining the Juddmonte [International at York in 2015]. It was just fantastic, a homebred filly taking on a Derby winner [Golden Horn].”

Reflecting on the Alcohol Free story, Bowe said: “It’s bonkers, isn’t it. We picked her up for relatively small money but there are so many other people involved. We buy from good nurseries and there is a team at home who look after them, the trainers and, most importantly, Jeff Smith enables us to do it. It doesn’t even feel like a job.”

Christy Grassick summed it up: “I don’t think you’d meet anyone who has a bad word to say about David Bowe. He’s just one of those good guys.”