What spiked your interest in bloodstock and sales?

My interest in bloodstock and sales has come from my dad. He bought his first mare, Princess Mood, back in 2002 at Goffs February Sale when I was six years old. Fast forward 22 years later and she’s still here enjoying retirement after a successful career as a broodmare.

Dad’s aim was and still is to breed and sell foals later in the year at Goffs November Foal Sale. He got lucky with his first mare, over her career as a broodmare she bred 12 runners, 10 of which were winners and five of those were blacktype horses. Her success allowed for him to expand his broodmare band and improve the farm.

The Goffs November Foal Sale used to be the highlight of the year for me growing up, apart from getting a week off school for it, there was a great atmosphere up at the sales. You get a great buzz when a foal you’ve looked after all summer does well in the ring, there is no feeling like it.

Who has been the biggest influence in your career so far?

My parents have been hugely supportive of my career and the many paths I’ve taken to get to where I am now. They enabled me to travel abroad and also were the back bone of support when I decided to start working at home and eventually start up my own consignment.

After I finished the Irish National Stud course in 2016 I did a yearling prep for Bill Dwan. The chance to go to Australia came and Bill said “Go for it”. His encouragement and support to travel was a push I definitely needed as I’m a big home bird.

I then went again, this time to New Zealand to Waikato Stud where I got the opportunity to be an assistant yearling manager.

Are there any challenges you’ve had to overcome? And how did you overcome them?

I’m lucky enough that I haven’t encountered too many hiccups along the way since coming home and running the home farm. The only thing that can be tricky is getting staff for the foal sales.

Apart from probably a shortage of young people coming into the industry, everyone is trying to pinhook foals for themselves. I’m blessed to have a great bunch of friends that are always there and willing to help out.

If you could go back in time, what would you tell yourself starting out in the industry?

If I could go back in time I’d probably tell myself to travel more or for longer and not to let the fear of missing out on things at home get the better of me. Home will always be home.

What goals have you set yourself going forward?

I really hope to keep upping the standard of the foals that we bring to the sales and hopefully consign more client horses. I’d also like to maybe add another mare or a chance a pinhook of a foal.