What sparked your interest in bloodstock and sales?

My interest in bloodstock began from a young age. Growing up my dad always had a few mares and horses in training with Tommy and Fozzy Stack. My grandad [Stan Cosgrove] was also a vet and managed Moyglare Stud, so following all of these horses through the sales and their racing careers enthralled me. Although I didn’t grow up around horses it was during my summers in college where I worked at Moyglare Stud that I caught the bug. I knew that once I graduated from Agricultural Science in UCD that I wanted to do the Irish National Stud course. This course gave me a huge insight into all aspects of the industry. Upon completion of the INS course, I travelled to Australia where I worked at Arrowfield Stud for a breeding season. Since than I have spent time at Ashford Stud which was a great experience to work with high quality horses.

I am currently the assistant breeding manager at the INS. I love it as every day there is a new challenge and no two days are the same which keeps me busy! I love following the lives of the foals from once they are born here to selling them at the sales and watching them on the track and it’s very rewarding to have played a small role in that. I have also started riding in the past couple of years and I ride out everyday before work for Mark Fahey which is a great way to clear the head before a busy day at the office.

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

There are so many people I can think of that have such a huge influence on my career so far. My parents have always been very supportive and encouraged me to pursue a career in something I love. My grandad Stan was always there when I was starting off to give me advice and guide me in the right direction which was hugely beneficial. I have been very lucky to meet many people along the way, too many to mention, but Sally Carroll played an important role in putting me on the path to the INS course. Cathal Beale was a great mentor when I did the course and right throughout my career and is always there to give advice when needed.

Are there challenges you had to overcome and how did you overcome them?

I think the biggest challenge for me personally was trying to get into the industry as growing up in Dublin very few people around me had any interest in horses. It was only when I began working in the industry, I realised how accessible it is once you show you are keen to learn and work hard. Now living in Kildare, I am truly immersed in it and have great friends with similar interests who are always there to help and give advice.

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

I would tell myself to get stuck in earlier and not to worry too much as everyone has to start somewhere. Travel is very important and it opens your eyes to how everyone has their own way of doing things. I would have also liked to gain more experience in the racing side of things as I’ve predominately worked on stud farms.

What goals have you set yourself?

Having only recently ventured into pinhooking and breeding I’m really looking forward to following them on the track this year. The dream would be to buy or breed a Group 1 winner. For now it’s about building good relationships with breeders, buyers and trainers. We’ve got a nice bunch of yearlings heading to the sales this year, so fingers crossed they stay healthy over the next few months and we have another successful year.

Phoenix Of Spain has also hit his second season running which we have all been following very closely at the INS and it will be exciting to see some of his promising types run in the next few weeks and months.