YOU will struggle to find a better supporter of the Weatherbys ITBA National Hunt Fillies Bonus Scheme than Laois owner and breeder Kieran Leavy. A well-known figure on the sales circuit, Kieran is part-owner of Agusta Gold, now the winner of two €5,000 bonus payments and connections are hopeful of landing a third.

Kieran explained how he came to own a share in the daughter of Gold Well: “I went to the Derby Sale to buy a filly with Mag Mullins. Lorcan Cribbin and Fergus Healy took a share afterwards. We prefer mares, they give the small man a better chance to compete.

“But they must have good conformation and the right pedigree so, if they don’t make into a racehorse, you have a Plan B. You can breed from them and get something back.

“We looked at nearly every filly in the sale with a half-decent pedigree. Gold Well stood out as a stallion we like. He’s a full-brother to Montjeu, he’s dead, and he had 10 point-to-point winners on the same weekend that Agusta Gold won her bumper at Tramore.”

Agusta Gold was bought for €17,500 and Mag Mullins was chosen as trainer. She now also has a share in the mare. “She’s a great horsewoman and is especially talented with fillies,” Kieran says.

After Agusta Gold won first time out last April she was entered for the Goffs Punchestown Sale. “The bidding reached €85,000 but we feel she’s worth more than that. We knew she would win her maiden hurdle and we think she will be a seriously good chasing mare.”

Sure enough, Agusta Gold won over timber last month at Downpatrick, her third start over flights. She was one of five €5,000 bonus winners in August. “We won’t rush her. She’ll handle winter ground too, in time.”

Kieran says the €10,000 he and his co-owners have won in bonus payments makes all the difference. “Prize money is poor in general. I think when you win one race it should cover your training fees for the year. Personally I think the betting industry should be made put a lot more into racing, but the bonus is a great help.”

He added: “When we go to Goffs or Tattersalls, we are looking for mares who are eligible for the Weatherbys ITBA bonus.

“If we are undecided on two mares, we will go for the one who has been nominated to the scheme. We target the bonus races. It’s good that there are lots more mares’ races these days but I think there should be two on every programme.”