Name a NH stallion with runners on the track who you are particularly interested in?

Frank Motherway: Yeats now has five-year-olds coming through, he has had a few nice four-year-old winners in 2015 and I put faith in him as one to watch.

Kevin Ross: Califet’s fee could rise as he has proved he can produce top class racehorses. He has had two Grade 1 winners so far this season with Blue Dragon and Adrien Du Pont.

Matt O’Connor: Mahler is getting good stock. They look honest and genuine from what they’ve done so far. Any trainer that has his progeny seems to like them.

Marie Doran: I think the fee for Yeats could go up because he was a very good racehorse.

Peter Downes: Sholokhov - his fee was very reasonable and may go up this year. Fame And Glory’s fee may also be increased because he gets such strong support.

Of NH stallions retired to stud for 2016 which ones do you especially like?

FM: I have not yet seen any of the new NH horses retired to stud for 2016. Soldier Of Fortune and Malinas are coming to Ireland for the new season, so I will go to see them. Leading Light and Valirann are stallions that we have used and could be of interest to breeders. I often go to see new stallions when they come first - it can help one decide if they might suit a particular mare.

KR: Two stallions that I like are Soldier Of Fortune and Malinas. Soldier Of Fortune has an excellent pedigree, was a good racehorse and has produced some lovely stock at the sales. Malinas is a proven sire of good horses, who also gets quality looking stock.

MO’C: Although he has stood in France previous to Garryrichard Stud, I think Sageburg could really make his mark in Ireland. He throws a nice model of a horse from what I’ve seen in France. His first year of foals in Ireland will be this coming year.

MD: We have not seen any of the stallions retired to stud for 2016. But our favourite stallion of all is Milan, we have supported him all along.

PD: When I cover mares I try to use a stallion that is getting winners and will produce a store horse that will pass any pre-sale vet examination. If I use a young stallion I need to be sure he did not have breathing problems when racing.

What are your predictions for the bloodstock market this year?

FM: Last year was difficult and there wasn’t any notable increase in averages. I would be worried about over-supply as I don’t see any increase in end-users. Therefore, I don’t really expect to see any increase in the market this year. The trade for NH fillies continues to be disappointing as it can often be difficult to cover the stud fee with many of these foals.

KR: I think the NH market for 2016 will be on a par with last year. The market seems to have levelled out now. The main concern is over production, so breeders have to curtail their quantity to quality for the future of the industry.

MO’C: I think the top will remain strong, the middle will struggle and the bottom will be very hard work. It’s very important to try and buy a nice foal at the right price when pinhooking. There are a lot more purchasers at foal and yearling sales than at store sales when pinhookers return with their horses at three and four. It highlights the importance of buying a good moving athletic foal.

MD: I predict the market will be tight this year. It was not good at the end of 2015. There are too many French horses being brought in to the country. In contrast you don’t see the same amount of Irish horses going to France. Ireland has always been the best in the world for breeding horses, and I feel very strongly about that.

PD: It is hard to predict the market, but the nearer you are to a Cheltenham Festival winner the more your animal is worth.

Which stallion’s progeny caught your eye at the foal or yearling sales?

FM: Presenting, Flemensfirth and Shantou have always produced nice horses and are continuing to sell well. Of the newer and younger stallions, the progeny of Sholokhov, Getaway, Fame And Glory, Mahler and Califet have caught my eye.

KR: Fame And Glory is producing quality, correct stock that have been very popular at the sales, and as recent results show the Montjeu line have taken well to jumping.

MO’C: Fame And Glory is throwing really nice stock. He was a proper group one performer himself on the race track. We have bought a few of them. They have great legs and good athletic movers. Arcadio also throws a lovely model and his percentage of winners to runners is outstanding.

MD: Fame And Glory’s progeny have caught our eye.

PD: Fame And Glory, but he has yet to have any winners and I do not know how they will perform at sales.

What is your view on the ITM Stallion Trail?

FM: For the breeders it is a chance to go and see the stallions. It encourages them to go out early. They can compare sires and pricing and it might make it a bit easier to make up their mind. For the studs it is a shop window to show their stallions. It attracts the breeders to the stud.

KR: The Stallion Trail is innovative for breeders to view the different stud farms and the stallions for the season ahead. It is a great way to meet other breeders and stallion owners and share views and opinions.

MO’C: I am not very familiar with the Stallion Trail but it seems like a fantastic initiative to allow breeders to visit different studs. It is also useful for the stud owners to meet with the breeders.

MD: I have never been to the ITM Stallion Trail but it is a good idea for the market and for the stallion man. But I do think they need to reconsider some of the stallion prices as they have shot up into the heavens in recent years.

PD: It is a good organised occasion for mare owners to see stallions (but a wise man advised me to see his foals rather than see the horse).

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