2012

MATT Dempsey is to replace Lady O’Reilly as chairman of the Irish National Stud.

Minister Simon Coveney made the announcement at the Horse Racing Ireland awards on Monday. Lady O’Reilly has held the position since June 1998, and chaired her final meeting in that role yesterday.

The other members of the present board are Jim Beecher, Dermot Weld, Jessica Harrington, Paul Shelly, PJ Fitzpatrick and Dr Sean Brady.

Matt Dempsey steps down as editor of the Irish Farmers Journal at the end of February, 2013, having been in the role for 25 years. He is vice president of the Royal Dublin Society, and has held a number of prominent positions within the agricultural and equestrian worlds.

Looking forward to his new role, he told The Irish Field that “the Irish National Stud has a very clear mandate to service the Irish bloodstock sector with the best quality stallions. Founded in 1946, it has maintained its reputation and place within a sector that has expanded enormously over the last 20 years. I greatly look forward to my future involvement with the Irish National Stud and its highly-regarded team.”

Modest profit

The Irish National Stud recorded a modest profit on ordinary activities before taxation in 2011, an improvement of €1 million on the 2010 results. The stud will stand seven stallions in 2013, headed by Invincible Spirit whose fee is set at €65,000. He covered 131 mares this year. The stud has two new sires for next season, Dragon Pulse and Famous Name.

Announcing the appointment, Minister Coveney said: “There is also change coming at the National Stud, which I think is also a very important part of our racing infrastructure here in Ireland. In many ways it is the shop window for Ireland as a country in terms of breeding.

“I want to thank Lady O’Reilly for her chairmanship of the National Stud until now, and actually giving leadership through a difficult transition from where it was a couple of years ago to where it is now, which is again making profit, but also contributing to building the reputation of Irish horse racing.

Significant interest

“In my view, Matt is someone who has also shown the capacity to build a brand, to build a company, to both write about and to take a significant interest in horse racing and, indeed, sports horses, and in my view he is an ideal choice to take the National Stud forward, build on its reputation, and ensure that it continues to play a real role in raising the standards and reputation of Irish horse racing.

“I want to wish Matt the best of luck in that role, and I know that he is very excited about it.”

Irish National Stud CEO John Osborne said: “We are delighted to hear of the appointment of Kildare man Matt Dempsey to the chair of the INS. He has a long career in the agribusiness sector, is steeped in racing, and understands the needs of a business such as this.”

Japan’s Lord plunders Hong Kong Sprint

2012

A SIZEABLE Japanese contingent at Sha Tin roared their approval after Lord Kanaloa won the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint very easily, to send the world’s highest-ranking turf dash across the East China Sea for the very first time.

The global speed divisions are in need of a new star and finally a horse from Japan, where sprinters are not as well catered for as milers and middle-distance types, has staked a claim for greatness, and more will be heard from him in 2013.

This was the result the race needed. Hong Kong horses have dominated the Sprint for so long that it was deterring meaningful challenges from abroad.

However, concerns that the local sprint ranks were looking thinner than usual this year were confirmed as Lord Kanaloa careered away unchallenged inside the final furlong. Yasunari Iwata, Japan’s big race specialist, always had Lord Kanaloa travelling sweetly, and the response in the straight was both immediate and decisive.

The winning distance from the local pacesetter Cerise Cherry was two and a half lengths. Another local, the outsider Captain Sweet, ran third, ahead of another creditable effort from the nine-year-old Joy And Fun.

“He is still improving,” Iwata said of the winner, a four-year-old colt by the Japanese Derby winner and champion King Kamehameha, who also sired Rulership to win the 10-furlong QEII Cup at the same track earlier this year. He added: “He has the scope to compete worldwide next year.”

Top trainer

Japan’s top trainer of recent seasons, Takayuki Yasuda, said the result represented something of a watershed for his homeland’s fastest horses.

“Lord Kanaloa might be looked on as a pioneer in the future. I think other sprinters from Japan will try and target this race again,” he remarked.

Yasuda added: “It shows that you can beat the home team in this race if you have the right horse, and the right preparation. We will think about Singapore and Royal Ascot as options next year.”

[Lord Kanaloa did not make it to Royal Ascot or Singapore the following year. Having been rated the best older sprinter and miler in Japan in 2013, he repeated that double in 2013, thanks to winning all but one of his six starts at five. Four of these were in Group 1 races, culminating with a second success in the Hong Kong Sprint.

He went to stud in 2014 with winnings of £3.95 million, being successful in 13 of his 19 starts, and placed in the rest. He stands at Shadai Stallion Station and he is sire of nine-time Group 1 winner Almond Eye, the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint winner Danon Smash, Group 1 Dubai Turf winner Panthalassa, Australian Group 1 winner Tagaloa, and Japanese Group 1 winners Saturnalia, Stelvio and Danon Scorpion]

The Listener’s connections are saying “bring him on”

2007

A POTENTIALLY gripping clash with Denman later this month beckons for Robert Alner’s The Listener after he produced another towering display from the front to trounce his rivals in the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase.

Last season’s Lexus Chase hero was an early casualty on his reappearance at Down Royal, but made amends in typically flamboyant style to provide hospitalised Alner with a welcome boost.

The trainer remains in intensive care as he continues his recovery from serious injuries sustained in a car crash last month.

The Listener was sent off the even-money favourite to become the first English-trained winner of the race. The home team boasted 10 chasing victories at the highest level between them, but they ultimately found The Listener an irresistible and insurmountable force.

In customary style, he set out to make all the running for Daryl Jacob, and he dictated a sensible pace that saw the field remain well-grouped for most of the race. All bar Father Matt and Hedgehunter were still in contention with four to jump, and it subsequently transpired that the latter burst a blood vessel.

Possible threat

Mansony was left as the only possible threat on the run to the final two fences. Hard as he tried he could make no impression on The Listener, who extended his advantage in the straight to eventually win by 19 lengths. Mansony finished seven lengths ahead of One Cool Cookie, with Forget The Past and Schindlers Hunt filling the next two places.

“Bring on Denman. I’m not saying that we are going to beat him in the Lexus, but it is going to be a hell of a fight,” said Alner’s assistant, Nick Mitchell. Winning rider Jacob added: “This victory is for Robert, and hopefully it will be a big boost for everyone in the yard.”

[Denman had The Listener in third place in the Lexus Chase 19 days later, conditions not being ideal for Alner’s runner. With Sally Alner added to the licence, The Listener was back in February to Leopardstown and won the Grade 1 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.

After he ran in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, Nick Mitchell took over the training of the grey, and all but one of his eight races after that were in Ireland. He did win once more, the Grade 1 JNwine.com Champion Chase. The Alners relinquished their licence in 2010, and Robert died a decade later]