REDMONDSTOWN Stud in Oylegate, Co Wexford is the new home for French-bred National Hunt sire King Edward.

The only son of Martaline standing in Ireland, King Edward is a 10-year-old who has already sired several winners in France from a small number of runners. He was acquired by bloodstock agent Darren O’Dwyer for €195,000 at the Arqana Summer Sale in June.

O’Dwyer reported: “I had been on the lookout for a stallion on behalf of some clients but waited until the right one came up. King Edward had good statistics and he stamped his stock well. We were lucky enough to secure him and then Peter Nolan got involved.”

Nolan is the new tenant at Redmondstown Stud, the breeding base established by Jim Bolger in 1990 and one which has produced a long line of flat racing champions. It has also stood stallions such as Dawn Approach, Vocalised and Parish Hall in recent years.

O’Dwyer continued: “There was just a handful of store horses by King Edward for sale last summer and they made between €35,000 and €70,000 each, and they were bred from very ordinary mares in France. The same goes for his eight winners and placed horses in France.

“His owners have plenty of mares lined up for him already so we hope to hit the ground running in 2027.”

Originally from Owning, Co Kilkenny, O’Dwyer is a former flat and jump jockey who has developed a growing reputation as a bloodstock agent in recent years. Based in Gloucestershire, O’Dwyer attends all flat and National Hunt sales, and has plenty of contacts on both sides of the Irish Sea.

“I was at a point-to-point on Sunday and in Goffs on Monday, buying a nice horse for Graeme McPherson and David Killahena. I’d like to mention Andy Pierce of Blackhall Stables and James Nolan – I have bought a lot of horses with Andy and James who have gone on to be successful.”

Just last month O’Dwyer paid 250,000gns at the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale for Scythe, a two-year-old gelding trained by Brian Meehan. O’Dwyer was acting for Tommy and Bonnie Hamilton’s Silverton Hill Partnership, the American owners of Hotazhell. The agent reported: “I bought a horse for Bonnie before out of Olly Murphy’s yard and she has always kept in contact and is very loyal.”

O’Dwyer also keeps an eye on the increasing number of online sales and that is where he bought Martin Keighley’s recent Cheltenham winner O’Moore Park for £66,000 out of the Willie Mullins yard.

Darren O’Dwyer: 0044 7950 951566.