Having sourced Miss Tempo from the point-to-point circuit, The seven-year-old mare gave the Waterford syndicate their first taste of success in Naas last week.

How did you get into racehorse ownership?

The Ferroandel Racing Syndicate was formed during covid by five Waterford lads with an interest in National Hunt racing. Each of the syndicate members has had shares in horses over the years with varied degrees of success. The ambition was to purchase a horse with potential from the point-to-point circuit and place it in the capable training hands of fellow Déise man Henry de Bromhead. Henry sourced Miss Tempo for us in November 2020 and she went into training in early 2021.

What was your best day at the races and why?

We didn’t manage to see Miss Tempo’s first few runs on the course due to the covid restrictions at racetracks so her recent win in Naas after a 15-month injury absence has been the best day so far for the syndicate. She has shown plenty of promise so far and is lightly raced for a seven-year-old so we’re looking forward to more good days ahead with her. The ultimate ambition would be to have a runner at the Cheltenham Festival at some stage.

How did your syndicate get its name?

Ferroandel is an abbreviation for Ferrybank, Roanmore and De La Salle, the three GAA clubs in Waterford City that the syndicate members grew up playing for. Some of the lads are still involved in the clubs on the administration and coaching side. Our playing days are long behind us!

In your experience, what racecourse in Ireland treats owners the best and why?

We were hugely impressed by the facilities, hospitality and warmth of the welcome we received at Naas Racecourse. The staff in the owners and trainers section were fantastic, whilst the reception we were afforded by the track staff after Miss Tempo’s success was very humbling and greatly appreciated.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

We are very fortunate to work with our fellow Waterford native in Henry de Bromhead. Henry embodies all that is great about the sport of horse racing. His talent with jumpers, work ethic, humility and relentless drive for success are all traits that we hugely admire in him.

What improvements/changes would you like to see made in horse racing in Ireland for owners?

For recreational owners, I think access to more relevant content would be welcomed. Video footage of the horse working, alerts to when connected horses are running and how they subsequently performed (half-brother/sister etc) and doing more to build a social network of recreational owners. We can learn a lot from the Australian model and the approach that they adopt with their owners.

Do you think the current cost-of-living crisis will impact on racing in general and ownership in particular?

I think it could deter the recreational syndicates where disposable income is compromised. Amongst the larger owners there is likely to be a flight to quality and the pursuit of the most sought-after horses will become even more intense at the sales.

What significance do your

colours hold?

Our colours have been adapted from the colours of the three GAA clubs that form the name of the syndicate, white and red for De La Salle, light blue for Roanmore and green for Ferrybank.

What horses do you currently have in training?

Just Miss Tempo at the moment. Some of our owners have interests in other syndicates. Hopefully, we get to increase our team over the coming years.

What’s next on the agenda for your horse?

The plan is to go beginner chasing in the new season but we might sneak in another handicap hurdle before that, possibly at the Punchestown Festival next month.

What do you do with your racehorses when their racing days are over?

Keep them local and put them out to grass to enjoy the Mediterranean-like climate in the Déise.

What would help to make Irish racing more competitive for the smaller owner/trainer?

Having some lower-graded races with attractive prizes on the big days. Maybe along the lines of the Pertemps where we have a series of qualifiers during the season. For the small owner the days out are one of the biggest appeals and having a day out on one of Irish racing’s blue-riband days would be hugely appealing. It would also allow smaller trainers to showcase their ability which can be hard to do now given how dominant the larger yards have become at the big Irish festivals.

What advice would you give someone thinking of becoming a racehorse owner?

It can be an expensive hobby and requires a lot of patience if your horse requires a lot of training time to bring to the track or is only suited by a particular type of ground or suffers an injury. Be prepared for the ups and downs but the good days far outweigh the bad ones. Also, I’d encourage prospective owners to take the syndicate route as it’s a great excuse for brilliant days out with friends.