Irish Stallion Studs are very happy to show their stallions to breeders, although it is wise to make an appointment and it is best to avoid the peak breeding season from mid February to the end of May. Remember, too, that some of the leading flat stallions transfer to the Southern Hemisphere and are not available for viewing from July to November. This all means that the very best times to view stallions are December – mid February, immediately before the covering season, and in June; although NH studs will be pleased to receive visitors by appointment throughout the year. Amongst those of most interest to breeders are:
Coolmore Stud
The main Coolmore Stud, former home of the three of the best European stallions of the past 50 years, Sadler’s Wells, Danehill and Montjeu, is located on the R689 between Killenaule and Fethard, within easy reach of the M8 at Horse & Jockey or Cashel. At this stud can be found the horse that is simply the best thoroughbred stallion in the world today, Galileo, standing at a private fee that if you’ve got to ask you can’t afford.
Other proven high-class stallions at Coolmore include Fastnet Rock, Mastercraftsman, Camelot, Holy Roman Emperor, No Nay Never and Rock of Gibraltar; whilst promising candidates for future distinction are Australia, Gleneagles, Churchill, Highland Reel, Saxon Warrior and Caravaggio.
When the highly-successful Danehill Dancer started his stud career it was at a moderate fee; and there are always animals at Coolmore who might go on to great things despite starting off at fees of less than 15,000 euros. Of course, there will be others that don’t!
Coolmore National Hunt
The National Hunt side of Coolmore is located at three separate studs close to Ballincurrig. Some of the most successful NH stallions stand in Cork, following in the footsteps of Deep Run, Supreme Leader, Be My Native and (longer ago than any of us can remember) Cottage.
- Castle Hyde, off the N72 West just outside Fermoy, standing the great stayer Yeats, Westerner, Order of St George, Kingston Hill and Maxios , who between them are making or will make an immense impact on NH breeding;
- Grange Stud, along the road across from Castle Hyde, standing a similarly strong portfolio of Milan, Getaway, Walk In The Park, Capri and Leading Light;
- The Beeches, off the N72 just outside Lismore, standing Flemensfirth, Crystal Ocean, Soldier of Fortune, Mahler, Idaho, Imperial Monarch, and Ocovango.
Rathbarry Stud
The flat-based operations of Rathbarry are based at the main stud on the Ballincurrig side of Fermoy. Standing here are the successful sires of sprinters and milers Acclamation and Tagula, along with other potential sires of fast horses, James Garfield and Kodi Bear.
Rathbarry National Hunt
The NH operations of Rathbarry, which formerly featured the leading stallions Strong Gale and Presenting, are based at the nearby Glenview Stud. Currently Glenview is the home of the successful NH producers Shirocco and Sholokhov, respectively sires of Annie Power and Don Cossack, along with up and coming sires Blue Bresil and Youmzain.
Coolagown Stud
This establishment is located near to Glenview and is run by the enthusiastic David Stack, whose talents as a stand-up comedian come highly recommended. Coolagown’s stallions are the grey Carlotamix, whose son Gemix was a dual Champion Hurdle winner in France and is doing well at stud himself; Monsun’s son Axxos; the Grand Prix de Paris winner Zambesi Sun; and Shantaram by Galileo. Ask David how he came by some of these horses and you will be sure to hear a good tale.
Knockhouse Stud
The former home of that outstanding sire of staying chasers Roselier and the recent champion NH sire Beneficial, Knockhouse is located just north of the pleasant city of Waterford in the interestingly named hamlet of Kilmacow. The stud stands the first grandson of Galileo to enter the NH market, Dante winner and Derby second Libertarian, the recently-repatriated Derby and Arc de Triomphe winner Workforce, undoubtedly one of the best racehorses ever to stand as a Jumps sire; a Group 1 winning son of the German sire Lando, Prince Fiori, who is one of very few horses today advertised as ‘free of Northern Dancer blood’ (though why this is meant to be a good idea is not explained); Shirocco’s brother September Storm, who is now getting useful winners; and the imposing dark bay Tirwinako, whose pedigree we would prefer not be asked to elucidate but who has sired several very promising NH performers that have brought good money at the Sales.
Arctic Tack Stud
Owned by Eoin Banville, Arctic Tack is located in lovely countryside in the triangle between Waterford, New Ross and Wexford. Former home of the good stallion Snurge and the very good one, Montjeu’s unraced full-brother Gold Well, Arctic Tack is now principally represented by Jet Away, a speedy son of Cape Cross who has got off to a flying start with his Point-To-Point runners. On his stallion’s website (when it bothers to load) Eoin announces that “I haven’t been as excited about a horse I have had at Arctic Tack since Gold Well” – although one of our clients recalls that particular excitement taking the form of repeated statements about Gold Well that ‘he’s a ******* eejit’! Also at Arctic Tack are the beautifully-bred Ol’ Man River (by Montjeu – Finsceal Beo) and two sons of Monsun: Arcadio, who has compiled a very useful (and under-rated) record as a sire, and the difficult-to-spell Aizavoski, who is off to a very promising start with his first NH performers.
Kilbarry Lodge Stud
Owned by Con O’Keefe, Kilbarry Lodge can be found on the Fermoy side of the outskirts of Waterford. In recent years it has built up a good roster of Jumps stallions headed by the big, impressive son of Mansonnien, Diamond Boy, who is off to a good start with his early runners; Montjeu’s multiple Group 1 winner Joshua Tree, one of the toughest and soundest of his progeny; Martaline’s half-brother Pillar Coral; and the hard-knocking son of the much-missed Jeremy, Success Days.