Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
TDN AusNZ took a stroll down memory lane with a number of course graduates of the Irish National Stud program, including New Zealander Patrick Campbell who was a member of the first intake of students.
While the half-century mark is a memorable one, 2021 has also marked the Irish National Stud’s induction into the Irish Hall of Fame.
“Michael Osborne was largely responsible for the program. The Stud was formed in 1946 and the course was officially created in 1971,” Stud Chief Executive Officer, Cathal Beale, said.
“Before that, lots of people came here for training for a week or two and might live in and it was generally people from Ireland, not too many internationals. Michael set up the first live-in course that operated for six months.”
Cathal Beale | Image courtesy of the Irish National Stud
The late Osborne was the Managing Director of the Stud and selected by Sheikh Mohammed to build up his stud farm operations in Ireland and to establish international racing in Dubai.
It was Osborne who, as chief executive of the Emirates Racing Association, supervised the construction of the first Nad Al Sheba grandstand and managed the successful launch of the world´'s richest race, the Dubai World Cup.
A qualified vet, he was also a former director of the Irish Horseracing Authority and Horseracing Ireland as well as a past chairman of Punchestown Racecourse. At the time of his death in 2005, he was chairman of The Curragh Racecourse and training grounds.
“In the very first group in 1971, there were 25 students and one New Zealander – Patrick Felix Campbell and he was surrounded by Irishmen! It was mainly males in the first few years of the course and then developed into an almost 50-50 split between women and men,” Beale said.
“In the very first group in 1971, there were 25 students and one New Zealander – Patrick Felix Campbell and he was surrounded by Irishmen!” – Cathal Beale
On his return to New Zealand, Campbell established a successful stable with Group 1 winners Avedon (NZ) (Famous Star {GB}) and Burletta (NZ) (Three Legs {GB}) among his flagship performers and continues to run a boutique training operation.
“The chap at the Irish Embassy in Wellington at the time was a friend of my father and he made us aware that the Irish Stud was taking cadets,” Campbell said. “I ended up getting accepted and was the only one from the Southern Hemisphere.
“It was first run under the directorship of Dr Michael Osborne and it was great, he was a fine person. We worked on the stud each and every day and had two or three two-hour classes every week. I got invited back for a reunion about 10 years (ago), but didn’t get the opportunity to go.
“It was very different and at that stage they stood four stallions and we used to alternate between the breeding barn, stallion covering and yearling barn. I’ve got great memories, it was a very special time.”
National Defense (GB) at the Irish National Stud | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Campbell also took the opportunity to further his work experience in Ireland.
“I started riding work for Paddy Osborne, a National Hunt trainer, and then I rode a bit of work for Kevin Prendergast and ended up working for Paddy Prendergast for 18 months or so,” he said.
“That’s when Bruce Marsh came over after he won the G1 Melbourne Cup on Silver Knight. Prendergast was looking for a stable rider and Australian riders were doing particularly well in Ireland at the time and he was quite happy to try a New Zealander.”
Yarraman Park Stud’s Arthur Mitchell was another early graduate of the course, having completed the program in 1975.
“I was the first Australian student and it was a very good course and has probably improved dramatically over the years and it’s taken huge up-steps,” he said.
“It’s going back a fair while for me, I’m 65 now so I would have been 22 and think we all had a pretty good time!
“There was a good racehorse called Sallust there in my time and another good one in African Sky. The Stud hadn’t hit the highlights with their hot stallions then, they were both nice-looking, running horses but didn’t do particularly well at stud.”
Arthur Mitchell, Tony Tighe and Craig Rounsefell | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Friends for life
Mitchell has subsequently remained in contact with a number of his fellow graduates.
“Martin Burns still lives in Denman and he used to manage Segenhoe and Wakefield and he owned Murulla. He was on the course with me and so was Christy Grassick of the famous Grassick family was there as well,” he said. “He has been one of the main managers for Coolmore for donkey’s years.”
Arrowfield Stud Bloodstock Manager Jon Freyer is another with fond memories of his time on the course in 1980.
The Irish National Stud class of 1980
“I had a tremendous time there and went through with some people that have remained very good friends, including Georges Rimaud. I deal with him a lot and he manages the Aga Khan’s farms in France and also (bloodstock agent) Hugo Merry is a good friend. It was a great time,” he said.
“While I was there Ahonoora arrived and he was the cheapest horse on the roster and finished up as their number one horse. He arrived to not a lot of fanfare and ended up as a spectacular success.”
“While I was there Ahonoora arrived and he was the cheapest horse on the roster and finished up as their number one horse.” – Jon Freyer
Paul Messara, son of Arrowfield Stud Principal John, crossed the world in 2000 to attend the course and has lasting memories of the course and the doors it opened.
“I had a wonderful time and it was a great learning experience and networking opportunity. I made friends with a lot of the students who have gone off to work in various places and kept in contact with a lot of them,” he said. “It was a marvellous place to share ideas.
“So many of the graduates have gone on to be successful in the industry, it’s been a great stepping stone for a lot of people’s careers."
The late Redoute's Choice and Paul and John Messara | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Indian Ridge (Ire) was the best stallion on the property during Messara’s stay while also resident was Storm Cat’s (USA) son Catrail (USA) and the less successful Croco Rouge (Ire).
“I just remember Croco Rouge because he bit me on the hip,” he said.
“I just remember Croco Rouge because he bit me on the hip.” – Paul Messara
The Stud had planned a major celebration of its milestone this year, but COVID-19 foiled those plans.
“Our intention was to have a big bash and invite everybody to Ireland for the 50th anniversary, but that’s obviously not possible so we do hope to do that in the future,” Beale said.
“It’s an amazing course and been close to 1400 students from more than 30 countries and over 75 from Australia and over 35 from New Zealand.”
The Irish National Stud was this year inducted into the Irish Hall of Racing Fame and at the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Award evening another course graduate, Gordon Cunningham was named as the ITBA recipient of the Wild Geese Trophy, which recognises the overseas success of Irish men and women.
Cunningham owns and operates the successful Waikato thoroughbred nursery, Curraghmore.
Gordon Cunningham at Curraghmore Stud | Image courtesy of Curraghmore Stud
“We were very honoured to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and one of the crowning glories is the nature of the course,” Beale said. “It is always mentioned with the highest of regard and it is probably one of our greatest achievements.”
“We were very honoured to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and one of the crowning glories is the nature of the course.” – Cathal Beale
The aim of the six-month residential course is to educate young people for a career in the thoroughbred industry and many graduates have been prominent in stud farms throughout the world, racehorse training, bloodstock sales, insurance and the media.
It commences in January of each year and runs for the duration of the Northern Hemisphere breeding season.
The Irish National Stud property at Tully, County Kildare, was initially purchased from the Fay family in 1900 by Colonel William Hall Walker, who became the most successful breeder of his era, enjoying his finest hour when King Edward VII led Minoru (GB) (Cyllene {GB}), born and raised at Tully, into Epsom’s winner's enclosure following a famous victory in the 1909 G1 English Derby.
In 1915, the farm and all its stock was gifted to the Crown and became The National Stud under the leadership of Sir Henry Greer. The success continued with the farm producing the winners of all five Classics.
Triple Crown heroine
In 1942, Sun Chariot (Ire) (Hyperion {GB}), born and bred at Tully, earned herself an indelible place in racing history when landing the fillies’ Triple Crown, the 1000 Guineas, Oaks and St Leger, for King George VI.
In 1943, the newly-formed Irish Government took over the land and buildings at an agreed valuation and in 1945 the Irish National Stud Company Ltd. was formed and officially took over the running of the Stud in August, 1946.
It is currently home to stallions Invincible Spirit (Ire), Equiano (Fr), Phoenix Of Spain (Ire), National Defense (GB), Decorated Knight (GB), Dragon Pulse (Ire), Elusive Pimpernel (USA) and Free Eagle (Ire).
The 2021 anniversary intake of students includes Australians Lachlan Pethica, who worked at Yarraman, and Alyssa Pickels and New Zealander Nathan Trumper.
Pethica and Alyssa Pickles were recipients of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Australia and Basil Nolan Jnr Scholarships and Trumper courtesy of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Scholarship.
