Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
As one of Ireland’s most westerly points, Valentia Island off the Iveragh Peninsula in the southwest of County Kerry with a population of less than 700 is not a breeding ground for thoroughbreds.
But it has produced a very enthuisastic breeder of thoroughbreds - the now Victorian based Martin Falvey who last weekend cheered home Roll On High (Shamus Award) to victory in the G3 Fred Classic at Eagle Farm.
Not that Martin was on course - “for the bigger races I like to be by myself,” he admitted - “the nerves get the better of me and I am not the best of company.”
“Even when I go to the track (which he intends to do should Roll On High contest the G1 Stradbroke H. in two weeks) I find a spot away from everyone else!”
One share in a horse, then...
Martin did not grow up with horses - though there were always dogs in his life as well as sport; namely football. It took up his weekends but upon moving to Australia at the age of 30 he decided “that I was too old to start again so I found that I had my Saturdays free.”
“So I ended up with a share in a racehorse - then it was two, then three. And all of a sudden I have nine broodmares!”
“So I ended up with a share in a racehorse - then it was two, then three. And all of a sudden I have nine broodmares!” - Martin Falvey
“A big fan” of High Chaparral (Ire) “when I was growing up,” Martin liked the look of a filly by that multiple Group 1-winning high class stallion being syndicated by Grand Syndicates.
A $30,000 purchase at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale, she was named All Highs On Me with Martin forming a syndicate with a couple of friends to buy a share.
All Highs On Me as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“She showed ability but kept incurring these silly little injuries. And one day the email came that she had done herself more mischief and was going to be sold online.”
Placed on Bloodstockauction.com in January 2019, All Highs On Me was secured by Martin for $7,000 - a nice buy considering that she is a three-quarter sister to one of High Chaparral’s best sons, the G1 VRC Derby and G1 Spring Champion S. winner Monaco Consul (NZ).
What a family
And what a family this is, All Highs On Me able to boast amongst her relations the big race winners Brew (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), Horlicks (NZ) (Three Legs {GB}), Military Plume (NZ), Interstellar (NZ), General Nediym, Sealegs (NZ) (Three Legs), Niconero (Danzero), Nicconi, Zip Zip Aray (Bellotto {USA}) and Laelia (NZ) (Oncidium {GB}).
Describing All Highs On Me as “not a typical High Chaparral - small but very good looking, a compact, speedy type,” Martin was keen to send his new mare to a son of Snitzel.
And with the G1 W.S Cox Plate and G1 Australian Guineas winner Shamus Award returning from his stint in the Hunter Valley, he was chosen as All On Highs On Me’s first mate.
Shamus Award | Standing at Rosemont Stud
Arriving on August 22, 2020, All On High’s first foal looked good from the start though she presented a few challenges with her temperament - “she’d kick and she’d bite,” Martin said, noting that said filly got her teeth on to her strapper last weekend!
But Roll On High has ability to go with her determination and her Fred Best victory was her third from just nine starts.
Already the winner of just short of $360,000, she also won the Listed Desirable S. at Flemington last spring - showing ability from her early days.
Roll On High won the Listed Desirable S. at her fourth start | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Pumped from thereon!
“When she had her first start Peter Moody said that despite drawing an outside gate (11 of 12 in a 1300-metre maiden at Sandown) he thought she could win - it was then that we thought she had a bit of ability.”
Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Finishing off strongly for a somewhat unlucky second, Roll On High did not take long to break her maiden, Martin noting that “we have been pumped from thereon!”
It was Martin’s intention to keep Roll On High to race but as is so often the case with breeding and racing horses, he found it all a bit addictive and whilst she was growing he had accumulated more horses.
“I had to feed the habit,” he laughed.
“It was getting a bit costly so I rang Rob Slade who had a look at her and was happy to help syndicate her.”
“It was getting a bit costly so I rang Rob Slade who had a look at her (Roll On High) and was happy to help syndicate her.” - Martin Falvey
One of the horses Martin purchased, bringing in friends from work, has also given him a few thrills - Scuderia (Squamosa) winning five of her 11 starts for the Thomas Carberry stable including four of her last five at Moonee Valley from last October to this March.
In the meantime Martin has bred another three foals out of All Highs On Me; her 2-year-old Near Nelson (Cable Bay {GB}) not disgraced at his first two starts for the Moody and Coleman stable - his breeder confident that he has more to offer.
“He is just very, very immature and is out spelling.”
All Highs On Me’s Alabama Express filly was sold for $8500 last year’s Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale and she currently has a Tagaloa filly who - having been bred on a foal share with the stud - she will head to the yearling sales.
By which time Martin hopes her dam will be a Group 1 producer.
Hands-on breeder
Martin takes care of his horses himself, renting 30 acres at Bellbrae just off the Great Ocean Road between Torquay and Anglesea.
His horses are born and raised at home, returning to spell - Martin hands-on until his youngsters head to the sales or the breakers.
He has other horses in work with Thomas Carberry as well as Lindsay Park and has mares in foal to Farnan and Shamus Award with plans this spring to send mares to Shinzo, So You Think (NZ), Captivant and Prague.
All Highs On Me started her life with Martin at a friend’s farm - “he bought a place at Ballan and I asked him how it was going - he said ‘I’m not making any money’ and I said ‘do you want to make even less and take a horse for me?!’“
And so Martin has taken several friends on his journey to breeding and racing a stakes winner and should she be in the winner’s circle in the Stradbroke there won’t be anyone on course with a bigger smile!
