Latest news with #GigginstownHouseStud
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Michael O'Leary sells six horses as he cuts National Hunt squad
Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud sold six of their horses at the Tattersalls Online August Sale this past week, including Punchestown Festival winner Harsh. The versatile performer and 129-rated chaser was purchased for 30,000 guineas by Dan Astbury and Mickey Bowen, while point-to-point and hurdles winner Machismo was bought for 18,000 guineas by DP O'Dwyer Bloodstock and Gary Hamner Racing. St Cuthbert's Cave, a bumper and hurdles winner, was sold for 17,000 guineas, Butchers Bill, winless from eight races under rules, went for 11,000, while Lakota Blue and Masterboy Davis went for 8,500 and 5,500 respectively. Gigginstown House Stud's Eddie O'Leary, brother of Ryanair boss Michael, said: 'Following on from last year's success, we were delighted to support the Tattersalls Online August Sale again. The team do a fantastic job promoting the sale. They made it a seamless process and we look forward to using the platform again.' Elsewhere, Cristalino was secured for 80,000 guineas by leading Irish stud farm Tally-Ho Stud. Consigned by Amo Racing Stables, the well-bred filly attracted multiple bidders from both sides of the Irish Sea. The daughter of legendary sire and broodmare sire Fastnet Rock makes an exciting addition to the Tally-Ho broodmare band being a full sister to dual Group 2 winner and Group 1 placed Poker Face and dual Group 3 placed Star Devine. She is out winning Galileo mare Stars At Night, a winning half-sister to Group 1 1000 Guineas and Irish Oaks winner Blue Bunting. Amy Drummond, Head of Operations at Amo Racing, said following the sale: "The filly retained value to us with her pedigree but she wasn't quite what we hoped for on the track so we're delighted that she's gone to Tally-Ho, who also stand the stallions Persian Force and King of Steel for us." She added: 'It was a long time until the next live sale and the online sales are such a handy outlet. They're very easy to use and we've been lucky selling on the platform in the past. We had a few viewings for the filly in the yard and the whole process was so simple; she could continue her daily routine here without interruption.'
Irish Independent
11-08-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Wexford jockey Seán Flanagan back from Oz for home wins
Double success just three days after finishing fourth in Australian Grand National Hurdle Altimara and Donagh O'Connor win for Ross O'Sullivan at Leopardstown on Thursday. Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post The Jordan Gainford-ridden Laurie Blue won the opening division of the two-mile maiden hurdle at Roscommon on Tuesday. Owned by Diane Flanagan and trained by Eamonn Delany, the 4/1 chance made much of the running and although headed approaching the final hurdle, the seven-year-old battled back to beat John Nallen's 5/4 favourite Firebrand by two lengths. Seán Flanagan finished fourth in the Australian Grand National Hurdle three days earlier and he arrived back home in time to ride two winners at Wexford on Wednesday. The six-year-old Ashdale Flyer gave the local jockey his first success of the afternoon when winning the two-mile three-furlong beginners' chase. The Diarmuid Hogan-owned 33/1 chance, trained by Jessica Harrington, wore down Ian Donoghue's front-running 6/1 shot West Away close to the finish to score by a length. Flanagan doubled up on the Martin Hassett-trained seven-year-old Bynx in the two-mile handicap chase. The BTF Racing Club-owned 7/2 chance led four fences out and was clear before the last to win by an easy seven lengths from Henry de Bromhead's 4/1 shot Itwasfate. Eoin Staples continues to make a name for himself and he was on the mark again when partnering the Donncha Duggan-trained six-year-old Ballykinlar to take the two and a quarter-mile rated novice hurdle at Sligo on Thursday. The 7/2 chance, in his trainer's own colours, led after the second-last hurdle and went clear to win by five lengths from Gordon Elliott's 15/2 shot Chortal. Donagh O'Connor gave trainer Ross O'Sullivan his second winner of the week as the Yvonne Lavin-owned Altimara took the seven-furlong handicap at odds of 13/2 co-favourite at Leopardstown on Thursday. The four-year-old led inside the final furlong to beat John McConnell's 7/1 shot Shelbourne Flyer by a length. Conor Stone-Walsh was among the winners at Wexford on Friday evening where he partnered the Ian Donoghue-trained five-year-old Small Town Hero to take the second division of the three-mile handicap hurdle. Owned by the Kilkenny Racing Syndicate, the 9/4 favourite made all the running and went clear form the second-last hurdle to win by an easy nine lengths from Tim Doyle's 16/1 shot No Fussing. J.J. Slevin landed a Sunday winner in the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede colours as the 6/1 chance Dramatic License landed the two and three-quarter-mile maiden hurdle at Downpatrick. The five-year-old left it late but got up in the final strides to beat Edward and Partick Harty's 11/4 chance Cut The Rope by a neck. The previous week's Galway Festival saw Seán O'Keeffe get off the mark and give Willie Mullins his third winner when leading home a 1-2 for the stable on Gold Dancer in the Grade 3 Guinness Open Gate Brewery Novice Chase on the Thursday. Owned by Gigginstown House Stud, the 7/1 chance came with a late challenge and headed the Paul Townend-ridden front-running 85/40 favourite Westport Cove close to the finish to score by two and a half lengths. Conditional jockey Eoin Staples landed his first Galway Festival success when partnering the Gavin Cromwell-trained Come On The Lads to take the two-mile one-furlong handicap hurdle on the Saturday. The 22/1 joint-outsider of the 15-runner field came from off the pace and despite not getting the clearest of runs in the straight, he got up on the line to beat Emmet Mullins' 7/2 favourite Toll Stone by a head. Fixtures: Gowran Park – Wednesday, August 13 (first race 5.05 p.m.); Cork – Thursday, August 14 (first race 5.22 p.m.); Tramore – Thursday, August 14 (first race 5.05 p.m.); Tramore – Friday, August 15 (first race 5 p.m.); Dundalk – Friday, August 15 (first race 1.45 p.m.); Curragh – Saturday, August 16 (first race 1.42 p.m.); Tramore – Saturday, August 16 (first race 5 p.m.); Tramore – Sunday, August 17 (first race 2.30 p.m.).
Irish Daily Mirror
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Rachael Blackmore described as an 'unintentional trailblazer' and 'pioneer'
Rachael Blackmore's professional riding career stretched to a little over 10 years. But she bows out leaving few big-race boxes unticked. Daughter of a dairy farmer and a school teacher, Blackmore became an unintentional trailblazer as she racked up an ever-expanding list of firsts during what has been an exceptional time in the weighing room. She had to earn her own leg-up on the pony racing circuit which has seen so many before her cut their teeth. But she also competed in other equestrian events and studied for a degree in equine science at the University of Limerick, with her mother, Eimir, encouraging her to pursue her studies as she felt a full-time riding career was unlikely. Blackmore rode her first amateur winner for John 'Shark' Hanlon at Thurles in February 2011, and it was he who encouraged her to make the leap. He provided her with a first professional victory, too, at Clonmel on September 3, 2015. By her own admission, Blackmore was an 'extremely average' amateur and felt the best way to change her outlook was to turn professional in search of more rides and in turn more success. Her hardworking attitude was duly rewarded when she was crowned champion Irish conditional in 2017 – her first first – a year which would prove pivotal as having ridden regularly for Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud, his racing manager and brother, Eddie, recommended Blackmore to trainer Henry de Bromhead while in the back of a taxi on the way to Aintree. And so one of racing's most successful partnerships was born. The duo enjoyed a plethora of big-race success together, but Blackmore's headline victories can be distilled to three horses to hail from the Knockeen yard – Honeysuckle, A Plus Tard and Minella Times. That is not to demean the likes of other Festival heroes such Captain Guinness, Bob Olinger, Envoi Allen, Quilixios et al or any of Blackmore's other glories, it just that particular trio has obliged on the very grandest of stages. Her relationship with Honeysuckle spanned the first of the mare's 19 races to her last, with De Bromhead describing the duo as 'a perfect storm' of Blackmore's brilliance and Honeysuckle's 'deadly' talent. Their Champion Hurdle triumph in 2021 marked a breakthrough for a female rider in a Festival showpiece, though De Bromhead was quick to underline that Blackmore's ability should not be viewed in gender terms – a sentiment echoed by the rider herself. She said at the time: 'There's no deal about it. If you want to be a jockey, you can be a jockey. Drive on.' That was to become her theme as she continued to smash down the barriers, not least when achieving worldwide fame via Minella Times' Grand National victory, exclaiming: 'I don't feel male or female – I don't even feel human! This is unbelievable.' It perhaps speaks volumes that by the time Blackmore won the Cheltenham Gold Cup aboard A Plus Tard the following year, while her sex remained the headline in the news pages, you had to read a few paragraphs down in the racing section before the fact it was a first win for a female rider was even mentioned. Blackmore was merely seen by those in the know as one of the best in the weighing room, end of discussion. The attention that went with superstar status did not always sit well with Blackmore, who is not one to naturally put herself forward, preferring to do her talking on the track. Her mother hailed her determination and humility, adding: 'Despite the successes, Rachael remains true to herself. It's no good having success if you aren't a decent human being'. Indeed, De Bromhead found Blackmore a huge support following the tragic death of his 13-year-old son, Jack, in a pony racing accident in September 2022. He said: 'To see her around when we had our tragedy, around the children and with their friends and all of us – she's an incredible person apart from being a brilliant jockey.' There was hardly a dry eye in the house when Honeysuckle signed off her fairytale career with Mares' Hurdle success just six months after the accident and Blackmore's first thought was for Jack after crossing the line, on what was a hugely emotional day all around. It would be fair to say Blackmore has become a fan favourite, too, with no better illustration than the support that saw her 2023 Grand National mount Ain't That A Shame sent off at just 10-1 despite having only won a moderate beginners' chase and his owner Brian Acheson declaring him to be 'useless'. An inspiration to plenty of young racing fans, whether she enjoys the tag or not, Blackmore bows out as a genuine game changer.
Glasgow Times
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Blackmore retires a pioneer who broke new ground
Daughter of a dairy farmer and a school teacher, Blackmore became an unintentional trailblazer as she racked up an ever-expanding list of firsts during what has been an exceptional time in the weighing room. She had to earn her own leg-up on the pony racing circuit which has seen so many before her cut their teeth. But she also competed in other equestrian events and studied for a degree in equine science at the University of Limerick, with her mother, Eimir, encouraging her to pursue her studies as she felt a full-time riding career was unlikely. Blackmore rode her first amateur winner for John 'Shark' Hanlon at Thurles in February 2011, and it was he who encouraged her to make the leap. He provided her with a first professional victory, too, at Clonmel on September 3, 2015. Grand National glory gave Blackmore global fame (Tim Goode/PA) By her own admission, Blackmore was an 'extremely average' amateur and felt the best way to change her outlook was to turn professional in search of more rides and in turn more success. Her hardworking attitude was duly rewarded when she was crowned champion Irish conditional in 2017 – her first first – a year which would prove pivotal as having ridden regularly for Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud, his racing manager and brother, Eddie, recommended Blackmore to trainer Henry de Bromhead while in the back of a taxi on the way to Aintree. And so one of racing's most successful partnerships was born. The duo enjoyed a plethora of big-race success together, but Blackmore's headline victories can be distilled to three horses to hail from the Knockeen yard – Honeysuckle, A Plus Tard and Minella Times. That is not to demean the likes of other Festival heroes such Captain Guinness, Bob Olinger, Envoi Allen, Quilixios et al or any of Blackmore's other glories, it just that particular trio has obliged on the very grandest of stages. Honeysuckle and Blackmore were a match made in heaven (David Davies/Jockey club) Her relationship with Honeysuckle spanned the first of the mare's 19 races to her last, with De Bromhead describing the duo as 'a perfect storm' of Blackmore's brilliance and Honeysuckle's 'deadly' talent. Their Champion Hurdle triumph in 2021 marked a breakthrough for a female rider in a Festival showpiece, though De Bromhead was quick to underline that Blackmore's ability should not be viewed in gender terms – a sentiment echoed by the rider herself. She said at the time: 'There's no deal about it. If you want to be a jockey, you can be a jockey. Drive on.' That was to become her theme as she continued to smash down the barriers, not least when achieving worldwide fame via Minella Times' Grand National victory, exclaiming: 'I don't feel male or female – I don't even feel human! This is unbelievable.' Rachael Blackmore celebrates aboard Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard (David Davies/PA It perhaps speaks volumes that by the time Blackmore won the Cheltenham Gold Cup aboard A Plus Tard the following year, while her sex remained the headline in the news pages, you had to read a few paragraphs down in the racing section before the fact it was a first win for a female rider was even mentioned. Blackmore was merely seen by those in the know as one of the best in the weighing room, end of discussion. The attention that went with superstar status did not always sit well with Blackmore, who is not one to naturally put herself forward, preferring to do her talking on the track. Her mother hailed her determination and humility, adding: 'Despite the successes, Rachael remains true to herself. It's no good having success if you aren't a decent human being'. Honeysuckle's perfect farewell sparked emotional scenes at Cheltenham in 2023 (Tim Goode/PA) Indeed, De Bromhead found Blackmore a huge support following the tragic death of his 13-year-old son, Jack, in a pony racing accident in September 2022. He said: 'To see her around when we had our tragedy, around the children and with their friends and all of us – she's an incredible person apart from being a brilliant jockey.' There was hardly a dry eye in the house when Honeysuckle signed off her fairytale career with Mares' Hurdle success just six months after the accident and Blackmore's first thought was for Jack after crossing the line, on what was a hugely emotional day all around. It would be fair to say Blackmore has become a fan favourite, too, with no better illustration than the support that saw her 2023 Grand National mount Ain't That A Shame sent off at just 10-1 despite having only won a moderate beginners' chase and his owner Brian Acheson declaring him to be 'useless'. An inspiration to plenty of young racing fans, whether she enjoys the tag or not, Blackmore bows out as a genuine game changer.
Irish Independent
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Rachael Blackmore retires as a pioneering trailblazer who broke new ground
Daughter of a dairy farmer and a school teacher, Blackmore became an unintentional trailblazer as she racked up an ever-expanding list of firsts during what has been an exceptional time in the weighing room. She had to earn her own leg-up on the pony racing circuit which has seen so many before her cut their teeth. But she also competed in other equestrian events and studied for a degree in equine science at the University of Limerick, with her mother, Eimir, encouraging her to pursue her studies as she felt a full-time riding career was unlikely. Blackmore rode her first amateur winner for John 'Shark' Hanlon at Thurles in February 2011, and it was he who encouraged her to make the leap. He provided her with a first professional victory, too, at Clonmel on September 3, 2015. By her own admission, Blackmore was an "extremely average" amateur and felt the best way to change her outlook was to turn professional in search of more rides and in turn more success. Her hardworking attitude was duly rewarded when she was crowned champion Irish conditional in 2017 - her first first - a year which would prove pivotal as having ridden regularly for Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud, his racing manager and brother, Eddie, recommended Blackmore to trainer Henry de Bromhead while in the back of a taxi on the way to Aintree. And so one of racing's most successful partnerships was born. The duo enjoyed a plethora of big-race success together, but Blackmore's headline victories can be distilled to three horses to hail from the Knockeen yard - Honeysuckle, A Plus Tard and Minella Times. That is not to demean the likes of other Festival heroes such Captain Guinness, Bob Olinger, Envoi Allen, Quilixios et al or any of Blackmore's other glories, it just that particular trio has obliged on the very grandest of stages. Her relationship with Honeysuckle spanned the first of the mare's 19 races to her last, with De Bromhead describing the duo as "a perfect storm" of Blackmore's brilliance and Honeysuckle's "deadly" talent. Their Champion Hurdle triumph in 2021 marked a breakthrough for a female rider in a Festival showpiece, though De Bromhead was quick to underline that Blackmore's ability should not be viewed in gender terms - a sentiment echoed by the rider herself. ADVERTISEMENT She said at the time: "There's no deal about it. If you want to be a jockey, you can be a jockey. Drive on." That was to become her theme as she continued to smash down the barriers, not least when achieving worldwide fame via Minella Times' Grand National victory, exclaiming: "I don't feel male or female - I don't even feel human! This is unbelievable." It perhaps speaks volumes that by the time Blackmore won the Cheltenham Gold Cup aboard A Plus Tard the following year, while her sex remained the headline in the news pages, you had to read a few paragraphs down in the racing section before the fact it was a first win for a female rider was even mentioned. Blackmore was merely seen by those in the know as one of the best in the weighing room, end of discussion. The attention that went with superstar status did not always sit well with Blackmore, who is not one to naturally put herself forward, preferring to do her talking on the track. Her mother hailed her determination and humility, adding: "Despite the successes, Rachael remains true to herself. It's no good having success if you aren't a decent human being". Indeed, De Bromhead found Blackmore a huge support following the tragic death of his 13-year-old son, Jack, in a pony racing accident in September 2022. He said: "To see her around when we had our tragedy, around the children and with their friends and all of us - she's an incredible person apart from being a brilliant jockey." There was hardly a dry eye in the house when Honeysuckle signed off her fairytale career with Mares' Hurdle success just six months after the accident and Blackmore's first thought was for Jack after crossing the line, on what was a hugely emotional day all around. It would be fair to say Blackmore has become a fan favourite, too, with no better illustration than the support that saw her 2023 Grand National mount Ain't That A Shame sent off at just 10-1 despite having only won a moderate beginners' chase and his owner Brian Acheson declaring him to be "useless". An inspiration to plenty of young racing fans, whether she enjoys the tag or not, Blackmore bows out as a genuine game changer.
