Latest news with #JohnMagnier
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Minnie Hauk's Irish Oaks success extends Aidan O'Brien's stunning Group One winning streak
Minnie Hauk's Juddmonte Irish Oaks success at the Curragh on Saturday means that Aidan O'Brien has saddled the winners of 33 per cent of Group One races run in Ireland, Britain and France so far this season. The remarkable tally of 11 top-flight contests before even halfway through the campaign puts the Irish trainer in contention to break his own world record haul of 28 Group/Grade One races in a single season set in 2017. One bookmaker makes O'Brien a 9-2 shot to do just that in what is fast turning into, even by his own stellar standards, a rare display of elite domination. Minnie Hauk was his seventh Classic victory in 2025. The 2-11 favourite became the 16th filly to complete the Epsom-Curragh Oaks double and is a 10-1 favourite for October's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. READ MORE Afterwards, the Coolmore brains trust led by supremo John Magnier debated the correct route to Longchamp for her, either through the Yorkshire Oaks next month or a test over the Arc course and distance in the Prix Vermeille in September. Both contests figure in the 46 top-class races still up for grabs in Europe's three major racing jurisdictions this season. With global options also expanding in the autumn, including at the Breeders' Cup, a new record tally could be on O'Brien's radar. What's certain is that his current mark is equal at the same point as during his momentous 2017 campaign and that the resources he has available to him are unparalleled. Over the weekend O'Brien revealed that his most exciting two-year-old Albert Einstein probably won't race again this season. There are also doubts about the future of the Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Lake Victoria who may be retired. Despite that, if anything, his hold on this season's top races appears to be only tightening. He has indicated the Coronation Cup winner Jan Brueghel will renew Epsom rivalry with the top French horse Calandagan in this Saturday's King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. That will allow him keep in reserve the dual-Derby hero Lambourn for a potential tilt at more Classic glory in September's St Leger at Doncaster rather than take on holder horses in British racing's midsummer highlight. 'At the moment I'd say Jan Brueghel is most likely to go to the King George, with Continuous. Lambourn is still on the boiling pot for it, but I don't think he'll be forced into it by any means, and he is a three-year-old,' O'Brien said. 'Jan Brueghel seems to be in very good form and everyone seems to be very happy with him. I'd imagine the lads might let him go there. 'That would mean Lambourn would have a couple of easy weeks and he might go to the Great Voltigeur, even though he's a Group One winner, and kind of set him up for the Leger. They haven't really decided yet, but reading between the lines that's what could happen,' he added. Almost immediately after the King George is the start of the Goodwood festival, where O'Brien horses are favourites for two of the three Group One contests up for grabs there. Illinois is odds-on for the Goodwood Cup, while the Pretty Polly heroine Whirl tops lists for the Nassau Stakes. In between, Henri Matisse is set to again take on his St James's Palace Stakes conqueror Field Of Gold. There are a handful of Group One prizes up for grabs in Deauville. One horse out of the King George equation is the King Edward VII Stakes winner Amiloc. He hasn't recovered from his Royal Ascot exertions in time to satisfy his trainer Ralph Beckett. 'It's a training decision and Ralph felt he could just do with a little bit more time having had a hard race at Royal Ascot,' said a spokesman for Amiloc's ownership. 'The real racing for this horse will be in the autumn time and Ralph thinks it's a little too quick after his last race. It's nothing more than that and nothing untoward.' Monday evening's domestic action in Ballinrobe is more ordinary fare, but the transformed handicapper Deuteronomy gets a shot at completing four wins in a row. Nicola Burns's mount keeps winning by half a length but has been upped 9lbs for winning at Limerick and has to overcome a wide draw.
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
‘Secret' mobile phone provided to contact John Magnier's rival bidder for Barne Estate, court hears
Barne Estate heir Richard Thomson-Moore has been questioned in court over an alleged 'secret' phone offered to him by a third party so that he could contact, without trace, construction magnate Maurice Regan, a rival bidder to bloodstock billionaire John Magnier for the property. Mr Thomson-Moore told the court on Friday that, after an exclusivity agreement with the Magnier bid expired, he was in contact with Mr Regan on his personal phone anyway and did not understand the reason for the proffered new phone. Mr Magnier is suing Mr Thomson-Moore and Barne over the collapse of the purchase. The estate has been owned by the Thompson-Moore family for generations. Mr Magnier wants the court to enforce the deal he claims he sealed with Mr Thomson-Moore with a €15 million handshake agreement for the 751-acre estate on August 22nd, 2023, at Mr Magnier's Coolmore home. READ MORE The Magnier side has sued the Barne Estate, Mr Thomson-Moore and three companies of IQEQ (Jersey) Ltd group, seeking to enforce the purported deal, which they say had been 'unequivocally' agreed. The Barne defendants say there was never any such agreement, as they needed the consent of the trustees to finalise any deal. Mr Thomson-Moore has told the court that while a 'price' was agreed with Mr Magnier for Barne, a 'deal' was not. After agreeing on €15 million, Barne and the Magniers entered into an exclusivity agreement stipulating that Barne would not permit itself or its representatives to solicit or encourage any expression of interest, inquiry or offer on the property from anyone other than Mr Magnier between August 31st and September 30th, 2023. The trustees who hold the estate initially decided to remain loyal to the Magnier offer and felt a higher offer from Mr Regan could be seen as 'provocative'. After the exclusivity period had ended, the trustees decided to go with Mr Regan's offer of €22.25 million. Mr Regan is not a party to the case. [ Heir of Barne Estate 'shocked' by €50,000 'luck penny' offer from John Magnier Opens in new window ] At the High Court on Friday, Mr Thomson-Moore told Caren Geoghegan SC, for the Magnier side, that he found out the third party was allegedly in regular contact with Mr Regan about the deal only after document discovery prior to the case. Ms Geoghegan said it was her client's case that the third party had been updating Mr Regan on developments in the deal and she read out certain text messages to the court. Ms Geoghegan put it to the witness that the third party had offered Mr Thomson-Moore a 'secret', ready-to-go-phone so that Mr Thomson-Moore could contact Mr Regan without being traced. Mr Thomson Moore said he did not personally receive the phone but that the third party had placed it in his kitchen. Mr Thomson-Moore said he never touched or used the phone. Text messages read out by Ms Geoghegan allegedly showed Mr Regan sending a message to the third party saying 'I think we are in with a chance' and for the third party to keep him 'updated' and to have his 'ear to the ground'. Another message allegedly from the third party to Mr Regan said that the third party had spoken to Mr Thomson-Moore about local estate agent John Stokes, who was dealing with the sale. [ Magnier's Coolmore group branded 'professional bullies' by rival in bitter Barne Estate row Opens in new window ] Ms Geoghegan partially quoted an alleged text from the third party to Mr Regan, saying that Mr Thomson-Moore had allegedly told him: ''the more I think of things the more I think Stokes is a ... derogatory, disparaging word', she said. On September 20th, 2023, she submitted that the third party texted Mr Regan to say that Mr Thomson-Moore had told him, 'everybody thinks it's done but it is far from done'. Mr Thomson-Moore did not deny saying so. Mr Thomson-Moore said that his wife, Anna, had been frustrated by the trustees of Barne not considering one of Mr Regan's offers – of €20 million – and that the family were in discussion of how to let the exclusivity agreement expire in order to 're-set' their approach to the deal now worth 'life-changing money'. Ms Geoghegan submitted that the Thomson-Moores were 'using tax matters' to stall the Magnier deal. 'You can read it that way but we were very concerned about tax,' said Mr Thomson-Moore. The case continues at the High Court before Mr Justice Max Barrett.
BreakingNews.ie
6 days ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Court hears of alleged 'secret' mobile phone to John Magnier's rival bidder for Barne Estate
Barne Estate heir Richard Thomson-Moore has been questioned in court over an alleged "secret" phone offered to him by a third party so that he could contact without trace construction magnate Maurice Regan, a rival bidder to bloodstock billionaire John Magnier for the property. Mr Thompson-Moore told the court on Friday that after an exclusivity agreement with the Magnier bid expired he was in contact with Mr Regan on his personal phone anyway and did not understand the reason for the proffered new phone. Advertisement Mr Magnier is suing Mr Thomson-Moore and Barne over the collapse of the purchase. The estate has been owned by the Thomson-Moore family for generations. Mr Magnier wants the court to enforce the deal he claims he sealed with Mr Thomson-Moore with a €15 million handshake agreement for the 751-acre estate on August 22, 2023, at Mr Magnier's Coolmore home. The Magnier side has sued the Barne Estate, Mr Thomson-Moore and three companies of IQEQ (Jersey) Ltd group, seeking to enforce the purported deal, which they say had been "unequivocally" agreed. The Barne defendants say there was never any such agreement, as they needed the consent of the trustees to finalise any deal. Advertisement Mr Thomson-Moore has told the court that while a "price" was agreed with Mr Magnier for Barne, a "deal" was not. After agreeing on €15 million, Barne and the Magniers entered into an exclusivity agreement stipulating that Barne would not permit itself or its representatives to solicit or encourage any expression of interest, inquiry or offer on the property from anyone other than Mr Magnier between August 31st to September 30th, 2023. The trustees who hold the estate initially decided to remain loyal to the Magnier offer and felt Mr Regan's higher offer could be seen as "provocative". After the exclusivity period had ended, the trustees decided to go with Mr Regan's offer of €22.25 million. Mr Regan is not a party to the case. Advertisement At the High Court today, Mr Thomson-Moore told Caren Geoghegan SC, for the Magnier side, that he only found out the third party was allegedly in regular contact with Mr Regan about the deal after document discovery prior to the case. Ms Geoghegan said it was her client's case that the third party had been updating Mr Regan on developments in the deal, and she read out certain text messages to the court this morning. Ms Geoghegan put it to the witness that the third party had offered Mr Thomson-Moore a "secret", ready-to-go phone so that Mr Thomson-Moore could contact Mr Regan without being traced. Mr Thomson-Moore said that after the exclusivity clause with Coolmore had expired, he was in contact with Mr Regan on his personal phone anyway and did not understand the reason for the proffered new phone. Advertisement Mr Thomson Moore said he did not personally receive the phone but that the third party had placed it in his kitchen. Mr Thomson-Moore said he never touched or used the phone. Text messages read out by Ms Geoghegan allegedly showed Mr Regan sending a message to the third party saying: "I think we are in with a chance" and for the third party to keep him "updated" and to have his "ear to the ground". Another message allegedly from the third party to Mr Regan said that the third party had spoken to Mr Thomson-Moore about local estate agent John Stokes, who was dealing with the sale. Ms Geoghegan partially quoted an alleged text from the third party to Mr Regan, saying that Mr Thomson-Moore had allegedly told him "'the more I think of things the more I think Stokes is' .... a derogatory, disparaging word", she said. Advertisement On September 20th, 2023, she submitted that the third party texted Mr Regan to say that Mr Thomson-Moore had told him, "everybody thinks it's done but it is far from done". Mr Thomson-Moore did not deny saying so. Mr Thomson-Moore said that his wife, Anna, had been frustrated by the trustees of Barne not considering one of Mr Regan's offers - of €20 million - and that the family were in discussion of how to let the exclusivity agreement expire in order to "re-set" their approach to the deal now worth "life-changing money". Ms Geoghegan submitted that the Thomson-Moores were "using tax matters" to stall the Magnier deal. "You can read it that way, but we were very concerned about tax," said Mr Thomson-Moore. The case continues at the High Court before Mr Justice Max Barrett.
Irish Times
17-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Heir of Barne Estate ‘shocked' by €50,000 ‘luck penny' offer from John Magnier
An heir to the 17th-century Barne Estate, who is being sued by John Magnier over a collapsed property deal for the farmland, has told the High Court he was 'shocked' by an 'untoward' offer of 'two envelopes stuffed with money' amounting to €50,000 from the bloodstock billionaire which was meant as a 'luck penny'. Richard Thomson-Moore was giving evidence at the High Court on Wednesday in his defence relating to the failed €15 million agreement. Mr Magnier wants the court to enforce the deal he claims he sealed with Mr Thomson-Moore in an alleged handshake agreement for the 751-acre farm on August 22nd, 2023, at Mr Magnier's Coolmore home. The Magnier side has sued the Barne Estate, Mr Thomson-Moore and three companies of IQEQ (Jersey) Ltd group, seeking to enforce the purported deal, which they say had been 'unequivocally' agreed. The Barne defendants say there was never any such agreement, as they needed the consent of the trustees to finalise any agreement, and subsequently they preferred to sell the estate to billionaire Maurice Regan. Mr Thomson-Moore has told the court that while a 'price' was agreed with Mr Magnier for Barne, a 'deal' was not. After agreeing on €15 million, Barne and the Magniers entered into an exclusivity agreement stipulating that the estate would not permit itself or its representatives to solicit or encourage any expression of interest, inquiry or offer on the property from anyone other than Mr Magnier between August 31st and September 30th, 2023. However, during September 2023, billionaire Maurice Regan offered about €20 million. The trustees, who hold the estate, decided to remain loyal to the Magnier offer and felt the higher offer of Mr Regan could be seen as a 'provocative' one. The court has heard that on September 7th, 2023 – two weeks after Mr Magnier claims he shook hands with Mr Thomson-Moore on the deal for the Barne Estate – Mr Magnier called to Barne with his son, JP. The Thomson-Moores have told the court their estate agent, John Stokes, who had walked out with the Magniers, returned to the house with two brown envelopes given to him by JP containing a total of €50,000 in cash. Mr Thomson-Moore told the court that he did not interrogate Mr Stokes about the purpose of the envelopes and that Mr Stokes explained their offering as a 'luck penny'. A 'luck penny' is an amount of money given by a buyer to the seller after a deal is done to bring good luck. The Magnier side have told the court that the money was a token of 'appreciation' to the Thomson-Moores for letting the Magnier side on to the land before any sale was finalised. The Magnier side were ultimately gazumped by US-based construction magnate Mr Regan, who offered a final €22.25 million, and was made the preferred bidder. Mr Regan is not a party to the case. At the High Court on Wednesday, Mr Thomson-Moore said the delivery of the money to their Barne home caused him 'shock' and said he felt the offer of 'envelopes stuffed with cash' was 'untoward'. The money was later returned by the Thomson-Moores. Mr Thomson-Moore told defence barrister Niall Buckley SC that a guide price of €13.5 million had been advertised by the selling agents, which he thought was underpriced. He believed the property to be worth between €17.5 and €20 million, based on a comparative property in Co Kildare. Mr Thomson-Moore said that Mr Magnier's retort to this valuation was 'slightly hostile', before an offer of €15 million was accepted by the Thomson-Moores at the Coolmore kitchen meeting. Caren Geoghegan SC, for the Magniers, asked Mr Thomson-Moore about lists drawn up detailing the contents of the Barne mansion and asked why there were two lists – one 'complete' list, with a separate incomplete list going to the trustees of the estate. Mr Thomson-Moore said that after the Magnier offer he was in talks organising an auction of the contents of Barne with Mealy's auction house. Ms Geoghegan put it to Mr Thomson-Moore that his intention at this time was to give one list to the trustees that did not disclose all the items in the house. She put it to him that his intent was to not disclose 'high-value items' to the trustees of the estate, which he denied. 'There is no ambiguity about the intention,' said Ms Geoghegan, 'a complete list and then a separate list for trustees.' Mr Thomson-Moore said 'it didn't happen' but added: 'That is what it looks like, though, yes.' The case continues before Mr Justice Max Barrett.
BreakingNews.ie
16-07-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Heir of Barne Estate 'shocked' by €50K brown envelope 'luck penny' offer from John Magnier
The owner of Barne Estate, who is being sued by John Magnier over a collapsed property deal, has told the High Court he was "shocked" by an "untoward" offer of "two envelopes stuffed with money" amounting to €50,000 from the bloodstock billionaire, which was meant as a "luck penny". Richard Thomson-Moore was giving evidence at the High Court relating to the failed €15 million agreement. Advertisement Mr Magnier wants the court to enforce the deal he claims he sealed with Mr Thomson-Moore in an alleged handshake agreement for the 751-acre farm on August 22nd, 2023, at Mr Magnier's Coolmore home. The Magnier side has sued the Barne Estate, Mr Thomson-Moore and three companies of IQEQ (Jersey) Ltd group, seeking to enforce the purported deal, which they say had been "unequivocally" agreed. The Barne defendants say there was never any such agreement, as they needed the consent of the trustees to finalise any agreement, and subsequently they preferred to sell the estate to Mr Regan. Mr Thomson-Moore has told the court that while a "price" was agreed with Mr Magnier for Barne, a "deal" was not. Advertisement After agreeing on €15 million, Barne and the Magniers entered into an exclusivity agreement stipulating that the estate would not permit itself or its representatives to solicit or encourage any expression of interest, inquiry or offer on the property from anyone other than Mr Magnier between August 31st to September 30th 2023. However, during September 2023, billionaire Maurice Regan offered around €20 million. The trustees, who hold the estate, decided to remain loyal to the Magnier offer and felt the higher offer of Mr Regan could be seen as a "provocative" one. The court has heard that on September 7th 2023 - two weeks after Mr Magnier claims he shook hands with Mr Thomson-Moore on the deal for the Barne Estate - Mr Magnier called to Barne with his son, JP. Advertisement The Thomson-Moores have told the court their estate agent, John Stokes, who had walked out with the Magniers, returned to the house with two brown envelopes given to him by JP containing a total of €50,000 in cash - €25,000 in each. Mr Thomson-Moore told the court that he did not interrogate Mr Stokes about the purpose of the envelopes and that Mr Stokes explained their offering as a "luck penny". The Magnier side have told the court that the money was a token of "appreciation" to the Thomson-Moores for letting the Magnier side onto the land before any sale was finalised. The Magnier side were ultimately gazumped by US-based construction magnate Mr Regan, who offered a final €22.25 million and was made the preferred bidder. Advertisement Mr Regan is not a party to the case. At the High Court today, Mr Thomson-Moore said the delivery of the money to their Barne home caused him "shock" and he said he felt the offer of "envelopes stuffed with cash" was "untoward". The money was later returned by the Thomson-Moores. Mr Thomson-Moore told defence barrister Niall Buckley SC that a guide price of €13.5 million had been advertised by the selling agents, which he thought was underpriced, and believed the property to be worth between €17.5 million-€20 million based on a comparator property in Kildare. Mr Thomson-Moore said that Mr Magnier's retort to this valuation was "slightly hostile" before an offer of €15 million was accepted by the Thomson-Moores at the Coolmore kitchen meeting. Advertisement Caren Geoghegan SC, for the Magniers, asked Mr Thomson-Moore about lists drawn up detailing the contents of the Barne mansion and asked why there were two lists - one "complete" list with a separate incomplete list going to the trustees of the estate. Mr Thomson-Moore said that after the Magnier offer, he was in talks organising an auction of the contents of Barne with Mealy's auction house. Ms Geoghegan put it to Mr Thomson-Moore that his intention at this time was to give one list to the trustees that did not disclose all the items in the house. She put it to him that his intent was to not disclose "high-value items" to the trustees of the estate, which he denied. "There is no ambiguity about the intention," said Ms Geoghegan, "a complete list and then a separate list for trustees." Mr Thomson-Moore said "it didn't happen" but added: "that is what it looks like, though, yes". The case continues before Mr Justice Max Barrett.
