THERE were celebrations aplenty at the various McManus family-owned stud farms in Co Limerick following the recent Gold Cup success of Inothewayurthinkin.

Each and every staff member had, in his or her own way, engraved their fingerprints on the horse’s journey from foal to the winner’s enclosure at Cheltenham where he dethroned reigning champion Galopin Des Champs.

It’s been well documented that Inothewayurthinkin was homebred by Noreen McManus. Born on April 4th, 2018 at Islanmore Stud in Croom, he is by Walk In The Park out of Sway, a French-bred mare who achieved blacktype over hurdles in France before being acquired by the McManus operation. She was trained in England by Jonjo O’Neill and won a couple of minor chases before being retired to Rathcannon Stud.

Above: Inothewayurthinkin and his dam Sway are captured on CCTV moments after the future Gold Cup winner was born on April 4th, 2018, at Islandmore Stud

Now aged 19, Sway famously bred two Cheltenham Festival winners in 2024 when full-siblings Limerick Lace and Inothewayurthinkin both triumphed at the meeting for trainer Gavin Cromwell.

Noreen McManus also bred 2012 Gold Cup winner Synchronised and, this year, had another Cheltenham winner in Puturhandstogether, winner of the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

They say teamwork makes the dream work and there is none better at foaling and raising young thoroughbreds than the team at Islanmore and Rathcannon, where Sway is lovingly looked after by Susan Hogan and her five-star team.

caption: Susan Hogan proudly holds the Gold Cup with Islanmore Stud manager Nigel Anderton

Foaled at Islanmore Stud under the watchful and experienced eye of Alan Carey, the Gold Cup winner spent his early days between Islanmore and Ballinacree and Roselawn farms, before being broken-in by Timmy O’Byrne of The Lodge Stud in Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford. The rest is history.

Nigel Anderton, manager of Islanmore Stud, said: “This wouldn’t have been possible without the team of people along the way. They all had an input into this success, most of all the boss, J.P. McManus, and his family in Martinstown, and Sue Ann Foley and her husband Cian in Islanmore, whose foresight and passion made all this possible.

From Susan Hogan and her team in Rathcannon, to Michael Hyde, John O’Brien and their crew in Martinstown, it was a team effort to produce a champion.

“We are very privileged to work with such stock and it’s all the sweeter when they win, especially the major races.”

caption: Alan Carey, foaling assistant, with Susan Hogan at Rathcannon Stud