TWO weeks ago I started up my own bloodstock agency, Lynch Bloodstock; having always been destined to work within the industry. It is a particularly exciting time for me, as I build new contacts and attempt to forge a successful career, in what is a very competitive business.

I have always had a great interest in anything to do with horses. I started riding from about the age of six. I competed in pony club events, showjumping and did plenty of hunting.

I grew up on my family farm in Ballinahown, Fermoy, Co Cork. We always kept a few broodmares.

It started off with the jumping mares Cloughoola Lady and Mattew’s Rose. They did well producing good horses called the Pharside, Skippers Cleuch and Skippers Brig. It was through watching these good jumpers that my interest grew in racing. We then started breeding flat mares in Erne Project and Maritana. Erne Project produced Beaver Patrol.

Following his career was a great buzz as he won a good two-year-old sales race and went on to be a solid group-performing sprinter. Maritana was another gem. She produced Close To You, who won the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

With the success of the two mares, my parents bought a third. Her name was Hoity Toity and she produced Lillie Langtry who won two Group 1s including the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown and has since gone on to produce the multiple Group 1 winner and champion Minding.

Erne Project, Hoity Toity and Maritana made up the broodmare band at the time and following their stock and success fuelled my interested to work in the horse industry.

During secondary school I worked for various horse farms and consigners including Grove Stud, Corrin Stud and Castletown Stud. I was truly bitten by the racing bug.

After finishing my Leaving Certificate, I studied Business and Law in UCD. I spent the summers getting experience at Brendan and Vanessa Holland’s Grove Stud. Business and Law was an interesting university degree and I really enjoyed the course but I always felt that I wanted to get back into racing. James Hanly of Ballyhimikin Stud had told me about the Darley Flying Start and I applied as soon as the applications opened. The two-year graduate programme opened my eyes to the international bloodstock industry.

I got to work for and with some great people and I made friends for life on the course. I had time working and studying in Ireland, England, America, Australia and Dubai where we looked at many facets of the racing.

It included three different work placements where I worked for American trainer Eddie Kennelly, Vinery Stud in Australia, and Marco Botti coupled with Tim Jones who was racing manager for Andrew Tinkler while in the UK. Upon graduation from the course I joined Lillingston Bloodstock.

I have worked for Luke Lillingston for the last five years. Luke gave me the opportunity to travel, learn and work alongside him. We bought many good horses such as Madam Dancealot, Sruthan, Keenes Royal (dam of Ivawood), Lady Penko, Barleysugar (Del Mar Stakes winner) and jumps stallions Mount Nelson and Hillstar.

PEDIGREES

I would work daily from the offices at Mount Coote Stud where we would follow racing very closely analysing form and pedigrees. I also worked the yearling sales, breeding stock sales and horses in training sales.

We focused on buying quality horses for our clients. I really enjoyed my time at Lillingston Bloodstock and working alongside Luke. It gave me a solid foundation for starting my own agency as I learned a lot about conformation, pedigrees, racing form and quality service.

I also learned that integrity and reputation are vital components to doing business and I will endeavour to bring these traits to my bloodstock agency.

I have set up my office, which will be based in Fermoy, Co Cork. I will focus on various agency work, including the foreign horses-in-training market, purchase and management of bloodstock as well offering advice on other racing and breeding aspects.

On the breeding side, I feel I can offer clients solid and information-driven insights into matings, sales advice and mare purchase. The dream would be to manage major international breeding clientele. My international racing and breeding knowledge, coupled with a good set of contacts will give me wide ranging scope when advising on investments in breeding and racing horses. If anyone would like any help with bloodstock matters I am open for business! I am looking forward to the challenges ahead.

Barry Lynch was in conversation with John O’Riordan