How did you get into racehorse ownership?

My father always had the racing on at home of a Saturday and we watched the 2008 Irish 2000 Guineas together when Henrythenavigator stormed clear of New Approach. I followed those two horses throughout their careers, fell in love with the sport and have been involved ever since.

What was your best day at the races and why?

Our best day at the races was by far when Invincible Lia won for the club at Clonmel last year. She had been behind some very good horses in her previous runs, Raymonda at the Curragh and placed fourth behind Seventh Heaven at Dundalk. Willie McCreery found a great spot for her in a three-year-old maiden at Powerstown Park and the rest is history! It was fantastic to be part of the winning experience and we are hungry to taste success again soon.

What is the biggest drawback about being a racehorse owner?

I think it’s the fact that you consistently believe a horse might win a race just because it’s yours.

In your experience, which racecourse in Ireland treats owners the best and why?

I think there are a few who do a super job. Tom Ryan at Naas is very proactive and Eugene Cooney in Clonmel was great to us when we were there; Pat Keogh in Leopardstown is another who is a class act. There are some who are fantastic when you tell them you have a group coming.

Flat or jump racing, which do you prefer and why?

I love the flat, the speed and the acceleration and how the winner of a colts’ race today might be influential in pedigrees for years to come. When it comes to this time of year though it’s hard to not be drawn to the wonderful winter jump racing.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

Communication is key, you need to know where your horse is at – especially when you have a syndicate of owners who are all eager to know what is happening. You also need a trainer who is training plenty of winners. For our club it is also helpful if they have a good track record with fillies.

What improvements would you like to see racecourses in Ireland do for owners?

It might sound like the prawn sandwich brigade á la Roy Keane, but when a horse is at the races I think all members of the owners’ syndicate should be treated to a complimentary meal. Nothing fancy, but a bowl of soup goes a long way.

How do you feel owners are treated when not having a winner?

I think owners are treated reasonably well but there are sometimes issues with syndicates not getting the full benefit that a single owner would receive.

What significance do your colours hold?

Our colours are blue with a green stripe with a star on the cap. The blue and green are a combination of Ireland’s two national colours and the star on the cap is an homage to the founder of the original stud at Tully, Colonel Hall Walker.

How did your syndicate get its name?

Ronseal – it does exactly what it says on the tin!

We have a couple of foals that we breed and we also have a couple of racehorses so we are the Irish National Stud Breeding and Racing Club.

What horses do you currently have in training?

We currently have Divine Approach, a Dawn Approach half-sister to Red Cadeaux who is in training with Michael O’Callaghan. She is learning all the time, she’s had one run and we are looking forward to her three-year-old campaign and trying her over middle-distances.

Have you any horses to look forward to? (i.e. young/unbroken horses)

We have an Invincible Spirit filly yearling out of a stakes-placed mare called Lethal Quality. She is drop dead gorgeous and her full-brother cost half a million last year. She is being broken at the moment and we’re very excited about the future for her.

What’s next on the agenda for the club?

Well, each year, along with our racehorse and foal interests, I also put together a schedule of activities for the members. This year we visited Willie Mullins’ stable, Ballylinch Stud and David O’Meara’s stables when were in York for the Juddmonte International, along with numerous other race days and stud visits. I’m currently looking for ideas for next year and think a trip to Longchamp might be on the cards. We currently have 30 members and a really great group but we’re always on the lookout for new members.

What would help to make Irish racing more competitive for the smaller owner/trainer?

I think the claiming race system works very well in other jurisdictions. The development of more claiming races in the Irish Racing Calendar could definitely help smaller trainers and owners have more chances of success at the racecourse.

I also think more breeding incentives should be brought in so that breeders are being rewarded for the success of the racehorse, rather than just breeding for a once off return in the sales ring.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of becoming a racehorse owner?

I would advise them to join a club or a syndicate like our own, get a taste for it and get to know all the things that can go right and wrong before taking the leap into owning a racehorse outright. You can join our club for just €2,000 and you’ll get a great insight into what racehorse ownership is all about.

It’s Christmas – treat yourself or someone else, you’ll never look back.

Ciarán De Barra was in conversation with Olivia Hamilton