Kevin Barron is part of the C M D Syndicate.

How did you get into racehorse ownership?

I had worked for Garvan Donnelly when he first started training and we remained close friends even after I moved on. I knew he was going over to the Newmarket Horses In Training Sales in October 2019, so I asked him to keep an eye out for a dual-purpose type that might suit a syndicate.

Garvan spotted Final Orders, a Camelot gelding, who he felt would be ideal for that job. He felt that given the horses breeding, he was a horse that would only mature and improve with a bit of time on his side. We went ahead and bought the horse; later getting 10 people together to form a syndicate.

What was your best day at the races and why?

Final Orders winning at the Dublin Racing Festival last Saturday was special. Although the horse had won his previous four starts, he was stepping up in class, taking on the best opposition he had ever raced against.

To be honest, we were in total shock that he won it so well, as beforehand, it looked a wide open, competitive handicap. As the winner of six of his last seven runs, Final Orders has become something of a public horse and his entourage continues to grow from race to race.

There are only 10 of us in the syndicate but with family and friends, the number in the winner’s enclosure post-race far exceeded that. He had also won at Leopardstown on St Stephens Day and that too, was a huge occasion for us, given the large crowds and the fact that the race was covered by RTÉ.

How did your syndicate get its name?

The syndicate is made up of people from Carlow, Meath and Dublin; hence the C M D Syndicate. I knew Simon Donnelly, Anna McArdle, Glen Tormey, John Kirwan, Paddy Ennis and Michael Kiernan from my days in Garristown with Garvan, while Thomas Doyle, Joe Deacon and Luke Treacy are members of my local Naomh Eoin GAA Club.

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

Although we bought Final Orders with the intention of being a dual-purpose horse, National Hunt racing has always been my passion.

I went to school with Patrick Foley and spent my summers and school holidays over at his father Tom’s yard. Danoli, the legendary jumper we had all grown up watching at Cheltenham, was coming to the end of his career but was still in training at the time.

After finishing school, I did a two-year assistant trainers’ course in Naas, being based with Arthur Moore for much of that period. I became very friendly with Garvan Donnelly who worked in the yard, so when he decided to branch out and go training in his own right, I followed him. After a few years, I came home and changed careers, getting into sales but remained in close contact with Garvan.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

As in any walk of life, honesty is the single most important quality in a racehorse trainer. You have to trust your trainer and believe he is always acting in your best interests.

Garvan was always up-front with us when he trained Final Orders and after he retired and we switched the horse to Gavin Cromwell, we found him a pleasure to deal with. In this day and age, communication is another crucial element of the owner-trainer relationship, especially when it comes to syndicates. Gavin is great for sending photos and videos of Final Orders, as well as providing regular updates on his intended targets.

Although thankfully not as important in more recent months, that communication was paramount during lockdown, when we were unable to visit the yard. Again, when it comes to watching the horse work or ride out, Gavin has always been so accommodating and giving of his time.

What do you think of the introduction of Owner Free Days in 2023?

I am all for it. It’s a great idea; anything that gets more people racing has to be beneficial to the sport. In my opinion, owners should be allowed free entry every time they wish to go racing. Without the owner, the whole system would break down. They are the ones who keep the show going.

I think that they should be given more consideration and free entry would certainly go a long way in that regard.

What’s next on the agenda for your horse?

Final Orders is entered in the Arkle at Cheltenham but he will also get an entry in the Grand Annual Chase. Gavin (Cromwell) and his team have done an incredible job in picking his races to date, so we leave everything up to them really. With a horse that has won six races this season, including his last five starts, it would be hard to argue with them!

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

I’d love to see at least one lower grade race put on, on the bigger cards. The C M D Syndicate were lucky enough to be represented at Leopardstown on both St Stephen’s Day and the Dublin Racing Festival, two of the biggest days in the Irish calendar.

We are only a small syndicate but it was an incredible experience to be involved - I know we are living all syndicate members dream at the moment.

On the bigger race days, cards are almost entirely made up of graded races and premier handicaps but it would be nice to have the occasional lower grade that gives syndicate and smaller owners the opportunity to be involved.

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

Absolutely; go for it. I’d say to start off in a small way, don’t go all in. Like us, maybe in a syndicate with 10 or 20 people. That way, you are getting a feel for ownership without carrying too much of the cost.

I’d also advise any potential newcomer to be patient as it may not happen overnight. Final Orders needed time to develop and mature - it is only in the last 12 months, since he went chasing that he is starting to show his full potential.

Since our horse went on his winning run, we have really enjoyed the journey and celebrated his success. I remarked to a fellow syndicate member at the weekend that I wouldn’t have experienced such pleasure if I owned Final Orders on my own.

Sharing in the highs and lows of owning a racehorse is something that is best experienced as part of a syndicate. Certainly, for those dipping their toe in the water for the first time, I would advise doing so as part of a larger group.

Kevin Barron was in converstation with John O’Riordan