Tell us about your own history/introduction to the racing industry.

I grew up in Tipperary town and moved to New York in 2003, I developed a keen interest in horses from a young age and have been following racing ever since. I was exposed to it through my mum’s side of the family.

My uncle is trainer Kevin Ryan, who trains in Hambelton in England and my other uncle is David Ryan, who is the Racing manager for Mubarak Al Naemi at Kilfrush Stud in Co Limerick.

I used to love following Kevin’s yard and David’s work. I rode ponies myself whenever I could and spent a lot of time at a riding facility owned by the Merrigan family in Rathanny, they were very good to me. I did my transition year work experience at Tommy Stack’s yard, learning a lot about training and riding in a short space of time.

I wanted to get involved in working with racehorses, but I took another path into the life of construction and ended up in New York for 21 years. I knew someday, I’d like to own horses and that passion for the sport just never leaves you, it’s ingrained in you and I love the industry.

Tell us about the syndicate, how did it start?

The MRC International Racing Syndicate, founded by David Marnane, is all about expanding his racing operation, while bringing the excitement of horse ownership to a global audience.

David’s vision was simple: make racehorse ownership more accessible and fun, inviting people from all walks of life to be part of the thrill of Irish racing. What a global family we’ve become! With shareholders from Dubai, Luxembourg, the USA, France and Great Britain, and of course Ireland, we have members who never had an interest in racing, but do now.

This year’s syndicate is open for new members, and our team is already at the sales purchasing 20 yearlings to go to war with next season!

The beauty of this model is that, as a shareholder, you don’t just have a stake in one horse - you get 20 times the excitement! Imagine following 20 horses through their racing journeys, from their early days getting broken in, to on the track and those edge-of-your-seat finishes.

David’s approach is all about inclusivity and keeping the lines of communication open. We’re not just owners; we’re part of a team, celebrating every victory and sharing every step of the process. It’s more than just ownership - it’s an adventure for us all, and we’re in it together!

How did the relationship with David Marnane come about?

It’s a small world! I would have known David’s brother Con a bit, as he’s friends with my uncle Kevin, and my mum would know Con well too and his late wife Theresa, who unfortunately passed away last year after a short illness.

On one of our trips back from the States, my family stayed at David’s mum’s charming B&B in Bansha. We had such a lovely time there and I instantly clicked with David when we met.

If you’re ever in Tipperary, you absolutely must visit Bansha House. Mary Marnane, the host, is an absolute lady and bakes what’s undoubtedly the best tart in Ireland. It’s the perfect place for top-notch hospitality and a warm, welcoming stay!

Where do you source your horses?

The Marnanes excel at finding top-quality horses at bargain prices. David’s niece, Amy Marnane, along with her dad, Con Marnane, are the dynamic duo behind sourcing yearlings.

Amy’s expertise in pedigrees and her keen eye for a good deal make them a formidable team in the horse-buying world. Tattersalls’ October Book is a particular favourite and a prime hunting ground for them, where they consistently unearth hidden gems.

Sir Yoshi has been a notable horse for you this season, tell us about the experience with him?

Sir Yoshi has been an absolute superstar for us this season. He broke his maiden in Tipperary on soft ground and, since then, he’s been climbing the ranks, stepping up to listed company at Ascot and York.

Now, he’s not the biggest horse in the world, but he’s all speed and heart. That Curragh race was strong, serious depth in the field. We learned that Sir Yoshi is better at five than six furlongs.

He’s a dream to train, always takes everything in his stride, and honestly, he’s the king of the yard, David says. We took him to Royal Ascot for the Windsor Castle Stakes, finishing seventh in a red-hot race won by Kevin’s horse, Ain’t Nobody. We were chuffed with his effort though - he gave it his all. He deserved to go to York for the £100,000 Julia Graves Roses Listed Stakes. David suggested we give it a crack, and Sir Yoshi didn’t disappoint, grabbing third place.

We celebrated it like he won, we couldn’t be prouder of him. The syndicate had a great time at Ascot and York, the champagne was flying and both tracks looked after us massively. With a bit of strengthening and maturing over the winter, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with next year, but this year isn’t over yet. He is entered in a listed race and the Mercury Stakes at Dundalk.

What horses are you looking forward to next season?

All of them, we have a great bunch, and they will all make lovely three-year-olds. We have a beautiful Zoustar colt, Ja’marr, he looks solid.

Our Cracksman colt, East Hampton excites us, he impressed first time out at the Curragh, meeting traffic but closing well in a race where Henri Matisse won, that horse has gone on to win two Group 2 races now.

We have some lovely yearlings entering the yard, who are currently being broken in by head lad, Daniel O’Connell and we can’t wait to get going with them next season for the new instalment of the syndicate, MRC Four.

Have you come across any challenges for owners in the industry?

I think there will always be challenges; it’s really about how you navigate through them. Being part of a syndicate is an amazing experience, as you’re fully involved in everything related to your horses.

However, it’s important that this industry is allowed to grow, not just in Ireland but globally, through expanded international sponsorship and ownership programmes.

I believe there is a lot of room to make it even more attractive.

Fortunately, at MRC we benefit from direct, one-on-one communication with our trainer, with no middle management. David actively encourages members to reach out for updates or simply to engage in conversation.

This personalised approach ensures that members remain well-informed and deeply involved, making the experience more rewarding and engaging. David’s belief in MRC is evident, as he has also invested heavily in each programme and is a large shareholder.