When did you set up the syndicate, and how did you get involved in the industry?

We set up the Grey Stays Syndicate in 2020 during Covid, I suppose to give us something to look forward to really. We initially leased a horse from Philip (Fenton, trainer) called Secret Cargo, and he won a handicap chase for us in Wexford in July ‘22, so that got things going for the syndicate to give everyone a taste of success.

I would have always gone to point-to-points as a child with my uncle, and my father breeds a few horses as well, so that’s how I got involved. My love for the sport just grew from there. This has been our first time owning a racehorse.

They’re all family and friends in the syndicate, so I think to be able to share that with them is great, we’ve even picked up a few honourary members on the way. It’s also a very social experience. Everyone is busy, you might not necessarily get time to meet up, but at least by having the syndicate, it gives us all gives a chance to catch up and have a day out together.

How did you end up buying One Big Boum?

There’s a story behind that. One of the syndicate members, is a heavy goods mechanic, and he was fixing a tractor for Robert Wade near Middleton, and he saw a few horses in the field.

He knew we were looking for something, so that’s how we came upon him. We bought him in the summer of 2022, we went to look at another horse and ended up buying One Big Boum. Robert and Nicola Wade deserve a lot of thanks for that, he still goes back to them when he’s on his breaks.

He’s about 16.2hh so he’s not the biggest horse, but he has a good engine, and he has a great attitude. He’s definitely still maturing, but he seems to be improving all of the time and, hopefully, he’ll stay going forward. We were really lucky to get him, when we saw the page, we couldn’t believe that we had him.

Philip always knew he had potential, he just had a couple of niggles. He got injured last November in a maiden hurdle in Cork, and Philip has shown good patience with him, like he hasn’t left any stone unturned. He made sure that everything was checked out fully, took his time with him and didn’t rush him, the staff in the yard make sure he’s minded like a baby.

How did you form the partnership with his trainer Philip Fenton?

Philip came recommended by a relation of mine. I think he’s really good for a syndicate, we can call in any time that we want to see the horse, or if he’s doing a piece of work, Philip lets us know well in advance.

It’s a great experience to see him on the gallops doing a piece of work, or at a schooling race and even resting as well. The attention that we get as a syndicate just through communication with Philip is great.

He texted us straight away on the Monday morning after One Big Boum ran to let us know that he was sound. We’re in the loop all the time.

Every time we go to see One Big Boum, the staff in the yard will keep us updated as well, Denise, Laura and Jack do an excellent job looking after the horses in there. They’re always really well turned out and they get great care and attention.

That matters a lot to us, to know our horse is well looked after. Niall Moore and Frank Hayes have done a lot of work with the horse as well, schooling and educating him.

What was going through your head watching him run at Cork?

I think Willie Mullins got a good crack out of the syndicate, he was watching the race in front of us and we lifted the roof off the stand when One Big Boum was coming up the straight.

We were just hoping that he’d stay in front, we knew he had potential, so when he went off in front and set the pace, we just thought that if he stayed there, a couple of his mistakes wouldn’t cost him.

It’s our local track and I think the performance and the ride that Brian (Hayes) gave him as well was great. It was a really good ride, he knew the horse’s strengths and he played to them. I don’t think he got full credit for it at the time. People were saying that he got a freebie out in front, but no one came to catch him either.

As a syndicate, have you considered retirement options for him when the time comes?

It’s not something that we’ve thought about yet, but as a syndicate we’d be making sure that he gets a good home when he’s finished.

A couple of syndicate members have friends or relations that are into show jumping and eventing and, if he’s able for that when he retires, it’s definitely something that we’d like for him to do. It’s important that he has a good home.

What do you think would encourage more people to get involved in the industry?

I think that there should be some incentive to encourage syndicates to get involved, more passes for refreshments at the races, or a reduction in registration fees for syndicates to try and encourage smaller owners.

The fees all add up at the end of the year, no one minds paying for training and for the care of the horses, but the administration fees can just eat into it and make it that little bit more expensive. You’ve got to register your syndicate, register the colours and register your horse in and out of training, all these little pieces, they all add up. It might not affect the bigger owners, but for the smaller owners that you’re trying to bring into the sport, it needs looking at. I think a percentage of the prize money going to the winning breeders is another one. Regardless of the grade of the race, if you breed a winner, you should be rewarded for it. Even if it’s just 2% of the prize money, it could be the difference between some people staying in the industry or not breeding any more.

Have you made plans for One Big Boum going forward?

We haven’t decided anything yet, but we’ll focus on handicap hurdling for now. He normally gets a good break between runs, so he might run again in six to eight weeks. We hope that he’ll jump a fence in the future. I think we’re going to enjoy him. When he had his few set-backs, it was frustrating and now that he’s starting to perform, we just want to enjoy it and take it one step at a time. You just have to have patience with horses, and our last win proves it really. The winners are hard-earned, you’re taking on a lot of big owners and big yards, and to be able to compete is great, but when you win, it makes it all the more special.