Information
Ado McGuinness
Address: Hayestown House, Lusk, Co. Dublin,
Tel: 01 8430452 | Mob: 086 2578937
Web: adomcguinnessracing.com
Email: mcguinness.ado@gmail.com
Twitter: @adomcguinness1
Numbers: 40
Jockeys: I don’t have a stable jockey, but Cian MacRedmond has slotted in very well as my apprentice and I’ve been delighted with him. Gavin Ryan has been very lucky for us, and Ronan Whelan and Colin Keane ride for us too when available.
ADO McGuinness would be the first to admit that top hat and tails is not his regular day-to-day attire, but the Dublin-based trainer will send his first runners to Royal Ascot this year, on the back of what was a stellar campaign in 2020.
McGuinness won three premier handicaps last year, including two of the three ‘premiers’ at the Galway Festival, and later on in the campaign, he saddled his first stakes winner.
His assistant Stephen Thorne has helped source a lot of the better horses in the yard and McGuinness sent three horses over to Qatar and Saudi Arabia earlier in the year, with Bowerman the principal earner that weekend.
“We had a great year in 2020 and we have a very nice team of horses – the best we’ve had by a long way. That is down to having a brilliant team of owners and whenever we have sourced what we think are good horses, we have people there who will buy them and that gives you great confidence,” stated McGuinness.
“We do a lot of homework and Stephen does most of that. He runs a lot of the syndicates and we have the best of people as owners. They have stuck by us during Covid, and they just can’t wait to get back racing,” he added.
“Galway was brilliant last year and to win those two big races with Salstonstall and Current Option was massive. The only downside was that their owners, the Dooleys, weren’t there to celebrate. They are planning another week down there this year – they love the place.”
Ado is in the process of adding new blood to the yard and is seeking new owners. He is welcoming anyone who would like to get in touch to form new syndicates catering for all budgets to buy at the horses in training sale at Newmarket in July.
Happy hunting ground
“That has been a happy hunting ground for us. Current Option, Bowerman, Laugh A Minute and Saltonstall were all bought at the sales and they have all won stakes races since.
“The high level of prize money that horses can run for over here means that, when you win a big one, you have a very good chance of a return. We never won a stakes race until last year, and we have since won five of them with five different horses.”
“I’m training a long time now but you need the horses to compete and last year we had the horses and they delivered. It was just very satisfying for everyone here, in particular, all my staff who are brilliant and now we know that when we have the horses, we can deliver.”
He continued: “Now that we have had a taste for that, we want more. We want to buy horses to travel to the likes of Royal Ascot and later in the season, to Dubai, Qatar and Saudi – we now know the kind of horses that you need to be competitive.
“They are not cheap, but if we can get enough people to get involved, you have a real chance. The prize money in Saudi and Qatar is incredible and it was a brilliant experience over there earlier in the year.”
“I love a winner everywhere and I get as good a kick out of a winner of a 45-65 in Bellewstown or Dundalk. We will never turn away a horse and those horses are our bread and butter. We can buy horses for those races as well as the bigger races. The more winners you have gives you confidence.”
He added: “What we’d like to do is to try and form new syndicates to buy those good-class horses that will compete at a high level in Ireland and England. Then you can travel those horses for those big money races during the winter. It’s an ambitious plan, but last year gave us all great confidence that we can do that successfully. So if anyone wants to get involved they can give me a call, or drop us an email.”
“Stephen is great at running the syndicates. He is always updating the members and once we know how many people we can bring in, we can then buy to order and buy horses for specific races.
“We try and make the whole experience fun and enjoyable. I am a firm believer that if you don’t ask, you won’t get. We have expanded the yard and we have all the facilities that we need here.
“We can take the horses away to the Curragh when we need to and, for those good horses with plenty of ability who perhaps have gone a bit stale, we have the beach just down the road, which has proved to be invaluable for all the horses. I love it too!”
A Case Of You
3yo b c (311-101)
Hot Streak - Karjera
Gary Devlin
We think he is a very good horse. I was impressed by him when he won under his group penalty at Naas and the plan is that he’ll go to Ascot for the Commonwealth Cup.
We tried him over seven at Leopardstown in the Guineas Trial but he was keen that day and it’s best to ignore that run. I think he’ll improve for Naas as Ronan said that he took a blow that day. He was very impressive when he beat Logo Hunter and Mooneista at Dundalk.
He likes an ease but he was very happy at Dundalk when he won. We might try him over seven again at some stage but he has been in great form since Naas and he’ll remain over sprint trips for the time being. The Irish three-year-old sprinters look a nice bunch this year so he’s entitled to take his chance at Ascot.
Ablah
3yo b f (14-4332004)
Air Force Blue - Here Comes Lucinda
Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited
She is a bit of a tricky customer. She won earlier in the year but she has disappointed us a little since then. I think a mile around Galway will suit her and I think she’ll win again. She handles Dundalk and an ease in the ground.
Aussie Valentine
10yo b g (50568-3059)
Aussie Rules - Love Valentine
Nigel O’Hare
He has been a great old servant and I’d say there is a chance that he could be retired if he wins again. He has dropped back down to a decent mark and there is another day in him. He just needs things to drop right for him. He is owned by a new client in the yard, Nigel O’Hare, and I’d love the horse to get his head in front, as Nigel loves the game.
Bader Ginsburg
3yo b f (500-005)
Elzaam - Dream Craft
Mrs A Kennedy
She will stay in her own age group as she is so low in the ratings and it is hard to get her into races. She is very honest and I loved the way that she stayed at it the last day. She likes a little ease in the ground. I can see her being competitive in her own grade.
Beau Amir
2yo b c
Cable Bay - Spectacular Show
Total Recall Racng
He has yet to run but we like him. There is an auction maiden for him in the next month and I can see him being competitive in those types of races. His owners have been very lucky and I think they have a nice horse on their hands.
Betrayed
3yo b f (4757-21177)
Lethal Force - Omaha Gold
Gary Devlin & Ms Hazel McGuinness
We’ll drop her in class and wait for the ground to dry out before she runs again. She was a bit disappointing at Cork but the ground was too soft for her that day and once she has good ground and slightly lesser company, she’ll be fine. She has won twice for us. I can see her heading to the sales later this year.
Bowerman
7yo b g (1212731-196)
Total Recall Racing Club
Dutch Art - Jamboretta
He has been a star of a horse for us. He has won a Lincoln and he won a huge pot for us in Qatar earlier this year. He has the option of the Glencairn at Leopardstown or we might wait for a race on Derby weekend, but the lads are very keen to go to Ascot for the Royal Hunt Cup and that is what we are looking at for him. He’ll run somewhere beforehand.
He got a little bit jarred in Qatar – it was very quick over there and Ronan was brilliant on him that day. He has just taken a little bit of time, but there are plenty of days left in him. He likes fast ground, but it was very quick over there. He will be on his travels later this year and there is a stakes race for him at Dundalk later in the year for him too.
Casanova
5yo b g (86/300009)
Frankel - Karen’s Caper
Dooley Thoroughbreds
We are getting there with him. He ran a nice race the last day and is dropping down the ratings. He likes a little ease in the ground. The mile around Galway might just suit a horse like him.
Current Option
5yo b g (/0201151-424)
Camelot - Coppertop
Dooley T’breds & Shamrock T’breds & B T O’Sullivan
He has been a great horse for us but he’s finding it hard at the minute, as he has his group penalty to carry at this time of the year. At out-and-out seven-furlong horse, he will be competitive in all those listed/group races.
He was second in the Gladness Stakes. He’ll run away for the summer and the Concorde Stakes at Tipperary is the ideal race for him in October. He handles any ground.
Dream Today
6yo b g (30421-90200)
Dream Ahead - Macheera
Shamrock Thoroughbreds
He was unsuited by the soft ground at the Curragh the last day and I think going around a bend will suit him, as will better ground. I think six or seven will be fine for him and he might go to Listowel at the end of the month. Whether he gets seven around Galway, I am not sure, but he’ll be on the team for there too.
Eglish
4yo b f (-02864275)
Heeraat - Emperatriz
Shamrock Thoroughbreds
She has been a great little filly for us. She is on a little break at the minute, and she’ll be back for the second half of the year for the grass and the all-weather. She is very reliable and consistent, but the handicapper probably has a grip of her at the minute. She must have fast ground.
Faraah
3yo b f (5-7500)
Awtaad - Hi Katriona
Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited
She is a nice filly and is another that will appreciate fast ground. She didn’t see out the six on soft ground at Sligo but she’ll be winning soon once she gets better ground.
Godhead
5yo b g (/113-30000)
Charm Spirit - Hello Glory
Shamrock Thoroughbreds & Bart O’Sullivan
He ran a nice race the last day and is dropping down the ratings. Seven on good ground around Galway might suit him. He doesn’t appear to like soft ground. His owners have been very patient and, in fairness, we are getting there with him.
Harry’s Bar
6yo ch g (1611-10362)
Exceed And Excel - Firenze
Shamrock Thoroughbreds/Miss Susan Barton
He has been a great addition to the team and he is developing into a very good sprinter.
He is in both of the big sprints at Ascot and that might be where he’ll go, but he might take in the listed sprint at Cork beforehand. He gave Mooneista 18lbs when she beat him the last day and that was a very good run, considering she went very close to winning a listed race at Naas the last day.
We’ll see what happens and he is also in the July Cup. He will travel for those big sprints later in the year. We ran him at Naas just to see if he was as good on the grass, and he appears to be. He should enjoy a good season.
Hidden Spark
5yo ch m (3344807-1)
Dream Ahead - Sun Seasons
Quantus Syndicate
She isn’t straightforward but, to her credit, she stuck her head down and dead-heated at Naas. She likes good ground and we have had her entered up since but the ground has been too soft for her. She has plenty of ability and should be able to win again in her own grade.
Is That Love
4yo b g (-5114091)
Es Que Love - Winnifred
Mark Devlin & Gary Devlin & Joseph McCrory
He has really turned the corner and he has won three for us this year. He was due to run again on Friday at Fairyhouse. We had a little job done on his wind and that seems to have helped him and he is holding his form very well, so hopefully he’ll be able win again for us.
Lariat
5yo ch g NH: (03670-) F: (004687-05)
Poet’s Voice - Lasso
Stars In The Sun Racing Syndicate
He will mix it on the flat and over hurdles. He was third over hurdles during the winter and he should be able to win over jumps. There is a race for him next week at Tipperary that he’ll go for and he should be a good, fun horse over the summer.
Laugh A Minute
6yo b g (04042-4179)
Mayson - Funny Enough
Shamrock Thoroughbreds
He has won a listed race at Cork for us this season and he will run in all those good sprints over five and six. He ran better than it looked in the Greenlands where the race just didn’t pan out for him and we’ve put a line through that.
He has the option of going to Ascot as well, though he is not the best traveller. He seems to handle any ground and has plenty of ability. There is a big race in him when things go right for him.
Maar
3yo b f (4100)
Kingman - Blue Chip
Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited
She is a smart filly but I have turned her out in a field, after she ran below par at the Curragh. I am looking at the Ulster Oaks for her and I think she will improve with racing.
We had her on the go over the winter too so the little break will do her no harm and we’ll freshen her up for Down Royal in July. She’ll get a bit of sun on her back this week and she will be all the better for that.
Magnetic North
6yo ch g (40088-90)
Born To Sea - No Trimmings
Dooley Thoroughbreds
He is a grand horse and he will mix it on the flat and over hurdles. He jumps well and was due to run on the flat on Friday at Fairyhouse. After that, he’ll go jumping. He is another that will end up in Galway.
Pillar
8yo b g (1226-29336)
Rock Of Gibraltar - Ceilidh House
Sean F Gallagher
He has been a great horse and ran his 100th race for us recently. His owner is a great supporter. For a lowly-rated horse, he has won over €50,000. He handles any ground and is effective over five and six furlongs. He’ll stay on the go for the summer. He loves Dundalk too and you can set your watch by him to win a race or two every year.
Politicise
5yo b g NH: (/132910-0) F: (368010-0)
Camelot - Politesse
Dooley & Shamrock Thoroughbreds
He will start off over fences at Kilbeggan and he is another that will hopefully make the Galway team. We’ll see how Kilbeggan goes and then we can see what race we’ll aim him at over there. He won’t get into the amateur race or the Galway Hurdle but he has won over hurdles around there. He isn’t the biggest horse in the world, but he jumps well, and he improved with racing over hurdles.
Saltonstall
7yo ch g (7111-4726)
Pivotal- - Macleya
Dooleys & O’Sullivan Partnership
I’d say he is the stable favourite and to have won two Galway Miles takes some doing. While he is rated 110 it is very much the plan to go back to Galway for the hat-trick and we will claim off him. He has developed into a very good horse. He won a stakes race for us last year at Naas and he seems best with a good cut in the ground.
A mile is his trip, but he might get a bit further on an easy track. He will go for a stakes race beforehand. For whatever reason, from July on seems to his time of year.
Sea Breezing
2yo b f
Mehmas - Quickchat
Shamrock Thoroughbreds
We bought her at the breeze up sales and she goes well and we like her. She isn’t far off a run and goes to Down Royal next week. We have had her away and all seems good with her.
She’s Good Company
3yo b f (000-923)
Fast Company - Fiuise
Abbey Lavin Nolan Partnership
I think she is a well handicapped filly and is improving with racing. If I can get her up high enough, I think she’d love Galway.
Sirjack Thomas
6yo gr g NH (/009/57-) F: (14840-306)
Fast Company - Veliyka
Dooley Thoroughbreds
He was third in a good race at the Curragh two starts ago and ran well again there at the weekend. He’ll be aimed at those good mile handicaps and he will get an entry in the Galway Mile and the premier handicap at the Curragh on Derby weekend.
He won well at Galway last year and there is another good day in this lad and he won well at Galway last year. He might be best with an ease in the ground. We have the option of going back over hurdles with him at some stage.
Star Harbour
3yo b c (543295)
Sea The Stars - Sioduil
Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited
He is better than he has shown and I have the Ulster Derby in mind for him. We gelded him and I think we have yet to see the best of him. He may run at Navan on Sunday and I think the ground at Sligo may have been too soft for him.
Starla
3yo ch f (90076)
Bated Breath - Camp Fire
Gary Devlin & Ms Hazel McGuinness
She is a mile and a quarter, or mile and a half filly, who should win a low-grade handicap on the flat and I can see her jumping a hurdle later in the year. She is very honest and tries hard and that is her best attribute.
Stellify
4yo b f (2310-72320)
Canford Cliffs - Distant Piper
We’re Back Syndicate
She was almost out of the system last year and, at one stage, I was finding it hard to get her into a race. But despite having won just one race, she is rated nearly 30lb higher now. She loves soft ground and she should be able to win another handicap for us over a mile and a half. She has a great attitude and is not very big but she is as honest as the day is long and she really deserves to win another one.
Trading Point
7yo b g (6254046-0)
Siyouni - Zita Blues
Galaxy Horse Racing Syndicate
He is easing himself down the weights and he’ll run next week at Leopardstown. On his day he is a smart horse and Galway is on the agenda for him. Seven or a mile on nice ground is what he wants and there are couple of days in this lad, for sure. He has the option of Dundalk too as he has won on the Polytrack as well.
War Hero
6yo b g (9135-14702)
Mark Devlin
Declaration Of War - Sugar Mint
He has developed into a very good servant and, once we get fast ground, he should be competitive in his own grade. A stiff six or seven is his trip and he isn’t far off a run. He will run away once he has his ground for the summer.