WHEN I was starting out in the world of bloodstock sales, I was aware of a Carrigaline-based breeder, Vincent Bowen, He owned Northbrook Stud which, according to The Irish Field Directory of the time, was home to about three broodmares. Vincent had moved to Cork from his original base at Young Grove Stud in Clerihan.

Those small bands of mares produced no end of winners, and an occasional sale-topper, and two of the better runners were fillies, Fringe Of Heaven (Godswalk) who won seven races, including a listed race in Italy, and Lady Eileen. The latter, a daughter of Taufan (Stop The Music) and the Never Say Die (Nasrullah) mare Cotoneaster, won three times when trained by Kevin Prendergast, and was one of nine winners for her dam.