Abattoir owners plead guilty

SHANNONSIDE Foods Ltd, formerly the country’s only specialist equine abattoir, and the father and son who operated the plant, were fined a total of €6,000 in Limerick District Court on Friday over the fraudulent identification of horses intended for human consumption. They were also ordered to pay €1,500 towards the Department of Agriculture’s legal costs. See more on page 83.

Miss Manzor sold online

FOR the second month in a row, Willie Mullins provided the top lot at Tattersalls Online. Grade 2-placed hurdler Miss Manzor topped the April Sale, bringing 29,000gns from Conor McGlone.

Originally raced on the flat, the daughter of Almanzor has a varied pedigree, featuring top sprinter Hello Youmzain, Grade 1 hurdler Saglawy and talented stayer Sandmason, otherwise known as the sire of Black Op and Summerville Boy.

The highest price bid on Wednesday failed to secure its target, with Dan Skelton’s Grade 3 winner and Grade 1 third West Balboa declared not sold at 52,000gns. A two-year-old filly by Profitable was bought back at 27,000gns, leaving it to Spirit Of Legend to claim the title of second highest-priced lot of 26,000gns.

Successful in a maiden hurdle for Henry de Bromhead, the eight-year-old was last seen finishing second in a novice chase at Down Royal and will now transfer to the yard of Tim Vaughan.

Purchaser Nathaniel Barnett explained: “Given his hurdle form and his form over fences this season, he looks like an ideal type to go hunter chasing for Tim in due course.”

Of 64 lots offered, 38 sold (59%) for an average price of 7,526gns and median of 3,600gns. Over 230 bidders registered for the sale, their location ranging from across Europe to the US and throughout the Gulf region.

Barrier trials to return

THE Irish EBF Barrier Trials are soon to return with three dates approved from May to August.

Naas will host the first day on Monday, May 26th on the inside track over six and seven furlongs, with Dundalk staging the middle fixture on Monday, July 7th. The final date is set for Leopardstown on Wednesday, August 27th, again over six and seven furlongs.

As in the past, each fixture will be restricted to named and unraced two-year-olds and three-year-olds with stalls certificates.

IRIS will again be on hand to broadcast them live on YouTube, while videos of each batch will be uploaded to social media channels immediately afterwards.

Limerick Lace retired

CHELTENHAM Festival winner Limerick Lace has been retired from racing and covered by Crystal Ocean. The eight-year-old mare is a full-sister to Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin. Trained by Gavin Cromwell, she won the Grade 2 Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham in 2024. Standing at The Beeches Stud, Crystal Ocean has made a strong start to his stallion career.

His first crop of four-year-olds includes French listed hurdle race winner Saint Crystal, debut bumper winner Watamu and winning pointers Cristal D’Estruval, Green Hint and She’s A Fair Maid, who was sold for £200,000 at this week’s Goffs Aintree Sale. Trained by Paddy Turley, she was a £45,000 store and won on her debut at Monksgrange last weekend.