Stud groom mourned

JOHN Magnier has paid tribute to Dan Barry, a highly respected stallion groom who worked at Castlehyde Stud up to his retirement. Dan passed away unexpectedly in the South Infirmary Hospital last Sunday. His funeral Mass took place in Fermoy, Co Cork, on Friday followed by burial in Kilcrumper cemetery.

“I think Dan’s excellence as a horseman is widely acknowledged throughout the industry,” John Magnier said. “He was also a wonderful mentor to all the younger people around him and one of the soundest and thoroughly good people I’ve been lucky enough to meet.”

Dan is survived by his wife Mary and son Danny (Jimmy).

Final Orders’ handicap mark reduced on appeal

THE versatile Final Orders has had his hurdles handicap mark reduced by 3lb following an appeal by trainer Gavin Cromwell. Final Orders got a 23lb hike when he won an 80-102 handicap hurdle at Bellewstown on August 30th. His revised mark of 125 is still 24lb below his chase mark of 149. After hearing evidence from the trainer and handicappers Andrew Shaw and Shay Quinn, the Handicapping Appeals Body ordered that Final Orders’ hurdles mark be reduced to 122.

Coen to ride in Dubai

BEN Coen will ride in Dubai this winter. He will be stable jockey for Sheikh Ahmed’s Jebel Ali Stables, a role at one time held by Coen’s boss Johnny Murtagh.

Death of valuable mare

MARSHA, the Group 1-winning sprinter who was bought by Coolmore for six million guineas in 2017, has died. Trained by Sir Mark Prescott for the Elite Racing Club, Marsha was by Acclamation out of the Marju mare Marlinka. She has three recorded foals for Coolmore - a two-year-old by Galileo named Tender Kiss, a yearling filly by Frankel and a colt foal by Frankel.

Arc second Westover retired from racing

WESTOVER has been retired from racing following his second place finish in last Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. No announcement has been made on where the son of Frankel will stand at stud. Trained by Ralph Beckett for Juddmonte, Westover won the Irish Derby in 2022 and the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud this year.

Conor Norris joins UK Darley nominations team

CONOR Norris has joined the UK Darley stallion nominations team. He joins Darley having been assistant trainer to Marco Botti. His previous experience includes yearling prep at Arrowfield, foal prep at Whitsbury Manor Stud and stud seasons with Norris Bloodstock plus stints with GBRI, JC Estates and Britbet.

Ammerland dispersal at Arqana December Sale

DIETRICH and Annabel von Boetticher’s Gestüt Ammerland will disperse all of its breeding stock at the 2023 Arqana December Breeding Sale. The dispersal includes Wildfeder, the full-sister to Waldgeist in foal to Siyouni, as well as Lady Frankel, the Group 1 placed Frankel half-sister to Lope De Vega whose two most recent yearlings have been bought by Godolphin for €1.6 million and €850,000. In total the Ammerland draft includes eight mares, four fillies out of training, and two foals.