GROUP 2-winning trainer Jack Davison is optimistic that his well-received HRI open morning last month will help to drive engagement with his Dunboyne, Co Meath yard after just shy of 100 visitors descended on Killarkin Stud.

It fell in the middle of a fruitful spell for Davison with his highly-progressive sprinter Thunderbear, who followed up a ridiculously easy handicap win at Nottingham with a fine fourth in the Group 3 Goffs Lacken Stakes at Naas.

His trio of barrier trial runners at this week’s Irish Thoroughbred Marketing-backed barrier trials also shaped encouragingly, a development the trainer hopes will bode well for the rest of the summer.

“We were delighted that our open morning went really well for us,” said Davison, who has been training under his own licence since 2017.

“We had the best part of 100 people come through the doors and it felt like they seemed to enjoy it. We had a coffee van on the ground and people were able to see some of our better horses, as well as watching the horses go through the stalls. Hopefully it gave them an insight into our yard.”

’Profile-raiser’

With stable flagbearer Moonesita sold for 850,000gns towards the end of last year, Davison is actively trying to find the next star turn for his operation. He believes the open morning has done no harm in terms of attracting potential future owners.

“We feel it has generated some interest around the yard, and some business,” he said.

“A few existing owners came to the morning and are interested in potentially getting involved again, maybe at the yearling sales. We also had some overseas visitors who showed an interest in getting involved with us, which is all positive.

“All in all, I think it’s been a good move as a profile-raiser for the yard. When you’re operating the type of business that we are, which is always trying to expand its pool of owners and grow interest in the yard, it has to be a positive that people come in and get to know our team and overall set-up. We want to keep growing and we’d be happy to do something like this again in future when the time is right.”