Donal Spring is a former International rugby star and was part of that famous Munster team that beat the All Blacks back in 1978. These days Donal gets his sporting thrills from racehorse ownership. Running in the colours of the Charlie Bit Me Syndicate, Moss Tucker won the feature listed race at Naas last Monday.

How did you get into racehorse ownership?

Totally by accident. We are both solicitors but we breed pedigree Angus cattle under the Aughnamona prefix in Bornacoola, Co Leitrim, as well. My wife Geraldine suggested getting a horse to look out at as she’s not really into the cattle - they are more a passion of mine and now our son Daniel. I asked our friend Paul Magnier who lived next door to Geraldine’s parents to find us a horse that might breed something to pay its way and he sourced Rare Symphony who he had trained and who had won over flat and hurdles.

He was confident she’d produce a good one. I was impressed that she was a grandaughter of the great Galileo who even I had heard of. My only interest in horses since leaving CCR (Roscrea) was following the incredible achievements of my classmate, Willie Mullins.

Anyway, her first foal by Famous Name came along and when I saw him running around the field I began to dream, encouraged by Paul’s great racing stories and my own competitive spirit. Our friend, Laura Williams, asked to get involved at that stage so our syndicate was formed.

What was your best day at the races and why?

Moss Tucker has won six races now - we missed the first two because of Covid but the other wins were all special. When he won the Waterford Testimonial Stakes in October ‘22 it was a strange feeling of relief because he started favourite. Last Monday in Naas was incredibly exciting as he won the Anglesey Lodge Woodlands Stakes, beating the hot favourite and dual Group 1 winner, Tenebrism.

Ken Condon, our trainer and Billy Lee planned it perfectly and Billy and Moss Tucker were a superb duo. However, and ironically, the best visit for me was the Prix de l’Abbaye on Arc day last year. I was worried that it might all go wrong and it nearly did. He missed the break completely and from way back he ploughed through the field under a great ride from Shane Foley to finish fifth of 19. He saved our blushes and made an already great weekend even better. We hope to go back again this year.

As a former International rugby player, How does the buzz of your horse winning a race compare to winning a game of rugby at the highest level?

As my playing and coaching days are long behind me, I’d almost forgotten what the buzz felt like. Moss Tucker has helped me rediscover it. He is called after my Munster team mates Moss (Keane) and (Colm) Tucker, two great guys in every sense who left us too young.

His name and the interest he has generated among the ‘78 Munster team adds to the buzz. I tend to approach the races like I did matches, studying the opposition beforehand, the ground etc. I also get the same pre-match nerves and the anti-climax the following day. Fortunately, I don’t have to take or make the tackles anymore

How did your syndicate get its name?

The syndicate is called after our first runner Charlie Bit Me. As a foal he was called Charlie after Geraldine’s uncle. He nipped her on the arm one day and she said ‘’Charlie bit me’’ imitating the kid in the YouTube video. So he was named, and we have kept the name for the syndicate since.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

I think John Oxx and Ken Condon thought I was a bit mad when I first asked John, and then Ken when John retired, about training a horse for the flat, bred on a cattle farm in Leitrim, but both were too polite to say so.

We have a great relationship with Ken - he calls it as he sees it and looks after the horses very well. He has a great team with him. I suppose what owners want is someone who will get the best out of their horse and be upfront with them.

We work with Peter Fahey for jumps and he made a great job with Charlie before he unfortunately got colic (on my birthday!) two years ago just before he was due to run a three mile hurdle in Ballinrobe as favourite. We tried everything to save him, thought we had, but alas no. That was a real low point, however his name lives on in the syndicate.

What improvements/changes would you like to see made in horse racing in Ireland for owners?

As a relative newcomer I’m reluctant to suggest any recommendations. Logic dictates that without owners there are no horses so they have to be looked after. Maybe in a few more years I might have a view.

I must say we have always felt looked after at the racecourses. Margaret Byrne always gives a big welcome at the entrance and Eddie Moran looks after people with great courtesy and enthusiasm.

What significance do your colours hold?

The colours are Munster and Leinster rugby but when the Munster lads ask, the blue is Kerins O’Rahillys GAA where my father Dan and my brothers Arthur, Dick, and I played.Their pitch is across the street from where we lived and I spent most of my very early years on it.

What’s next on the agenda for your horses?

Danfango will probably go hurdling in the autumn with Peter Fahey but Moss Tucker will head for some Group races now, he has earned that, and then hopefully back to Paris again in October for the Abbaye all going well.

What advice would you give someone thinking of becoming a racehorse owner?

Spread the cost, start slowly and be ready for disappointments. Get a good trainer. Get good advisors. We are very fortunate with the people we have around us: Ken Condon as trainer, Ken and Issy Carroll of Lewistown who foal the mare and do pretty much everything else.

Our friend Paul Magnier who has guided us from the start and stuck with it through good and bad.