An integral part of the calendar, Irish Thoroughbred Marketing’s annual event on January 12-13 offers a not-to-be-missed opportunity for the public to view the nation’s mighty stallions
Ireland: Some of the world’s leading stallions will be on show again in January as close to 40 farms throw their doors open for the annual Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM) Irish Stallion Trail [Jan 12-13].
Whether a breeder or racing enthusiast, the weekend provides a great opportunity to view an array of big names across Ireland, and with the promise of a warm welcome from the numerous stud farms involved to go with it.
The Trail hits a landmark tenth birthday with the upcoming edition. Upon its launch in 2014, ITM chief executive Charles O’Neill described it as a “wonderful opportunity for Ireland to showcase the very best of both Flat and National Hunt stallions”. He added: “I'm sure it will become a regular fixture in breeders' calendars.”
Ten years on and the ITM Stallion Trail has indeed become an annual pilgrimage for many breeders, a horse racing enthusiast’s road trip not just for those based in Ireland but for others from Britain and across Europe.
It has grown to the point where there will be a record 37 farms for visitors to pick from this time around, ranging from the ever-popular Coolmore and Kildangan Studs to the returning Tally-Ho Stud. Diamond Farm, whose Ciaran De Burra has recruited the tough G1-placed Marie’s Diamond to stand in 2024, is also a welcome new addition to the line-up.
Register for the ITM Irish Stallion Trail
“The ITM Irish Stallion Trail will celebrate its tenth edition in 2024 and the event has grown and developed beyond expectation since its inception,” says ITM marketing executive Alex Cairns.
“Indeed, in 2024 a record number of 37 farms will open their doors for the Trail, welcoming thousands of visitors from across Ireland and beyond to view over 160 stallions.
“Ireland is home to many of the world’s elite sires of both the Flat and National Hunt who continually produce both the quality and quantity of winners that breeders, owners, and trainers are looking for,” he goes on.
“The ITM Irish Stallion Trail provides the perfect opportunity to view these proven producers in an efficient manner and a convivial atmosphere.
“In addition, an exciting collection of new sires will join the Irish roster in 2024, providing fresh options for breeders and keeping Ireland at the forefront of global Thoroughbred breeding.
“Beyond its core purpose of showcasing Ireland’s stallions ahead of the covering season, the Trail is also an ideal occasion for young people looking to develop a career in the racing industry or fans curious about the breeding side of the game to up their knowledge and deepen their interest. 
“So the Trail holds a broad interest base and we are hopeful of a bumper turnout for this tenth anniversary edition.”
The Trail covers the length and breadth of Ireland, ranging from the Cork-based Grange, Foxwood, Coolagown, Rathbarry and Glenview Studs to Diamond Stud in County Meath.
Coolmore is bound to be a popular stop given that it houses the likes of Wootton Bassett, No Nay Never and St Mark’s Basilica alongside the incoming G1 winners Paddington and Little Big Bear, and as such, visitor registration is essential. Details can be found on the ITM website.
Those visiting Kildangan Stud in Kildare will have the opportunity to view the 2023 champion first-crop sire Blue Point alongside stalwarts Night Of Thunder and Teofilo and the exciting young names Ghaiyyath, Earthlight and Native Trail.
Not far away is Yeomanstown Stud, the long-time base of Dark Angel; now rising 19-years-old, the popular grey enjoyed one of his best seasons yet in 2023 as sire of the earners of nearly £4.3 million, enough to place him in third behind Frankel on the leading British and Irish sires’ list.
A warm welcome is always also on the cards at Ballylinch Stud on the picturesque Mount Juliet estate in Kilkenny, where leading stallions Lope De Vega and New Bay among others reside.
Nor should a visit to the Irish National Stud be missed. Home to veteran Invincible Spirit, who continues to exert a major influence over the breed, in addition to the promising Phoenix Of Spain and new Classic-winning recruit Mac Swiney, the stud also hosts the Irish Racehorse Experience, a journey through the history and heritage of the Irish Thoroughbred sector.
Tally-Ho Stud near Mullingar in Westmeath also makes a welcome return to the event. High-performing in every sector of the business, the very fact that it stands the ever-popular G1-producing pair Kodiac and Mehmas would be enough to draw the crowds in. However, the O’Callaghan family also offer an exciting new name for 2024 in Kodiac’s son Good Guess, the wide-margin winner of last year’s G1 Prix Jean Prat. A relation to top miler Russian Rhythm, he stands for €17,500.
“We are looking forward to again being a part of the ITM Stallion Trail,” says the stud’s Henry O’Callaghan. “It’s a great opportunity for visitors to see these horses ahead of the breeding season and we are looking forward to showing our roster, in particular Good Guess.
“He beat a strong field when impressive in the Prix Jean Prat and is a good-looking son of Kodiac – he was a 420,000gns Book 1 yearling. His sire Kodiac will also be available to view alongside Mehmas and the rest of our roster including Persian Force, one of the top two-year-olds of 2022, and Cartier champion sprinter Starman.
“It’s a great initiative that allows breeders a good look at stallions while meeting like-minded individuals. It should be a good weekend.”
For the jumps enthusiasts, there will be also a depth of opportunity to view some of the country’s leading National Hunt sires. At the time of writing, Ireland was home to eight of the top ten active stallions and every one of them – Walk In The Park (Grange Stud), Getaway (Grange Stud), Yeats (Castlehyde Stud), Mahler (The Beeches), Court Cave (Boardsmill Stud), Westerner (Castlehyde Stud), Shirocco (Glenview Stud) and Soldier Of Fortune (The Beeches) – will be available to view during the weekend.
All bar Court Cave and Shirocco stand under the Coolmore jumps banner, which has three new names for 2024 in the G1 winners Bolshoi Ballet, Hurricane Lane and Pyledriver; each should be extremely popular in their new roles.
Shirocco, of course, forms part of a powerful roster at Glenview Stud that is also headlined by Blue Bresil, sire of the outstanding hurdler Constitution Hill. No doubt breeders will also be keen to get a good look at the farm’s new addition Jeu St Eloi, a high-profile import out of France.
Meanwhile, at Whytemount Stud there is the chance to view one of the most popular stallions in the business in Affinisea. He is one of five stallions at the Kilkenny-based stud, which welcomes another son of Sea The Stars for 2024 in G1 Derby runner-up Mojo Star.
Visitors to Michael Orlandi’s Starfield Stud in Westmeath will receive a taste of both worlds and an insightful one at that, with his seven-strong roster ranging from the G1-performing two-year-old Dubawi Legend and G1-winning miler King Of Change for Flat-orientated breeders to the more dual-purpose St Leger winner Galileo Chrome. In what could be an important year for the farm, King Of Change has his first juveniles to run for him as does fellow Compas stallion Far Above, winner of the G3 Palace House Stakes.
The Trail came into its own on both sides of the coin in the case of Dubawi Legend last year. The announcement of his retirement to stud arrived in early January, too late to make many of the stallion publications. As such, some of the emphasis switched to the horse showing himself to best effect in the flesh.
“I’m a huge fan of the Trail,” says Orlandi. “I can’t speak highly enough of it. It’s very good business whether you’re a stallion owner or breeder because it gives people carte blanche to go and see stallions – people might not go to a stud with the idea of using a stallion but he’ll be pulled out in this case anyway and should they come away liking him, then they might consider using him.
“We get a lot of footfall from it. We’re a newer stud and people want to see it, they’re keen to see what the place is like.”
Dubawi Legend won two races including the G3 Goldene Peitsche at Baden-Baden, although arguably his finest performance came when second to Native Trail in the G1 Dewhurst Stakes as a two-year-old. By Dubawi, he stands for €6,000 and covered 122 mares in his first season.
“We were able to show Dubawi Legend at it last year and he was well received,” says Orlandi. “He’s a lovely-looking horse who oozes class and walks well. He’s very much in the mould of Dubawi although a little bit bigger. He was a very good horse. I’ve really got behind him – I have a good feeling about him.”
Away from the stud farms, there are other elements to the weekend to interest enthusiasts. That includes a smattering of high-class jumps action at Fairyhouse and Punchestown alongside the weekly Friday evening card at Dundalk.
“There will be racing at Dundalk on the evening of Friday 12 January, at Fairyhouse on Saturday 13 January, and at Punchestown on Sunday 14 January, with both the Fairyhouse and Punchestown meetings featuring Graded action,” says Cairns.
“Visitors can also complement their itinerary with visits to attractions such as the Fethard Horse Country Experience or the TRI Equestrian Superstore beside the Curragh Racecourse.”
There is little that the bloodstock community enjoys more than getting together to compare views, especially when it comes to the subject of stallions. In the Stallion Trail, there is the perfect vehicle to do just that with for some the added bonus of meeting new people along the way.
A simple concept, it just needed the full backing of the farms to succeed; with that secured early on, it hits its ten-year anniversary as an integral part of the calendar.
“The ITM Irish Stallion Trail is nothing without the hard work of the farms who so generously open their doors,” says Cairns. “From the major global operations to smaller family-run farms, a great deal of effort is put in to ensure the stallions are ready to show themselves off and the farms are looking their best.
“This reflects the work that goes in year-round to maintain Ireland’s status as a world leader in thoroughbred breeding. Irish stallions sired G1 Flat winners in ten countries in 2023 and enjoyed G1 success at all the major jumps Festivals.
“According to the latest figures, the Irish thoroughbred breeding industry is estimated to generate over €800 million in annual revenue for the Irish economy. As will be in evidence during the Trail, Irish breeders remain full of energy and ambition, so it can be hoped that this figure will continue to rise along with Ireland’s status a global racing superpower.”
ITM Stallion Trail: 12-13 January 2024
A full list of participating studs is available on the ITM website and visitors are asked to register their interest in studs via: www.itm.ie/Breeding/ITM-Irish-Stallion-Trail. Registrations are now open.
Please note that due to demand it is mandatory to register for a specific date and time slot in order to visit Coolmore Stud.
• Visit the ITM Irish Stallion Trail website and the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing website
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