Clare Manning: 'Gan Teorainn The Most Exciting Horse I've Had To Sell'

NEWMARKET, UK-Classic contender Gan Teorainn (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) has been described by Clare Manning of Boherguy Stud as the most exciting horse the 29-year-old has ever had the chance to consign ahead of the eagerly-anticipated Sceptre Session at Tattersalls on Tuesday.

Trained by her grandad Jim Bolger, Gan Teorainn advertised her Classic credentials when second in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at ParisLongchamp in October and can be backed at odds of 25-1 for next year's Oaks. 

The Ennistown Stud-owned filly also boasts a rock-solid pedigree to match her ability given she is a half-sister to eight winners, three of which are black-type performers, including Puncher Clynch (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), who Bolger trained to win the G3 Ballysax S. at Leopardstown in 2010.

Manning said, “She is the highest profile horse I have ever had to sell. I've sold plenty of relations to good horses but this is a two-year-old who is already Group 1-placed and has a Classic campaign ahead of her so she's certainly the most exciting horse I've ever had the chance to sell. It's very exciting.

“Gan Teorainn is by a young and exciting sire who is going places. She has won over a mile and is out of a Rainbow Quest mare [Dance Troupe (GB)] who's had 11 foals, 10 runners and eight winners. There are plenty of black-type horses under the first dam and, as a breeding prospect on a catalogue page, it's all there.”

Gan Teorainn translates from Irish to unlimited or infinite, and Manning says that the filly her father Kevin partnered to all bar one of her seven starts in the final season of a spellbinding career that lasted over 40 years will appeal to just about everyone at Tattersalls.

Manning explained, “She has shown it on the track and, given she has a 1000 Guineas and Oaks entry for next year, I think that she will be pretty popular. There is real international appeal to Gan Teorainn and she really could go anywhere.

“There are lots of high-class mares in the sale and you can't pick out one filly or mare and say, 'this is the best in the session,' as there are several there. Gan Teorainn is the highest-rated two-year-old in the sale. Some of them will be sold as broodmare prospects while others will have racing careers ahead of them so I suppose our filly is a little unique in the sense that she is sold with a Classic campaign ahead of her as well as having that broodmare career to look forward to further down the line.”

Should Gan Teorainn play a prominent role in the Sceptre Sessions at Tattersalls, it would crown another excellent year for the burgeoning Boherguy Stud after a sales-topping Autumn Yearling Sale at Goffs with a colt by Dawn Approach (Ire) and a number of other productive sales either side of the Irish Sea. 

Manning said, “It's been another good year. It would be absolutely amazing if we could end it on a positive note. I think she will be well-received so I can't see why we wouldn't.

“It's very hard to top the Orby or even a Book 2 here at Tattersalls. Those sales are just so strong. To top any sale is great and we got a lot of pleasure out of the Autumn Yearling Sale. To do it with a Dawn Approach, who isn't the most commercial sire but gets Group 1 winners, was sweeter because he's down at Granddad's place in Redmondstown. 

“We'd a good mares' sale, a great February Sale, a good Fairyhouse–we didn't go in there and make headlines but horses sold above their asking price and a lot of our clients were very happy. Placing horses in the right sale is one of the most important things in this game. You can have a lovely horse but, if it's in the wrong sale, you can get overlooked.” 

She added, “Granddad and Dad have been very supportive of me. Neither of them pushed me to work with horses or to go into this industry. If anything, they probably tried to steer me in a different direction. But they have been great. The first year, I wanted to get horses and showcase how I could prep them for a sale and Granddad let me do that with some of his better horses. It has helped me get clients in the door and to advertise how we do things at Boherguy. Without that, I wouldn't be where I am now; I'd still be trying to make a name for myself whereas now, Boherguy is beginning to get recognised at the sales in Britain and Ireland.”

It was just last month when Kevin Manning announced his retirement at the age of 55. He rode his first winner back in 1983 and had been stable jockey for Bolger since 1993. Together, Manning and Bolger won eight Classics in Britain and Ireland, with Clare pointing to the particular significance surrounding the first with Margarula (Ire) (Doyoun {GB}) in the Irish Oaks back in 2002.

She said, “A lot of people ask me about how hard Dad worked down through the years and how he looked after his weight. It's a hard question for me to answer because Dad was a jockey before I was even born so I have never known it to be any different. For me, the way he eats, sweats and the work he does, it's just normal to me. He never stops. He's mad into his shooting and has his gun dogs. He's two young pups he's bringing on and he also gives me a hand in the yard. Shooting season goes on for another three months and he's happy to tip away at that for now.” 

Manning added, “But the one day that really sticks out for me was Margarula winning the Irish Oaks in 2002. She was 33-1 on the day and, just as we were about to sit down and watch the race, I said to Granddad that I was going to run down to put a bet on her. He told me not to do it so, when she crossed the line in front, I turned around and looked at him without saying anything. To be fair to him, he handed me 50 quid to make up for it! 

“It was great because Granny owned the mare and she was Dad's first Classic winner. No sooner had the presentation finished, Grandad and I hopped into the car and headed off down to Portlaoise to see Wexford lose to Clare in the quarter final of the All-Ireland hurling championship. I think I was eight at the time so it's a great memory to have. 

“Trading Leather (Ire) was another great day. Grandad promised Granny that he'd train a Derby winner for her one day so for Trading Leather to carry her colours in the Irish Derby meant a lot. Grandad bred, trained and owned him and Dad rode it. Not only that, but we had a lot of family there on the day and for it to be at the Curragh, it was absolutely brilliant. Poetic Flare (Ire) winning the St James's Palace S. was the one that I probably enjoyed the most, though. He had won the 2000 Guineas and confirmed himself a top-class colt at Ascot that day.”

The spotlight turns to Clare at the Sceptre Sessions at Tattersalls this week. Should Gan Teorainn capture the imagination of buyers, it would represent another day to remember for the family.