By Brian Sheerin
Aidan O'Brien paid a heartfelt tribute to Evie Stockwell, the mother of John Magnier and a hugely successful owner-breeder in her own right, who passed away at the age of 96.
Shortly after producing one of the greatest training performances in recent years by delivering Luxembourg at fever pitch to win the G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown, O'Brien admitted that the victory was tinged in sadness with the news of Stockwell's passing.
“Mrs. Stockwell was an incredibly special person for us and everyone who knew her,” he said. “Since we came to Ballydoyle, her enthusiasm and wisdom has been a joy. We trained a lot of good fillies for her. Obviously Fairyland (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) would have been the best of them but we had some marvellous days together and she was at the Curragh last year to see Glounthaune (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) win.”
Glounthaune carried Stockwell's renowned 'Madonna blue' and brown silks to finish second in the G2 Clipper Logistics Boomerang Mile on the opening day of Longines Irish Champions Weekend, after which, O'Brien recalled with fondness his relationship with Stockwell.
He added, “Glounthaune ran an unbelievable race today as he's only just back from a break. Mrs. Stockwell used to call into us at Ballydoyle regularly. She would drive herself and MV [Magnier, grandson] would always let us know that she was calling or sometimes he would come with her.
“We really enjoyed her visits. It will be an incredible loss but it was just a privilege to have known her and an honour to be able to listen and learn from her. She was an incredibly special person.”
Group/grade 1-winning War Front siblings Brave Anna and Hit It A Bomb, who between them won the G1 Cheveley Park S. and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, also carried Stockwell's colours with great distinction in recent years.
The pair were out of Group 3 winner Liscanna (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), herself a daughter of Stockwell's listed-winning mare Lahinch (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), named like several of Stockwell's horses with a golfing theme in mind.
Other good horses to carry her colours include the already mentioned Fairyland, winner of the Cheveley Park and G1 Flying Five S., Luas Line (Ire) (Danehill), who was trained by David Wachman to win the 2005 GI Garden City Breeders' Cup H. at Belmont Park, Toroca (Nureyev), who ran third in the 2001 G1 1000 Guineas and later landed an Italian Group 3, Kitza (Ire) (Danehill), who was placed in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Oaks, and Theann (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), named after Stockwell's granddaughter Anthea who won the 2007 G3 Summer S. at York and later produced Grade I winner Photo Call (Ire) (Galileo {Ire]). She also owned listed winner We Are Ninety (Ire) (Thewayyouare) with her twin sister Lady Mimi Manton.
The Cork native wasn't born into racing but she enjoyed the sport growing up and in 1947, became fully immersed in the world when she married Tom Magnier, owner of Grange Stud in Fermoy, home of the great jumps stallion Cottage (GB) (Tracery) and 1946 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Fortina (Fr) (Formor {Fr}), the only entire to ever win the race.
Tom Magnier died in 1962 and Stockwell was left with four children–John, Peter, David and Anne–to raise.
Stockwell will be reposing at the Railway House, Farnaleen, Fethard, County Tipperary, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
The funeral will take place at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Fethard, on Monday, Sept. 12 at 2 p.m. followed by a private burial in Kilcrumper Old Cemetery in Fermoy. The house is strictly private on Monday.
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