Next to face the questions is Denise Callanan, who manages her family's commercial breeding operation at Nanallac Stud.
What are your goals for 2024?
To produce good racehorses on the track and in the sales ring, make profits on our pinhooks and breed a black-type horse from our 2023 yearling draft.
Give us a horse to follow…
Phoenix of Spain (Ire). I think for a stallion whose progeny didn't look like two-year-old types, he still produced nearly 40% winners to runners in his first season, which is impressive, and I am interested to see what is in store for his progeny in 2024.
And a young person in the industry to keep an eye on…
Jack Jones in Newmarket looks to be a very talented young trainer.
Who do you think will be champion first-season sire in 2024?
I'd say Earthlight (Ire) but I wouldn't rule out Far Above (Ire) as they also look like runners.
And the best value stallion in Ireland, England, and France?
Havana Grey (GB). He produces class racehorses and very saleable types in the sales ring.
Your best buy/sale of 2023?
We sold a Blue Point (Ire) filly for €300,000 at the Goffs Orby Book 1 Sale. We also bought a lovely Blue Point filly for €82,000 at the Goffs November Foal Sale. Blue Point looks to be the real deal.
The best yearling/weanling you saw at the 2023 sales (that someone else bought)?
A filly by Palace Pier (GB) out of Quixotic (GB) at the Goffs November Foal Sale. She was bought for €145,000 by Elton Lodge Stud. She was way out of our budget though.
Who is or was the perfect Thoroughbred?
Dubawi (Ire). He is perfect physically, as a racehorse and as a stallion
Biggest thing you've learned in your career?
With horses you learn something new every day. No one is an expert.
If you could be someone else in the industry for a day who would it be, and why?
Paul McCartan. I think he is very shrewd and is also the most down-to-earth person in the industry, and always stops for a chat.
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