Cathal Beale

DONCASTER, UK—It's crunch time for the European yearling market, with both Ireland's and Britain's major auctions being staged in the next fortnight. The major obvious difference is the relocation of the Orby Sale, which takes place over the next two days, to Doncaster. An expected difference, however, is a reduction in trade from some of the boom years the bloodstock market has enjoyed since the recovery from the major recession of 2008. Considering the unprecedented backdrop to the sales calendar of 2020, the breeze-up sector and the early yearling sales...

The 2020 Godolphin Flying Start Alumni Awards-which are peer-voted among the programme's 177 graduates--were presented on Wednesday in a virtual ceremony, with the recipients accepting their awards over Zoom in four different countries. Irish National Stud Chief Executive Officer Cathal Beale was presented the award for Leadership Excellence by Joe Osborne, managing director of Godolphin Ireland. "I'm very humbled, very moved and I was listening to the description wondering who it could be and then when [Godolphin Flying Start Executive Director] Clodagh [Kavanagh] said 'Irish National Stud' I realised, 'oh,...

The Irish EBF and the Irish National Stud will be joint sponsors of four 2-year-old fillies' maidens this summer, the stud announced on Tuesday. The INS Stallion's Summer Series will give the winning breeder a free nomination for the 2021 season to the stallion named in each race in addition to the prizemoney allocation. The June 20 'Free Eagle' Irish EBF Fillies' Maiden will be held at Naas, followed by the 'Phoenix of Spain' Irish EBF Fillies' Maiden at The Curragh on June 26, the July 3 'National Defense' Irish...

Who has been the biggest inspiration in your career? CB: I've been very lucky to have worked for great people along the way. Ken Bolger got me started in Redmondstown. Sally Carroll was a huge influence and gave great encouragement to so many of us who came through her hands at the Irish National Stud. Likewise, Clodagh Kavanagh and Joe Osborne from the Godolphin Flying Start Programme opened up so much for me. I worked for Dermot Cantillon for seven years and there's no doubt I learned many a lesson...