In the hot seat

The bloodstock agent's dinner guests include a Benedictine monk and an Olympic gold medallist, but don't tell Harry Eustace that Hubie de Burgh no longer considers him a youngster. Proudest moment of 2023? Reaching 160 stakes races won by de Burgh Equine purchases since setting up the agency.  What is your biggest ambition for the new year? Keep on the bright side of life. Give us one horse to follow and why? No Knee Never (Ire) (No Nay Never), purchased for Bronsan Racing. And a young person in the industry...

Adam Ryan, who assists his father Kevin at their Hambleton Lodge yard in Thirsk, has high hopes for Shamardal colt Inisherin and a rising star on the pony racing circuit. Proudest moment of 2023? Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) winning the Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot. He was a horse who we'd always held in the highest regard and it was a proud achievement to not only achieve a Group 1 win but to do it on the biggest stage. He also went straight there without a run and...

Bloodstock agent Ed Sackville, a graduate of the Godolphin Flying Start and Highclere Stud, is hedging his bets by choosing "a son of Shamardal" to be leading first-season sire Proudest moment of 2023? Attending the Godolphin Flying Start 20-year anniversary event. I think I had completely failed to acknowledge what an amazing course the Flying Start is. It wasn't until I looked around the room and saw my fellow graduates that I appreciated the legacy the Flying Start has created within the Thoroughbred industry. What is your biggest ambition for...

He's moved yards over the winter, across town from Park Lodge Stables to Highfield Stables, and Newmarket trainer Harry Eustace now faces the question master. What are your goals for 2024? Carry on our trend of more winners and more prize-money than the previous year. Give us a horse to follow... Modern Times (GB), a three-year-old by Too Darn Hot (GB). And a young person in the industry to keep an eye on... Jack Jones, trainer on the up. Who do you think will be champion first-season sire in 2024?...

Tom Goff of Blandford Bloodstock has an intriguing dinner party guest list and is up next for our questionnaire.  Proudest moment of 2023? Pride is best avoided in the racing game! Having said that, watching Emily Upjohn (GB) run a very close second to Paddington (GB) in the G1 Eclipse Stakes was a great event to be just a small part of. The filly, who we bought as a yearling for 60,000gns, had already won the G1 Coronation Cup brilliantly on her previous start. She was giving Paddington 7lbs and...

The questionnaire series continues with Group 1-winning trainer Julie Camacho in the spotlight. Proudest moment of 2023? Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) winning the Commonwealth Cup to give us our first Group 1 and our first Royal Ascot winner. What is your biggest ambition for the new year? To try and keep the yard on an upward curve. Give us one horse to follow and why? Our horse to follow is L'Ennemi (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). We bought him at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale in October. He has a lovely...

The questionnaire series continues with Group 1-winning trainer Ed Bethell in the spotlight. Proudest moment of 2023? Winning the G1 Sprint Cup at Haydock with Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}). What is your biggest ambition for the new year? Keep training winners and try to train another Group 1 winner if I can. Give us one horse to follow and why? That's a really good question. I've got some really nice three-year-olds. I think Paborus (GB) would be the one to follow. He's a lovely, big horse by Recoletos (Fr) and he's...

The questionnaire series continues with trainer Diego Dias in the spotlight.   Proudest moment of 2023? Mansa Musa (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) winning at Goodwood. It was a great day, the owners were there and everyone was very excited. It worked out as we planned and it was a great day.   What is your biggest ambition for the new year? I'd like to win a Group race this year.   Give us one horse to follow and why? I have to say Gaenari (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}). She...

The latest industry member to share their best moments from 2023 and likely prospects for this year is Boherguy Stud's Clare Manning.   Proudest moment of 2023? Frazil (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}), who Dad [Kevin] and I bought as a foal, winning his maiden at Naas in my own colours   What is your biggest ambition for the new year? Make money and sell winners.   Give us one horse to follow and why? A two-year-old Blue Point (Ire) colt out of Bandiuc Eile (Ire). He always had a great...

He may not be able to dance but Martin Buick, bloodstock consultant for De Burgh Equine, is not afraid to face the TDN question master. What was your proudest moment of 2023? The first horse I signed for, ADMIRAL DE VEGA, won the G3 Stockholm's Stora Pris, one of Scandinavia's most prestigious races. He beat a Dubai Carnival winner and Archie Watson's Brave Emperor who went on to win Group races in France, Italy and Germany.  Give us one horse to follow and why... Prime Art (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) who...

The TDN picks the brain of bloodstock agent Sean Grassick on his highs and lows of 2023 and what he's looking forward to this year.   Proudest moment of 2023? Catherine Of Siena (Ire) (U S Navy Flag), who we bought for £13,000 as a yearling, earning black-type.   What is your biggest ambition for the New Year? More winners and happy clients.   Give us one horse to follow and why? Bladon (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}). He ran eye-catchingly for Atomic Racing and Kevin Coleman in a Killarney over a...

Saturday's edition of this column features Kate Harrington, assistant trainer to her mother, Jessica Harrington.   Proudest moment of 2023? Of the team at Commonstown throughout the year. They all worked so hard in 2023 to finish third in the trainers' championship. We had more winners in 2023 than we did in 2022 and we all know the winners helped Mum beat cancer.   What is your biggest ambition for the new year? Helping Jessica Harrington to train as may winners as possible in 2024.   Give us one horse...