Irish National Stud

A total of 27 students from eight countries will take part in the 2023 Irish National Stud Thoroughbred Breeding Management Course, which begins in mid-January next year. The programme is a unique combination of practical training, classroom lectures, cultural immersion, personal and professional development which equips students with first-hand and a well-rounded understanding of the Thoroughbred industry. Making up the Class of 2023 are: Robert Acheson (Ireland), Brian Banahan (USA), Sean Berns (Ireland), Aoife Boland (Ireland), Julia Coenen (France), Thomas Connolly (Ireland), Gerard Donworth (Ireland), Emma Hunter (Ireland), Scott Innes...

Group 1 winner and young shuttle sire National Defense (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}--Angel Falls {GB}, by Kingmambo) passed away in Australia, Widden Stud reported. The 2016 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere hero was bred by Ecurie des Monceaux and partners. From five starts, he broke his maiden on debut at Deauville, and was also placed in the G3 Prix des Chenes, prior to his Group 1 win. Kept in training at three by Sun Bloodstock, the Criquette Head trainee was also second in the G3 Prix Djebel. Retired to the Irish...

Ben Hanley will join WinStar Farm as the newest member of its stallion season sales team, officials at the farm announced Thursday. Having earned a degree in equine science from the University of Kentucky and a degree from the Irish National Stud course, Hanley joins WinStar after stints with Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott in Saratoga and after working in yearling prep for WinStar, Coolmore and Taylor Made. Hanley has also worked in customer-facing roles with Taylor Made at Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton Sales. After his graduation from the INS...

Anyone else who had trained this many Grade I winners--there's barely space for their photographs in the barn office--would by now be knocking at the door of the Hall of Fame. But how many even know the name of Johnny Burke? How many know his cheerful, friendly face or the store of experience that draws together so many evocative names, on two legs and four, of his own and past generations? As an adolescent, Burke was the first person ever to sit on the back of Midnight Court, subsequently winner...

Fresh from the high of Al Hakeem (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) annexing Monday's G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville, the in-form team of Al Shaqab Racing, Jean-Claude Rouget and Cristian Demuro was back in the winner's circle once more after the hitherto untried 2-year-old colt Beylerbeyi (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}--Gherdaiya {GB}, by Shamardal) unleashed a 'TDN Rising Star' performance in Tuesday's Prix de Vernon over 6 1/2 furlongs at the Normandy venue. Bowling along on the front end after a swift getaway, the 9-10 favourite held sway throughout and kept on...

The 2022 Irish National Stud Thoroughbred Breeding Management Course graduated in Tully on Tuesday. A total of 30 students from seven countries were awarded their certificates, with INS Chairman Matt Dempsey addressing the gathered guests, as well as CEO Cathal Beale. Theresa O'Donoghue was awarded the Gold Medal, while the Silver Medal went to Alexander Sausville, representing Ireland and the USA, respectively. Freddie Morley of England earned the INS Jonathan Fitzpatrick Internship, which will begin in July, while Mathilde Baurens of France earned the highest score in the Equine Business...

A new two-week sales preparation course will begin in July at the Irish National Stud. Designed to allow candidates to participate in a one-week intensive yearling preparation programme before joining an employer for the yearling preparation season, a follow-up week of training will take place in October and will concentrate on foal sales preparation. There will also be a series of evening lectures provided by industry experts. Applications for the course will close on June 20, and for more information or an application form, please contact Anne Channon at achannon@irishnationalstud.ie.

New recruits Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Nando Parrado (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) have had their first mares scanned in foal, the Irish National Stud announced on Wednesday. In foal to G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. hero Lucky Vega is Solar Event (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), a daughter of Group 3 winner Time Away (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) from the families of Group 1 winners Digital Age (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Cursory Glance (Distorted Humor). The Iffraaj (GB) mare Cafetiere (GB), already the dam of G2 Norfolk S. third Imperial...

National Defense (GB), who sired a first-crop Breeders' Cup winner when Twilight Gleaming (Ire) won the GII Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 5, will miss the 2022 Northern Hemisphere breeding season after suffering an injury while on covering duty at Widden Stud's Victorian satellite in Australia. The 2016 G1 Prix Jean Luc Lagardere winner will remain at Widden rather than traveling back to the Irish National Stud, where he was due to stand for €8,000. "Unfortunately National Defense sustained an injury while on covering duties in Australia,"...

The board of the Gerry Dilger Equine Foundation has announced that its second one-time only scholarship has been awarded to Roisin Whelan. She will receive a scholarship to the Irish National Stud program for 2022. Earlier this year, the foundation granted its first one-time only scholarship for a student enrolled in the University of Kentucky Equine Program. The foundation has been so well supported by a multitude of donors worldwide, that it was in a position to grant extra scholarships. This particular grant was created to give an Irish citizen...

Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who stands his first Northern Hemisphere season next year at the Irish National Stud, will debut at €15,000. Raced by Yulong Investments, Lucky Vega won the G1 Phoenix S. at two and placed in this year's G1 2000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace S. before retiring to stand at Yulong's Australian headquarters. Also new at the Irish National Stud for 2022 is last year's G2 Coventry S. winner and G1 Prix Morny and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere runner-up Nando Parrado (GB) (Kodiac...

Group winner Nando Parrado (GB) (Kodiac {GB}--Chibola {Arg}, by Roy), who placed twice at Group 1 level, will retire to the Irish National Stud in 2022. A fee for the G2 Coventry S. hero will be announced later. There will also be a limited number of shares available. Irish National Stud CEO, Cathal Beale said, "We are thrilled to be standing Nando Parrado, new for 2022. He was a precocious, high-class 2-year-old, by a sire of sires, from a great family and he is an exceptional physical. We are really...