Kevin Blake

Over 200 people attended a breeding seminar held by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA) and its junior wing, the ITBA Next Generation, on the eve of the Goffs February Sale on Tuesday, February 6. The event was hosted by Kevin Blake, a well-known racing analyst and broadcaster as well as being a reputable breeder in his own right. He was joined on the panel by former ITBA chairman Dermot Cantillon, the breeder of multiple Group 1 winners at Tinnakill House Stud, plus Irish National Stud CEO Cathal Beale, Helena...

French-trained sprinter Bouttemont (Ire), acquired by a syndicate headed by Kevin Blake and Jack Cantillon, will retire to Rathbarry Stud at the end of the season. A fee will be announced later. Bouttemont will stand alongside his sire Acclamation (GB) at Rathbarry and will bid to enhance his stallion credentials in the Flying Five and Prix de l'Abbaye for trainer Yann Barberot and his new connections. Paul Cashman of Rathbarry Stud commented, "We have followed Bouttemont's career with great interest with him being a son of Acclamation. He showed just...

Kevin Blake and Jack Cantillon have secured French sprinter Bouttemont (Ire), who they are targeting at a rare Group 1 double in the Flying Five and Prix de l'Abbaye, before standing the highly-rated son of Acclamation (GB) in Ireland.  Bouttemont will see out his career with current trainer Yann Barberot and will race in the colours of Syndicates.Racing, the successful ownership group which is headed by Cantillon.  A number of packages that include racing and breeding rights are available in the Group 3 winner with Blake describing the opportunity to...

Which stallion does the data say is the outstanding sire-of-sires in Britain and Ireland? The answer will surprise you. We often hear chat about a stallion's ability as a sire-of-sires being bandied about, but it is less common to see it examined in a more detailed and data-driven manner. First and foremost, my personal opinion is that using a stallion's record as a sire-of-sires is one of the most brutally harsh measures in all of bloodstock on which to judge a horse. In short, the reality is that the vast...

The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA)'s Flat Seminar, The Distance Debate, was held in conjunction with the Derby Festival at the Curragh on June 30. The seminar featured a panel of top experts--Kevin Blake, Stuart Boman, Ado McGuinness, Jason Morris and John Oxx, with ITBA Chairman Cathy Grassick taking on hosting duties. The discussion--Sprinters, Stayers and Everything in Between--analyzed breeding for different distances to suit market demands, as well as changes in trends over the past number of years and what the future might look like. The panel's lively discussion...

Featuring panelists Kevin Blake, Stuart Boman, Ado McGuinness, Jason Morris, and John Oxx and hosted by Sally Ann Grassick, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Flat Seminar will be held on Friday, June 30. Set for the Curragh Racecourse, the seminar will begin at 2:30 p.m. To register, please email hmarks@itba.ie. The event is free to attend for ITBA, AIRO, and IRTA members, please quote your membership number or organisation when registering. For non-members who wish to attend there is a €15 entrance fee which includes raceday admission.

In light of criticism from animal rights activists in the build-up to the Grand National at Aintree on Saturday, Stand Up For Racing, a gathering of passionate horse racing professionals that will seek to represent the racing and breeding industries, has been formed.  The concept arose out of a widely-held frustration that the racing and breeding industries are not always well represented when questioned in the mainstream media and on social media, often allowing damaging misinformation and misconceptions to prevail. The aim of the group is to unite all of...

First job in the Thoroughbred industry? Working a breeze-up season with Con Marnane in Bansha House when I was 18. It wasn't my first rodeo there though, as I had learned how to ride on ponies up in Con's (before he became the King) when I was a child.   Biggest influence on your career? Naming one individual would be tough as I've had a bunch of editors, colleagues, and friends from when I started in racing up to the present day that have been a huge help. It probably...

Black-type producer Althania (Street Cry {Ire}) (lot 13) topped Tattersalls Online's October Sale on Friday. Sold for 80,000gns to Kevin Blake Bloodstock, the chestnut is carrying a foal by Australia (GB). Offered by Gary Duffy's Irish Emerald Stud, Althania has already foaled Listed August S.-placed Maksud (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) and she is also a half-sister to two-time Grade I winner Gabby's Golden Gal (Medaglia d'Oro), as well as Grade II winner Always A Princess (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}). The trio are out of the listed-winning Gabriellina Giof (GB) (Ashkalani {Ire}). Kevin...

Roger Varian is expecting Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) to leave his stable debut effort behind when he lines out in the feature L. Betfred Nifty Fifty Achilles S. at Haydock on Saturday, however, Robert Cowell believes his duo of Clarendon House (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}) and Atalis Bay (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) can put it up to the favourite as the trainer bids for a second win in the race.  Dragon Symbol faces a retrieval mission after disappointing in the G2 Duke Of York Clipper Logistics S. on his...

What did you get up to during the lockdown? Did you finally build that patio that you promised you'd complete years ago? Maybe you took up exercising? Or did you go searching for a broodmare after one of her sons put up an eye-catching performance on the track only to find her pulling carts in Belgium and, after initially being told that she's not for sale, did you finally strike a deal for the price of a small second-hand car? Thought not. Kevin Blake, the popular ITV racing pundit and...

Tom Marquand will represent Ireland in Racing League 2022 having been the first pick at this morning's jockey draft at Doncaster Racecourse. A total of 108 jockeys signed up for the inaugural draft, with the seven team managers each selecting seven riders in a pre-agreed order to ensure a fair allocation. Ireland team manager Kevin Blake said, "I am really happy. Six out of the seven were selections I thought I might get and the exception to that I am very happy with. It is a nice mix of British-based...