By Gary King
Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), purchased by Shadwell for 140,000gns from Glenvale Stud at Tattersalls Book 2, is set to run in the G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S. at Newmarket on Saturday. TDN's Gary King chatted with Glenvale's 'Flash' Conroy to hear more about the horse, and his thoughts on some wider industry issues.
GK: You've had plenty of top horses through the gates of Glenvale over the years. Who, in your opinion, was the best?
FC: I've been fortunate to have consigned Royal Ascot winners like The Wow Signal (Ire), Waterloo Bridge (Ire), Telescope (Ire) and Thomas Chippendale (Ire), but Alice Springs (Ire) and Leading Light (Ire) were multiple Group 1 winners so they would have to be the best.
GK: 2020 has been another banner year with the likes of Minzaal and Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}). They must have been a welcome distraction in what has been a challenging period for everyone?
FC: It's been a very tough year on everybody involved in the business so it was great to see John Oxley have his success with Pretty Gorgeous. He's a big owner in America but is relatively new to Europe and we always need new owners coming into the game.
On the other hand, Minzaal has helped Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum have another brilliant year and that's just as important as he's been a marvellous supporter of the business for so long.
GK: As you said, the Joseph O'Brien-trained Pretty Gorgeous has been a real flagbearer, especially her tussles with Donnacha's Shale (Ire). What were your impressions of her as a younger horse, as she developed from a €55,000 Arqana December foal, purchased by Mags O'Toole, to a 525,000gns yearling at Tattersalls Book 1?
FC: Well it's this simple, she's very well named! She was always gorgeous. She was a big, strong filly with great limbs and extra action.
GK: Without giving away too many secrets, what do you typically look for when pinhooking a foal to a yearling?
FC: For me it's about getting the right mix of physical and pedigree. I look for a foal with quality and scope. It needs to have a good walk and temperament, and ideally will be by a sire that'll be hot the following year.
GK: You've been fortunate to work with some legends of the Thoroughbred industry over the years. If you had to pick one person who you learned the most from, who would that be?
FC: I got a great education with Tim Hyde of Camas Park Stud; he's a gentleman and a wonderful judge of both horses and pedigrees. Paul Shanahan is a great friend and must be one of the most knowledgeable men in the business.
GK: It's been a tricky year so far but the European yearling sales have held up pretty well. What's your overall opinion of the market?
FC: Yes, they have held up well, considering we are in the middle of a global pandemic, and hopefully things will be much better by this time next year. Great credit must be given to everyone who has worked so hard to make sure that the racing and sales are continuing.
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