Kirwan Looks To Exciting Times
Story By Nathan Exelby
Thursday, 10 July 2008: Coolmore are having a brilliant year in Europe, with the Aidan O'Brien stable sweeping all before them. In Australia, Encosta De Lago will win his first Champion Sire title, as he welcomes new barn mates for the 2008 season, including Royal Ascot conqueror Haradasun. Coolmore Australian General Michael Kirwan talks about what lies ahead.
In an interview with Caroline Searcy on TVN's Thoroughbreds program, Kirwan also spoke about the $5million paid for Milanova, her second season full-brother Holy Roman Emperor, new arrival Dylan Thomas, Fastnet Rock's wonderful sales season and the likely arrival of Henrythenavigator in 2009.
After relinquishing the Sires title to Arrowfield stallions in the past two years, Coolmore will once again get its hands on the signature trophy when Encosta De Lago is crowned Champion Australian Sire at the conclusion of this month.
“He's healthy, in good shape and ready for a big season again. He will have another couple of hundred mares, which he does every year,” Kirwan said of the rising 15-year-old.
“He will have a better book this year than any previous years.
“With the EI situation and there being no racing in NSW, the fact he achieved $10million (in earnings this season) is amazing,” Kirwan said.
Those booked to the Fairy King stallion include Cheeky Choice, Courtroom Sweetie (dam of Sacred Kingdom), Fashions Afield, Virage De Fortune, Merlene, Refused The Dance (dam of Efficient) and Gee I Jane.
Makybe Diva is another potential mare on the list, although a decision is still pending on the three-times Melbourne Cup winner.
Another possible matron for Encosta De Lago is Milanova, although Haradasun is also strongly in contention for her booking as well.
Coolmore paid $5million for Milanova (Danehill-L'On Vite, by Secretariat) at the Inglis Australian Breeding Stock Sale last month.
She is a full-sister to Coolmore's exciting young stallion Holy Roman Emperor and was originally sold by Coolmore as a yearling for 'just' $700,000.
“We basically had to have her,” Kirwan said.
“When she was sold as a yearling, there was no Holy Roman Emperor and that is the price you have to pay.
“By all accounts, the (Holy Roman Emperor) foals are meant to be outstanding.
“We have a very big opinion of this horse and he could be the next one (Champion Stallion). Who knows?”
Milanova is in foal to Encosta De Lago and both are from the famed family of Fanfreluche.
“It seems to work,” Kirwan said of the in-breeding trend.
“Encosta is the champion sire elect this year and obviously that is in our favour.”
Encosta De Lago and Holy Roman Emperor are joined on the Coolmore roster in 2008 by the champion son of Danehill, Dylan Thomas.
“It's not too often you see a horse win six Group 1 races the calibre of Dylan Thomas,” Kirwan said.
“He's bred on the same cross as Danehill Dancer (ex Mira Adonde, by Sharpen Up), from a Diesis (by Sharpen Up) mare.
“It's a successful cross that works. He was a fabulous horse and he's been very well supported obviously.”
Fastnet Rock is another outstanding Danehill son on the Coolmore Australia roster.
“Well it's not too often you have a first season sire that can out average the champion sire of the previous year – Flying Spur – at the sales – so people like him,” Kirwan said.
“He has a great temperament and apparently anything that is by him has a magnificent temperament too.
“So he's going to be a very commercial sire. How good he'll be? Let's wait and see.
“We were very lucky to have a horse like Danehill here. We covered a lot of mares –both of our own and clients mares.
“It's great to see when they become Group 1 winners or champions and they eventually return back here – its' great for staff and great for staff morale more than anything else.”
While Coolmore is not short on Danehill blood, a potential outcross is set to arrive in 2009 in the shape of this season's star European three-year-old, Henrythenavigator.
“He's a Kingmambo colt and he's obviously going to be a great outcross and everyone is looking for the next great cross because we've got so much Danehill blood down here,” Kirwan said.
“In time something will come along that will be able to look after that bloodline and Henrythenavigator is going to be a great cross.
“I think not only that he won both Guineas and the St James's Palace, but also that he won the (G3) Coventry as a two year old is very important.
“It showed the speed he had early on as a 2yo – it's what we want – we want speed obviously.”
Kirwan said the colt had every desirable attribute to make a successful stallion.
“He's so well bred – by Kingmambo who is a great, great stallion by Mr. Prospector and he's out of a Sadler's Wells mare who was a Group 1 winner as a 2yo,” he said.
“So you have it all there, he's a great looking horse and - hopefully - we will have him down here, everything going well.”
Kirwan said improvement at the Jerrys Plains property – where they have been based for the past 12 years – continue.
“It's expanding now to an extent where we have finished expanding. Improvements now are the main thing and capital expenditure that has been done over the last 10 or 12 years is ongoing,” he said.
“It's quite a big farm, so quite a big project.
“If you saw the place 12 years ago and you saw it now, it's a totally different place.
“We are still building to improve facilities for staff.
“We have to make it a place that people want to live and people want to come and work here. That is most important.”
Story By Nathan Exelby
Thursday, 10 July 2008: Coolmore are having a brilliant year in Europe, with the Aidan O'Brien stable sweeping all before them. In Australia, Encosta De Lago will win his first Champion Sire title, as he welcomes new barn mates for the 2008 season, including Royal Ascot conqueror Haradasun. Coolmore Australian General Michael Kirwan talks about what lies ahead.
In an interview with Caroline Searcy on TVN's Thoroughbreds program, Kirwan also spoke about the $5million paid for Milanova, her second season full-brother Holy Roman Emperor, new arrival Dylan Thomas, Fastnet Rock's wonderful sales season and the likely arrival of Henrythenavigator in 2009.
After relinquishing the Sires title to Arrowfield stallions in the past two years, Coolmore will once again get its hands on the signature trophy when Encosta De Lago is crowned Champion Australian Sire at the conclusion of this month.
“He's healthy, in good shape and ready for a big season again. He will have another couple of hundred mares, which he does every year,” Kirwan said of the rising 15-year-old.
“He will have a better book this year than any previous years.
“With the EI situation and there being no racing in NSW, the fact he achieved $10million (in earnings this season) is amazing,” Kirwan said.
Those booked to the Fairy King stallion include Cheeky Choice, Courtroom Sweetie (dam of Sacred Kingdom), Fashions Afield, Virage De Fortune, Merlene, Refused The Dance (dam of Efficient) and Gee I Jane.
Makybe Diva is another potential mare on the list, although a decision is still pending on the three-times Melbourne Cup winner.
Another possible matron for Encosta De Lago is Milanova, although Haradasun is also strongly in contention for her booking as well.
Coolmore paid $5million for Milanova (Danehill-L'On Vite, by Secretariat) at the Inglis Australian Breeding Stock Sale last month.
She is a full-sister to Coolmore's exciting young stallion Holy Roman Emperor and was originally sold by Coolmore as a yearling for 'just' $700,000.
“We basically had to have her,” Kirwan said.
“When she was sold as a yearling, there was no Holy Roman Emperor and that is the price you have to pay.
“By all accounts, the (Holy Roman Emperor) foals are meant to be outstanding.
“We have a very big opinion of this horse and he could be the next one (Champion Stallion). Who knows?”
Milanova is in foal to Encosta De Lago and both are from the famed family of Fanfreluche.
“It seems to work,” Kirwan said of the in-breeding trend.
“Encosta is the champion sire elect this year and obviously that is in our favour.”
Encosta De Lago and Holy Roman Emperor are joined on the Coolmore roster in 2008 by the champion son of Danehill, Dylan Thomas.
“It's not too often you see a horse win six Group 1 races the calibre of Dylan Thomas,” Kirwan said.
“He's bred on the same cross as Danehill Dancer (ex Mira Adonde, by Sharpen Up), from a Diesis (by Sharpen Up) mare.
“It's a successful cross that works. He was a fabulous horse and he's been very well supported obviously.”
Fastnet Rock is another outstanding Danehill son on the Coolmore Australia roster.
“Well it's not too often you have a first season sire that can out average the champion sire of the previous year – Flying Spur – at the sales – so people like him,” Kirwan said.
“He has a great temperament and apparently anything that is by him has a magnificent temperament too.
“So he's going to be a very commercial sire. How good he'll be? Let's wait and see.
“We were very lucky to have a horse like Danehill here. We covered a lot of mares –both of our own and clients mares.
“It's great to see when they become Group 1 winners or champions and they eventually return back here – its' great for staff and great for staff morale more than anything else.”
While Coolmore is not short on Danehill blood, a potential outcross is set to arrive in 2009 in the shape of this season's star European three-year-old, Henrythenavigator.
“He's a Kingmambo colt and he's obviously going to be a great outcross and everyone is looking for the next great cross because we've got so much Danehill blood down here,” Kirwan said.
“In time something will come along that will be able to look after that bloodline and Henrythenavigator is going to be a great cross.
“I think not only that he won both Guineas and the St James's Palace, but also that he won the (G3) Coventry as a two year old is very important.
“It showed the speed he had early on as a 2yo – it's what we want – we want speed obviously.”
Kirwan said the colt had every desirable attribute to make a successful stallion.
“He's so well bred – by Kingmambo who is a great, great stallion by Mr. Prospector and he's out of a Sadler's Wells mare who was a Group 1 winner as a 2yo,” he said.
“So you have it all there, he's a great looking horse and - hopefully - we will have him down here, everything going well.”
Kirwan said improvement at the Jerrys Plains property – where they have been based for the past 12 years – continue.
“It's expanding now to an extent where we have finished expanding. Improvements now are the main thing and capital expenditure that has been done over the last 10 or 12 years is ongoing,” he said.
“It's quite a big farm, so quite a big project.
“If you saw the place 12 years ago and you saw it now, it's a totally different place.
“We are still building to improve facilities for staff.
“We have to make it a place that people want to live and people want to come and work here. That is most important.”
