Irish stallion trail underway

The first edition of the ITM Irish Stallion Trail got to a cold yet lively start on Thursday, with over 20 stud farms around the country opening their doors to breeders and visitors until Jan. 24. The operation has been modeled on France’s “Route des Etalons”, a scheme that sees most stallion farms in Normandy open their doors simultaneously over a weekend, and that has enjoyed a growing success since its launch in 2010. 

Among the stallions on show as part of the Irish Stallion Trail are Ballylinch Stud’s Champion first season sire Lope de Vega (Ire) (Shamardal), alongside the exciting Dream Ahead (Diktat {GB}), who will be represented by his first juveniles this season; Coolmore’s exciting new recruits Australia (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), No Nay Never (Scat Daddy), Ruler Of The World (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Kingsbarns (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and War Command (War Front), as well as reigning Champion sire Galileo (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) and a host of promising young stallions including Camelot (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) and So You Think (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}); Gilltown Stud’s Sea The Stars (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who has recently been joined by his half-brother Born To Sea (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}); Irish National Stud’s newcomer Americain (Dynaformer), alongside stalwart Invincible Spirit (Ire) (Green Desert); Kildangan Stud’s proven trio Shamardal (Giant’s Causeway), Teofilo (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Exceed And Excel (Aus) (Danehill), alongside new recruit Slade Power (Ire) (Dutch Art {GB}) and last year’s revelation Casamento (Ire) (Shamardal), whose first foals made a major splash at the sales; Tally-Ho Stud record-breaking Champion sire of 2-year-olds Kodiac (GB) (Danehill), and many more.