Merriebelle To Make Return Trip to Easter

In just under three years of operation, John Moores and Charles Noell’s Merriebelle Stables has already racked up a lengthy list of accomplishments in the racing and sales spheres on both sides of the Atlantic. Merriebelle sold the triple Group 1 winner Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB})–acquired as part of a package from Kilfrush Stud six months earlier–for a record 4.7 million guineas at Tattersalls December in 2013, and last summer pinhooked a Tapit filly for $1 million at Fasig-Tipton’s Saratoga sale. Merriebelle also owns a piece of last year’s Cartier champion 2-year-old filly and G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Tiggy Wiggy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who is gearing up for a 2015 campaign that could include the G1 1000 Guineas. 

The American business partners, who are involved in software companies and have also purchased Chanteclair Farm and the former Stonewall Farm in Kentucky, aren’t finished conquering the Thoroughbred world just yet. Last year, Merriebelle purchased its first three Australian horses at the Inglis Easter sale, and the encouraging early signs from those youngsters is sending Merriebelle General Manager Gary Murray and bloodstock agent and consultant Mick Flanagan back to Sydney in two weeks’ time. 

The most accomplished of last year’s purchases thus far has been Vanbrugh (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), who won at first asking Feb. 18 and was fifth in the G2 Pago Pago S. at Rosehill last Saturday for trainer Chris Waller. He was bought for A$100,000. 

“It was a helluva step up for a 2-year-old colt on his second start, so I think it was a good run,” Flanagan said. “Chris is very high on him so he’s going to have a little spell now then he might move him to Brisbane and attack a few high prize money races in Queensland.” 

Merriebelle’s other 2014 Easter purchases are the A$230,000 Braccenby (Aus) (More Than Ready), a full-brother to a Group 3 winner who has been placed for trainer Peter Moody and is currently out for a spell; and an as-yet unraced A$100,000 Nicconi (Aus) colt who is in the care of trainer Gerald Ryan. 

Flanagan noted that Australia’s good prize money and racing environment made it an attractive place for Moores and Noell to invest. 

“The main reason for expanding there is probably the prize money,” he said. “From an economic point of view, I think it’s hard to beat Australia. Vanburgh ran first time out for A$40,000–that’s not bad. The horse only cost A$100,000.” 
Flanagan added that he hopes Moores and Noell can visit Australia soon. 

“Charlie and John have yet to go to Australia and it’s very much a place we’d like them to go visit,” he said. “It has everything, from prize money to craic to weather–it’s a great racing nation and I think they’d really enjoy it.” 

Flanagan noted that Merriebelle’s involvement in Australia is a project that is coming along slowly, and while there are no immediate plans to expand into breeding Thoroughbreds Down Under, he wouldn’t rule it out. 

“We bought three colts last year–we could buy a filly or two this year,” he said. “I don’t know what way it’ll roll for us. Outside of Europe and America, [Australia is] the most important racing and breeding jurisdiction in the world. After that you probably have Japan, but that’s tricky enough to get into and very expensive to be apart of. There’s probably not too many barriers down in Australia–they speak English, and the racing is good. The racing is more similar to Europe than America, but hopefully it’s an arm of Merriebelle that will be able to grow slowly over time.” 

Flanagan added, “Myself and Gary are booked to go down [to Inglis again this year], and we’ll do the same thing as last year–we’ll hammer the barns, we’ll do up our lists and we’ll put it in front of John and Charlie and see how we go. You’re never really sure, but I’d be hopeful we’d get one or two bought.” 

While last year’s Easter sale was the first foray into Australia for Merriebelle, it was not for Flanagan. The 30-year-old Irishman, who operates as Townley Hall Bloodstock, has helped source European stayers for trainer Chris Waller and agent Guy Mulcaster. One success story on that front is Weary (Fr) (Astronomer Royal). Flanagan purchased the 5-year-old for €145,000 at Arqana’s Arc Sale in 2013 and, now gelded, he has won a Group 3 and a Group 2 for Waller and been placed in Group 1s twice. 

Describing how he came to work with the team at Merriebelle, Flanagan noted he had worked with Murray years ago in Kentucky, and his friend called him up when Moores and Noell were shopping for a property in Ireland. 

“I put up a farm in Meath that they tried to buy–they didn’t get it, but I found another place close by, lucky enough, and they bought that farm,” Flanagan explained. “It’s only 15 minutes up the road from where I live so they asked me to come on board. I still work as an independent agent, but I’m on board in a consulting role to help them out developing the farm.” 

The development of the 120-acre Ardbraccan Stud, which Flanagan says is 60% complete, has involved erecting fences and landscaping to turn the former cattle farm into a stud. 

“We’ve slowly but surely been able to change it into a stud, and it’s going to work really well for us,” Flanagan said. “When that’s done I’ll oversee the day-to-day operations when the horses are there.” 

While Merriebelle has offered up some of its prize gems, the intention is to mostly breed to race. The operation has slowly built up a quality broodmare band of about 15 in the U.S. and 10 in Europe, including Side of Paradise (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), the dam of Immortal Verse. Moores and Noell also have an exciting racing and broodmare prospect to look forward to in Tiggy Wiggy. 

“She’s due to run in April in the [G3] Fred Darling over seven furlongs,” Flanagan said. “Richard Hannon Jr is high on her–he says she’s grown and filled out and matured mentally over the winter. Depending on how she goes in the Fred Darling they’ll make a decision after that about whether they’ll run her in the Guineas or not. I think either way, whether she runs in the Guineas or not, she’s an exciting filly for 2015.” 

With so many high-class young prospects going for it around the world, followers of racing and breeding shouldn’t be surprised if Merriebelle becomes a growing international force in years to come.