1) Horse you are most looking forward to seeing this season (and why)?
JC: An enjoyable aspect of working in a sales company is watching graduates progress through the ranks into top-class performers for their owners. I've been a fan of Orby graduate Arod (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) for a long time and hopefully his trip to Australia had no adverse effects. He has been very impressive on a number of occasions and hopefully we may not have seen the best of him yet. I look forward to seeing the plans for him this year as he should prove hard to pass when front running on good ground and though it's a long way away, he has a lot of attributes that would make him formidable in a Breeders' Cup Mile around the tight Santa Anita, which often suits horses with his pace. I am also eagerly looking forward to seeing another Orby graduate in Foundation (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}); it will be interesting to see how good he can become and it would be great to see some battles between him and Goffs National S. winner Air Force Blue (War Front).
2) A stallion who could feature prominently (doesn't have to be first season)?
JC: As an industry that thrives on horses of potential, it will be great to see the first foals by a very exciting crop of horses that retired in 2015–Kingman (GB), Charm Spirit (Ire), Toronado (Ire), Australia (GB), Slade Power (Ire), and Sea The Moon (Ger) all looked brilliant on their day and could be elite sires of the future. It will also be interesting to see how stallions that made a big first impression like Lope De Vega (Ire) and Zoffany (Ire) fit into the established sire ranks this season.
3) Positive change you would like to see for the industry in 2016?
JC: Improving racecourse facilities for owners. Racetracks understandably have to try and attract numbers through the turnstiles, but it's great to see Irish race tracks investing in improving facilities for owners. Leopardstown have taken a big step forward, as have a number of other courses but there is still lots of work to be done. The redevelopment of The Curragh racecourse looks to be a pivotal moment for Irish racing and it is great to see some of Ireland's biggest owners supporting it. Ireland rears and sells many world-class horses each year and the building of world-class facilities at The Curragh should be welcomed and supported by all.
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