Friarstown Stables

Mark Dobbin, the owner of high-class performers such as Ladies Church (GB) (Churchill {Ire}) and American Sonja (GB) (Tasleet {GB}), is set to significantly increase his involvement in the sport by investing €10 million in a redeveloped stud farm in County Kildare, the Irish Independent reported on Wednesday. Dobbin and his wife, Kerry native Sonja Dobbin, are said to have submitted a business plan to Kildare County Council which states that the owners have paid out €3.5 million for the 110-acre Friarstown Stables and intend to spend another €7.5 million...

Legendary trainer Kevin Prendergast has announced that his famous Friarstown Stables, from which Classic winners Nebbiolo, Pidget and more recently Awtaad have been trained from, will be offered up for sale.  Prendergast, who turned 91 this week and marked the occasion by sending out Profit Refused to win at Roscommon, quashed any talk of retirement and said that he would make provisions to carry on training at another location if and when Friarstown is sold.  However, Prendergast has admitted that coming to the decision to sell the 250-acre facility valued...