Eoin Fives on Bloodstock and Nominations at Ballylinch Stud
Sunday, 30 March 2025
Down to the last few years, we've seen Guineas winners there and it's a very excitable day. It's great to see all these three-year-olds coming off promising juvenile careers to try and progress into the Classics.
Matchmaking stallions and mares is a complex task, but few organisations have a greater awareness of how to make a success of it than Ballylinch Stud.
The Co Kilkenny stud farm is one of the leading operations of its kind in Europe, having been home to some of the finest thoroughbred stallions of the last century, from The Tetrarch through to Lope de Vega.
Eoin Fives is the bloodstock and nominations manager at Ballylinch Stud and explained how the operation remains at the top of its game.
“We operate up to every facet of the thoroughbred industry so we can accommodate the full life cycle of a thoroughbred horse,” he said.
“From breeding all the way through to sales and pre-training and up to when they run as racehorses.”
“My role within Ballylinch is overseeing the commercial side of the stud. At this time of year, the focus is on managing our stallion roster, handling the nominations and ensuring that the highest quality and most suitable mares are matched to our stallions.”
“We work closely with the breeders to provide insights and recommendations into the compatibility of their mares with a potential stallion. You would start by analysing the pedigree and conformation of the mare along with their performance and sales record and match them with a stallion that works best.”
“We also manage the broodmare band and plan which are the best stallion choices for each mare.”
“A lot of our mares will go to a Ballylinch stallions, but significant portions will visit stallions at other studs.”
“Once we find a match and agree, we finalise the nomination with a contractual agreement and make sure everything is in place from a health and veterinary standpoint as well.”
Future stars will be on show at Ballylinch Stud Classic Trials Day at Leopardstown this weekend, marking the course's opening Flat fixture of the season.
Recently, Poetic Flare claimed victory in the Gr.3 Red Rocks Stakes before triumphing in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, while Homeless Songs secured the Gr.3 Priory Belle Stakes ahead of her dominant 5½ length win in the Irish 1000 Guineas.
Other notable Classic winners have also used these races as a springboard to further success. Empress Josephine (Irish 1000 Guineas), Joan of Arc (Prix de Diane), Iridessa (Breeders' Cup, Matron), Viadera (Matriarch), Alpha Centauri (Irish 1000 Guineas, Coronation, Falmouth, Jacques le Marois), Winter (1000 Guineas, Irish 1000 Guineas, Coronation, Nassau), US Navy Flag (July Cup), Law of Indices (Jean Prat), and A Case of You (Abbaye, Al Quoz) all competed in either the Red Rocks or Priory Belle Stakes before going on to achieve Group 1 glory.
Fives added: “It's the first meeting that really gets the flat going in Ireland. You've got three Group races on the same day and three Classic trials.”
“Down to the last few years, we've seen Guineas winners there and it's a very excitable day. It's great to see all these three-year-olds coming off promising juvenile careers to try and progress into the Classics.”
“We've had a lot of success since we've started sponsoring it and we're really looking forward to seeing the next bunch of horses come through.”
One of the most notable names to arrive at Ballylinch Stud in recent times is Lope De Vega.
The Classic winner boasts a hugely impressive record since entering life at the stud, having sired 24 individual Gr. 1 winners, which include two Breeders’ Cup winners and two European Champion 2-year-olds.
Reflecting on his pedigree, Fives said: “Lope De Vega is one of the best stallions on the planet. Last year was incredible. He had the most Group 1 winners of any stallion standing in Europe. He also got the European Champion 2-year-old and two European Classic winners, and he was the Leading European stallion in America by stakes winners last year.”
“His success was worldwide, and what set him apart is his incredible versatility. It’s remarkable that he sired Group 1 winners across continents and his success has just brought all the best breeders and their broodmares to Ballylinch.”
With such a remarkable record and reputation, it's no surprise that another of his progeny is already causing plenty of excitement, with 2024 Prix du Jockey Club winner Look De Vega a new arrival at Ballylinch.
Fives added: “He’s a very relaxed horse with a great temperament. He has really taken it all in his stride. He has moved into the main stallion yard with established stallions and really taken to the new job.
“It’s a big change from being a racehorse to a stallion but his fertility is excellent, and he has really gone down well with breeders because he’s such a good-looking horse and shows himself off.
“He’s an easy horse to like and we’ve booked a lot of mares off the back of that.”
BALLYINCH STUD CLASSIC TRIALS DAY TAKES PLACE ON SUNDAY, 30TH MARCH. THE DAY FEATURES A SEVEN RACE CARD, INCLUDING THREE GROUP 3 RACES. TICKETS FROM €15
The Co Kilkenny stud farm is one of the leading operations of its kind in Europe, having been home to some of the finest thoroughbred stallions of the last century, from The Tetrarch through to Lope de Vega.
Eoin Fives is the bloodstock and nominations manager at Ballylinch Stud and explained how the operation remains at the top of its game.
“We operate up to every facet of the thoroughbred industry so we can accommodate the full life cycle of a thoroughbred horse,” he said.
“From breeding all the way through to sales and pre-training and up to when they run as racehorses.”
“My role within Ballylinch is overseeing the commercial side of the stud. At this time of year, the focus is on managing our stallion roster, handling the nominations and ensuring that the highest quality and most suitable mares are matched to our stallions.”
“We work closely with the breeders to provide insights and recommendations into the compatibility of their mares with a potential stallion. You would start by analysing the pedigree and conformation of the mare along with their performance and sales record and match them with a stallion that works best.”
“We also manage the broodmare band and plan which are the best stallion choices for each mare.”
“A lot of our mares will go to a Ballylinch stallions, but significant portions will visit stallions at other studs.”
“Once we find a match and agree, we finalise the nomination with a contractual agreement and make sure everything is in place from a health and veterinary standpoint as well.”
Future stars will be on show at Ballylinch Stud Classic Trials Day at Leopardstown this weekend, marking the course's opening Flat fixture of the season.
Recently, Poetic Flare claimed victory in the Gr.3 Red Rocks Stakes before triumphing in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, while Homeless Songs secured the Gr.3 Priory Belle Stakes ahead of her dominant 5½ length win in the Irish 1000 Guineas.
Other notable Classic winners have also used these races as a springboard to further success. Empress Josephine (Irish 1000 Guineas), Joan of Arc (Prix de Diane), Iridessa (Breeders' Cup, Matron), Viadera (Matriarch), Alpha Centauri (Irish 1000 Guineas, Coronation, Falmouth, Jacques le Marois), Winter (1000 Guineas, Irish 1000 Guineas, Coronation, Nassau), US Navy Flag (July Cup), Law of Indices (Jean Prat), and A Case of You (Abbaye, Al Quoz) all competed in either the Red Rocks or Priory Belle Stakes before going on to achieve Group 1 glory.
Fives added: “It's the first meeting that really gets the flat going in Ireland. You've got three Group races on the same day and three Classic trials.”
“Down to the last few years, we've seen Guineas winners there and it's a very excitable day. It's great to see all these three-year-olds coming off promising juvenile careers to try and progress into the Classics.”
“We've had a lot of success since we've started sponsoring it and we're really looking forward to seeing the next bunch of horses come through.”
One of the most notable names to arrive at Ballylinch Stud in recent times is Lope De Vega.
The Classic winner boasts a hugely impressive record since entering life at the stud, having sired 24 individual Gr. 1 winners, which include two Breeders’ Cup winners and two European Champion 2-year-olds.
Reflecting on his pedigree, Fives said: “Lope De Vega is one of the best stallions on the planet. Last year was incredible. He had the most Group 1 winners of any stallion standing in Europe. He also got the European Champion 2-year-old and two European Classic winners, and he was the Leading European stallion in America by stakes winners last year.”
“His success was worldwide, and what set him apart is his incredible versatility. It’s remarkable that he sired Group 1 winners across continents and his success has just brought all the best breeders and their broodmares to Ballylinch.”
With such a remarkable record and reputation, it's no surprise that another of his progeny is already causing plenty of excitement, with 2024 Prix du Jockey Club winner Look De Vega a new arrival at Ballylinch.
Fives added: “He’s a very relaxed horse with a great temperament. He has really taken it all in his stride. He has moved into the main stallion yard with established stallions and really taken to the new job.
“It’s a big change from being a racehorse to a stallion but his fertility is excellent, and he has really gone down well with breeders because he’s such a good-looking horse and shows himself off.
“He’s an easy horse to like and we’ve booked a lot of mares off the back of that.”
BALLYINCH STUD CLASSIC TRIALS DAY TAKES PLACE ON SUNDAY, 30TH MARCH. THE DAY FEATURES A SEVEN RACE CARD, INCLUDING THREE GROUP 3 RACES. TICKETS FROM €15