Rookie Consignor Has Big Shoes To Fill

Amy Marnane is a new name in the consignor's index at Goffs this week, with a significant draft of 11 foals catalogued over the five days. The 22-year-old has wasted little time in gaining a wealth of practical experience to go with the undoubtedly valuable education bestowed to her by her father Con, one of the most successful breeze-up traders in Ireland. Despite the success of her father, Marnane junior is keen to prove herself in a tough game but there is no doubt she is giving herself the best chance of succeeding.

“It's my first year consigning, I had eight horses at the HIT Sale in Tattersalls and this is my first foal draft so it's very exciting and I have some lovely foals on offer,” she said.

Like so many young people who have grown up in the industry, Marnane knew from early on there was only one career route she would be taking. Having graduated from college only last year, Marnane was quick to embark on an intensive apprenticeship before launching her own enterprise.

“I've always been interested in the industry, I've been going to the sales since I was young so as soon as I finished college in Enniskillen I applied and was accepted onto the Irish National Stud course, which is always a great education for anyone wishing to pursue a career in the industry.”

No bloodstock education is complete without a few overseas stints, and Marnane didn't hang around too long after completing the Irish National Stud course.

“I then worked for Lane's End Farm in America for six months,” she explained. “I got experience of both foal and yearling sale prep there and I also spent some time with Niall Brennan in Ocala while he was preparing his breeze-up horses. It was a great experience and I also got involved with some pinhooking while I was there. I bought an Orb foal last November and left him with Gerry Dilger at Dromoland Farm. He sold quite well at Keeneland Book 2 in September so that was very satisfying.”

Keen to capitalize on a successful venture Marnane switched her sights to the niche that has served her father so well over the years.

“Selling the yearling enabled me to bring home three other yearlings to go breezing with next year,” she said. “I got colts by Uncle Mo, More Than Ready and Shanghai Bobby who have all come back to go to the breeze-up sales next spring under the Bansha House Banner.”

Focusing on her Goffs, draft Marnane has stock on offer by a mix of young first-crop stallions like Morpheus (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Es Que Love (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}) complemented by foals by established Group 1 stallions like Lope De Vega (Ire) and Siyouni (Fr). The Morpheus filly (lot 82) is out of a Green Desert mare who has bred three winners from four runners, and Marnane describes her as “a very good- looking filly.” Marnane also offers a colt by Rathasker Stud's Es Que Love as lot 121 and explains, “My mum Theresa actually owned the mare and she didn't fulfil her racing potential due to an injury and she has produced a really good-looking, athletic foal.”

Later in the week Marnane can look forward to offering two foals by the popular Siyouni, whose stud fee has been increased to €45,000 in 2017. The colt and filly offered as lots 1079 and 1156 are both owned by the Bifov family and Marnane is upbeat about their sale prospects.

“The colt is out of an Invincible Spirit mare who was a 2-year-old winner herself and he's a good stamp of a foal who is well able to walk,” she noted. “The filly is a half-sister to stakes winner Biraaj (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) from the family of Wootton Bassett (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) and the mare has a 100% strike rate winners to runners. Overall it's an exciting draft and I just want to thank the Bifov family for allowing me to prep and sell their foals, as they are a valuable bunch for me to offer as a first-time consignor.”

The quartet of Bifov-owned foals also includes two colts by Ballylinch Stud stallion Lope De Vega, catalogued as lots 964 and 1112.

When all the breeding stock sales are finished Marnane can look forward to a fresh challenge in the New Year, as she will be in Hong Kong in February and March assisting Malcolm Bastard with the Hong Kong Jockey Club breeze-up horses that will be sold in the Hong Kong International Sale in March. From there she will return home in time for the European breeze-up season and so the cycle will continue, with Marnane excited to have joined the global sales merry-go-round. “I really enjoy the scene, it's not easy starting out in this industry but I'm so fortunate that I've had great mentors, my mum and dad have helped me out a lot. In addition to my parents people like Paul and Sara Thorman of Trickledown Stud, who I've spent some time with over the years and now with the team that are helping me out at the moment, I couldn't do any of it without them.”

The Marnane name has been synonymous with sales for many years and judging by the swift progress made by the latest family member to get involved in the bloodstock world, it is a name that we should be hearing about for many years to come.