12 Questions: James McHale

James McHaleT Jones

First job in the Thoroughbred industry?

Pupil Assistant to Ian Williams.

Biggest influence on your career?

I've been lucky to get guidance and advice from many great people, Ian gave me a great chance at the start. More recently Joe Osborne and David Redvers have been great influences in different ways and I have to mention my colleague Nick Craven at Weatherbys. My family has also been very supportive of me working in racing.

Favourite racehorse of all time, and why?

Sea The Stars really was a huge favourite of mine and I saw him race a lot. On a more personal level I loved the tenacity of a filly my father raced, Law Of The Range, and she has done well at stud, as well.

Who will be champion first-season sire in 2023?

Ten Sovereigns has a good profile for that accolade.

Greatest race in the world?

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

If you could be someone else in the industry for a day who would it be, and why?

Aidan O'Brien, I wanted to be a trainer!

Emerging talent in the industry (human)?

James Read is doing a really good job at Selwood Bloodstock in Somerset.

Name a horse TDN should have made a Rising Star, and didn't?

I've checked the list and you aren't missing much. Hopefully Ifach who my father bred and won two from three as a 2-year-old in France last year.

Under-the-radar stallion?

Rajasinghe has had a very high winners to runners ratio from his small first crop of 2-year-olds. Being a son of Choisir, if some of his progeny can be competitive at stakes level he could quickly become more commercially recognised.

Friday night treat?

Good Chinese meal with my wife.

Guilty pleasure outside racing?

Watching an unhealthy amount of Test Match Cricket.

Race I wish I'd been there for…

Either of the Gold Cup wins of Dawn Run or Desert Orchid would have been pretty good I reckon.

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