Stephen Thorne

Find out what trainer says their charge has been "prepared to perfection" for the Irish Lincolnshire The Irish Flat season kicks off at the Curragh on Sunday and boy are we ready for it. The opening two-year-old maiden has been won by some top-notchers down through the years, including Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who went on to bag a breakthrough Group 1 success for the Amo Racing team.  There is no shortage of intriguing runners in this year's race, with first-season sires Space Blues (Ire), Lucky Vega (Ire),...

Ado McGuinness has described losing 11 horses owned by Shamrock Thoroughbreds as "a big blow" after the trainer parted ways with long-time assistant and cousin Stephen Thorne.  The split means that Thorne, who has ambitions to train in his own right, will manage the horses belonging to the syndicate alongside County Meath-based handler Jack Davison until he is granted a licence of his own.  A Godolphin Flying Start graduate who has spent time working for some of the top trainers all over the world, Thorne returned home to Dublin to...

Ado McGuinness has described the Galway Festival as a place for the ordinary man to make a name for himself and revealed that he will be aiming up to 20 horses at this year's seven-day bonanza, headed by the remarkable Current Option (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).  Bidding for a fourth successive triumph in the "Ahonoora" Handicap next month, Current Option will be joined by Galway regulars Saltonstall (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), Sirjack Thomas (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) and Casanova (GB) (Frankel {GB}), all of whom were seen stretching their legs on the...

Alice Haynes and Ado McGuinness, who have emblazoned the value on offer at the breeze-up sales by hitting the ground running with their respective purchases this season, have described shopping in that market as a hugely important aspect of their business.  Well-known breeze-up consignor Eddie Linehan of Lackendarra Stables agrees with Haynes and McGuinness that the value has favoured the buyer when it has come to shopping at the middle to lower tiers of the market due to the amount of choice in that sector. However, Linehan, who admitted that...

Group 3 winner Go Athletico (Fr) (Goken {Fr}) attracted a bid of €165,000 from Shamrock Thoroughbreds manager Stephen Thorne during Friday's Auctav Flash Sale. The price is a record for a Flat horse on the online platform. Stephen Thorne, Shamrock Thoroubreds manager, said of the former AB Racing runner, "Go Athletico looks like a very nice and strong prospect. He is a solid horse to compete in Ireland in sprint races. He will go in training with Ado McGuiness. We are delighted." "We quickly found our niche in the NH...