July 2024
Hello to you all once again.
Another month passes and, still, the weather can’t make up its mind!
This wet weather has meant we’ve had more runners, than we normally would in early July.
We did have a lovely spell of warm weather just in time for Royal Ascot, which was a fabulous week, where we got to celebrate Bob Bob Ricard’s win at Worcester with his owners Paul and Sharon over a few glasses of champagne!
Also on the track, it was great to see Pyffo follow up his Fontwell victory with a fantastic win at Uttoxeter under a brilliant ride by Kevin Brogan.
Back at Jackdaws Castle, the horses have been enjoying their holidays which meant we could continue our improvements works around the yard, gallops and estate. It’s a real team effort getting the place in tip top condition as the horses come back in, this involves lots of painting, mowing, fence building, pressure washing and anything else you can think of!
Again, we have been very busy at the sales with The Derby Sale at Tattersalls in Fairyhouse, Arquna Summer Sale in France and Tattersalls July Sale at Newmarket. You can read about all this below.
We enjoyed a wonderful Racing Staff Week at the end of June. We are very proud of our team and hugely grateful for the efforts that they put in every day in all weather conditions. As we always say, the sport wouldn’t exist without them and it’s fantastic to celebrate them with this Racing Welfare initiative.
On the subject of Racing Welfare, we are delighted to support and share the details below for Harry Whittington (one of our Pre-Trainers) & his team’s ultra marathon challenge.
Best wishes,
Jonjo & AJ
Recent Winners
June 19
Bob Bob Ricard makes it twice in a row at Worcester
Bob Bob Ricard followed up his victory at Ffos Las with a impressive display at Worcester in the hands of Jonjo Jr.
Many congratulations to owners Paul and Sharon Downing!
And a huge thank you to Nigel Kirby for the photograph
Bob Bob Ricard and Jonjo Jr. winning nicely at Worcester yesterday.
Video courtesy of @AtTheRaces. pic.twitter.com/BCRuAHEHMm
— Jonjo O’Neill (@JonjoONeill) June 20, 2024
A wonderful Royal Ascot
We had a truly special week at Royal Ascot with lots of our wonderful owners and friends. The weather was glorious and the company even better!
Many Congratulations to Derrick Smith, John Magnier, Michael Tabor and the Ballydoyle team for a fantastic week of racing.
Here’s a snapshot our week!
And the King and Queen entering the parade ring on Day One!
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Racing staff week
The Racing Welfare Racing Staff Week is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate all of the amazing people who work tirelessly to make horse racing the incredible sport and industry it is.
Our week started with a pizza and drinks at the Cloth Cap Café, followed during the week with ice cream afternoons and a delivery of lots of awesome cookies and treats from the Cotswold Larder.
We are so grateful for all of the hard work from our brilliant team here at Jackdaws Castle.
Support Harry on his ultra marathon challenge
As we mentioned above, we are delighted to support Harry Whittington on his ultra marathon challenge for Racing Welfare.
On Saturday 13th July, Harry team members Richard Cosgrave and Tomos Phillips are taking on the famous ‘Race to the Stones’ challenge, which follows the historic Ridgeway path across challenging terrain and steep hills. While the official route is 50km from Lewknor to Avebury, Team Whittington are adding on an additional 7km to finish at Harry’s Hill Barn Stable
You can read more about the challenge and donate via the link below.
Congratulations to Lucinda & James
Myself, Jacqui, Jonj & AJ were honoured to be invited to Lucinda Bond’s wedding to James on the 28th June. Lucinda, alongside her parents Anne & Peter and siblings Harriet, Tom & Will have been longtime owners, supporters, and dear friends of ours here at Jonjo O’Neill Racing.
It was an absolutely wonderful day and we wish Lucinda & James all the best in their future as Mr & Mrs Surrey!
Horses on their holidays
Lots of our horses continue to enjoy their holidays in the fields here at Jackdaws Castle.
It won’t be long until we start bringing them back in and start building their fitness ready for the new season.
Employee of the month
Many congratulations to Chloe Cullen who has been awarded our Employee of the Month. Chloe is a vital part of our team and recently has started assisting Jojo from very early each morning with the horses that live in the pens, with more horses living out now this is a busy area outside of the yard.
Chloe wins a dinner, bed & breakfast two-night stay at any of the Jupiter Hotel portfolio of Mercure Hotels.
A huge thank you to Chris Ford and Accor for their generous sponsorship of our Employee of the Month which gives the members of our team a wonderful experience.
First aid course
Joe, Jade, Aaron, Clare, Susie, Alan and Alex all embarked on a First Aid course here at Jackdaws Castle last week.
The course was split over three days was brilliantly designed to emulate what injuries could occur at a racing yard.
A huge thank you to Chris at CM First Aid Training Solutions for a brilliant, fun and educational few days.
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Work around the yard
As we mentioned above, these quieter times allow us to do lots of jobs around the yard.
If you follow us on social media, you will see some of the reels that we share showing you all of the work that our team do.
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Annie MC's foal
We were delighted to receive a recent photograph from Chris Hughes of Annie Mc and her beautiful foal.
It’s lovely to see her looking so well and to hear she has taken to motherhood like a pro.
We just can’t wait to watch their journey continue, and hopefully meet the little fella
Recent sales
The summertime is down time for the horses, but the grind never stops. We have been busy searching for the next star at the sales. Aaron, Jonj and AJ headed off to The Derby Sale at Tattersalls in Fairyhouse, Ireland where they delved through the sale analysing the pedigree pages and observed their confirmation. A special mention to Shirley, Niamh and Mary of Tattersalls along with Charles and Mary of ITM who looked after the boys with great care whilst they were there. The boys brought home a lovely filly by Poet’s Word who is half sister to the black type of filly, Rula Bula who won a bumper in Warwick and finished second in the EBF Mare’s Listed Bumper at Sandown.
AJ also attended the Arquna Summer Sale where he acquired a lovely two-year-old by Doctor Dino, he is a full brother to Madara who has won a handicap chase at Cheltenham and Leopardstown.
We were accompanied at all these sales by our bloodstock agent, Matt Coleman, his time and knowledge assisting us is invaluable.
See below some of the purchases mentioned who are looking for new owners!
Horses for sale
Garrincha (FR)
More about Garrincha (FR)
A strong, forward going and very well-bred two year-old gelding who looks the type to be ready to run in Junior National Hunt Hurdles or Bumpers as a three/four year-old. He has plenty of size and strength, athletic movement and a tough attitude. Furthermore, he is a full-brother to 143-rated Madara who won valuable handicap chases at both The Cheltenham December Meeting and The Dublin Racing Festival last season. The sire Doctor Dino is long-established as one of the top National Hunt stallions in France, as well as producing a slew of top-class horses in the UK & Ireland, including Grade-1 winners State Man, Sharjah, Sceau Royal and Dinoblue. Purchasing this horse as a two-year-old was a deliberate strategy as horses of this quality at the Irish Store Sales cost well into six figures.
Price includes purchase of horse and training fees until 30th September
Register Your Interest
Un-named
More about Un-named
Poet’s Word ex Kopitar
A striking three year-old filly with quality, style and athleticism, just as her half-sister Rula Bula displays who we purchased from the same sale in 2022. Rula Bula has enjoyed an excellent first season at Jackdaws Castle winning her Bumper and then progressing throughout the season finishing fourth and then second in two Listed Mares’ Bumpers at Doncaster and Sandown. She looks set for an exciting novice hurdling campaign.
Furthermore, this deep family is full of classy black-type performers, including multiple Graded-winning hurdler Whatuthink, Cheltenham Festival Grade-1 winner Glen’s Melody, plus Ceol Rua and Minella Melody who both finished runner-up in the prestigious Mares’ Bumper at Aintree’s Grand National Festival, meaning that this filly has excellent future breeding value as a broodmare after her racing career.
Much like Rula Bula and many others from the pedigree, it can be expected that this filly should possess speed for a fruitful Bumper season prior to embarking on her career over obstacles.
Price includes purchase of horse and training fees until 30th September
Register Your Interest
Un-named
More about Un-named
Order of St George ex Gorgeous Kate
A three year-old gelding who is a quality specimen with class and style, plus a forward-going attitude.
He is by Ireland’s most exciting young National Hunt stallion Order Of St George, who has already produced numerous impressive Four Year-Old Point-to-Point Maiden winners and Bumper Winners and furthermore this gelding comes from a superb female family. His dam is a full-sister to Grade-1 Challow Hurdle winner Captain Cutter and a half-sister to resilient black-type hurdler Gowel Road. Under the second dam is one of the past stars of Jackdaws’ Castle Albertas Run who just under one million pounds in prize money for Jonjo including three victories at the Cheltenham Festival.
Register Your Interest
Un-named
More about Un-named
Nirvana Du Berlais ex Venerie
A strong, tough 3-year-old chesnut filly who came well recommended from proven consignors Carrigeen Bloodstock.
She is a half-sister to this year’s progressive Scottish Grand National winner Macdermott who will be contesting top chases next season, so her pedigree will continue to grow and improve with her future as a broodmare in mind. Furthermore the second dam has produced multiple Graded winning French hurdler Ambroise whose unraced three year-old half-sister Garnetot is reportedly highly regarded in France and will run this coming autumn.
This filly looks like her sire, Nirvana Du Berlais, who was a Grade-1 winner at Auteuil and has his first runners on the track this year.
Register Your Interest
Un-named
More about Un-named
Order Of St George ex Baraza
Stallion Order Of St George is the young Irish National Hunt stallion that is producing exciting early results with his progeny thus far in Irish Point-to-Points and under rules with his first crop of runners. Winner of the Ascot Gold Cup and twice crowned Champion Stayer, Order Of St George is transmitting his toughness and resilience into his progeny.
This 3-year-old gelding is tall and athletic like many of the sire’s stock out of a dam who is proven producer. Her son Yeah Man is already a Grade-3 winner over fences and will contest more big chases next season while his younger five year-old half-brother The Jukebox Kid won his debut Irish Point-to-Point impressively last season and fetched £130,000 at a sale subsequently.
The family is one of the Aga Khan’s deep pedigrees that contains top jumpers such as Behrajan, Barizan and Banasan.
Register Your Interest
Upcoming Birthdays & Work Anniversaries
Happy birthday to…
Ashleigh Perrott
10/7/2024
Evan Rushton
26/7/2024
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