STALLION MASTER PROFILES

Profile: Michael & Denis Hickey, Garryrichard Stud

Garryrichard Stud has continuously played an active role in the Irish national hunt sphere. Not only have countless leading sires such as Artic Slave, Master Owen, Tarqogan, Callernish and Over The River all stood at Michael Hickey's famed stud in Co Wexford, but numerous big race winners have also been bred at Garryrichard.

In recent times, the most well-known would be the dual Thyestes Chase winner Bob Teacy, who 83 year old Hickey also both owned and trained. Further back, Garryrichard also bred the 1969 Irish Grand National victor Sweet Dreams.

Over The River, in common with Roselier, a French-bred, sired no less than two winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in Cool Ground (‘92) Cool Dawn (‘98) while his former stud companion Callernish was responsible for the ‘96 winner Imperial Call.

Presently, Hickey and his son Denis house three stallions; Carroll House, Luso and Scribano. A son of Lord Gayle, Carroll House won seven races including the 1989 Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe and he was retired to stud in Japan in 1991.

He was duly repatriated to stand at Hickey's son Michael Junior's Sunnyhill stud near Kilcullen in 1997 and his first Irish crop are the five year olds of 2003. He sired his first point-to-point winner when Pauline Gavin's Carroll Encore won a Dromahane maiden back in November. Earlier this year, it was announced that Carroll House will stand at Garryrichard for the 2003 season while the Co Wexford stud's long-term inmate and Group three winner Lord Americo was set to be transferred to Sunnyhill. Meanwhile, Luso's first crop are only three year olds' while Scribano's are a year older.

Hearted won five races including the Group 2 Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes while he also finished second in the Group 2 Prince Of Wales's Stakes. Broken Hearted was owned by the Irish National Stud and he sired Group winners such as Crystal Hearted and Key To My Heart on the flat.

However, Broken Hearted heralded his arrival in no uncertain terms in the national hunt ranks last March as his then five-year-old son Pizarro won the coveted Cheltenham Festival bumper for Edward O'Grady while another son This Is Serious took the Eider Chase at Newcastle for the formidable Charlie Swan/David Casey combination.

Phelan, himself a former accomplished amateur rider, is currently seeking a replacement for Broken Hearted, which finished a more than respectable three 0th behind Be My Native in last season's national hunt sires championship.

However, he is also standing City Honours. A son of Darshaan out of the Sadler's Wells mare Ikebana, City Honours occupied the runner-up berth in both the ‘98 Epsom and Irish Derbies and he earned a Timeform rating of 125. His first crop incidentally are two year olds.