There are several stud farms around the country that specialise in a professional foaling service with round-the-clock care.

Some are large scale such as the Irish National Stud, and others concentrate on smaller numbers. One such boutique outfit is that run by Co Wexford natives Ivy Rothwell and John Wafer at their 65ac Graiguebeg Stud outside Bunclody.

For the past 12 years or so, the couple have overseen the foaling of over 30 mares. Many of those are thoroughbreds who have produced winners on the track under both rules, with a few sport horse mares also in the mix.

ADVERTISEMENT

“It all started when one breeder asked us to foal their mare many years ago,” recalls John. “That was the late John Jude Doyle. He bred some lovely horses.”

Ever since, John and Ivy have built up a super reputation for not only foaling, but also sales preparation, and have gained a loyal book of clients mostly by word of mouth.

“We have one client from the UK who keeps several mares with us permanently. One of those mares recently produced a winner in Dundalk. That was a horse called Friendly Invoice,” says Ivy.

Having grown up surrounded by horses, Ivy is an encyclopedia on pedigrees. She recalls another graduate, I See The Sea, whom they prepped for the Tattersalls Derby Sale for a

client as a three-year-old in 2022. “He sold well (€48,000) and went on to win twice in the UK.”

Leading sales

Sales preparation is now a big part of their business, and their stud has a presence at many of the leading sales at both Tattersalls and Goffs.

“We would take in mostly foals and three-year-olds for the sales, and we also have a few that we’d be selling ourselves too,” John says.

Ivy’s family are steeped in the thoroughbred industry, and she has followed in their footsteps with some prolific home-breds. One that stands out is the multiple Grade 1 winner Road To Respect.

She picked up his dam Lora Lady in foal to Gamut at Goresbridge in 2010 and sold the gelding to Alan Donoghue as a three-year-old.

He was later purchased by Gigginstown House Stud and went on to win three Grade 1s, including the Champion Chase at Down Royal in 2018 and 2019 for trainer Noel Meade. She retained a sibling of his for breeding and her four-year-old, Road To Destiny (by Jet Away), is just starting out on the point-to-point circuit.

Ivy also has a nice three-year-old from the same family by Mahler who will most likely head to the sales. Ivy’s father Roland grew up at nearby Lacken Stud, which is now home to the Derby runner-up Khalifa Sat and run by his nephew, Paul. Among others, Roland bred Three Card Brag, the last progeny from his Strong Gale mare, Belon Breeze.

Randox Grand National

Placed 11th in the Randox Grand National last year for Gordon Elliott, the son of Jet Away holds an entry for the renewal on 11 April. He too went through the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale from Graiguebeg Stud and was purchased by Monbeg Stables for €22,000.

Over the years Ivy and John also trained a few pointers and sent out a half-sister More Talk (by Hubbly Bubbly) to win in Dungarvan.

Graiguebeg Stud houses mostly thoroughbreds, but there is one mare, Killerisk Emily, that John picked up recently to reignite his interest in sport horses.

“Along with the late Don Furlong, we enjoyed some great wins with show horses over the years,” he says. John’s yearling colt by Casago II out of his new mare may well get him back into the show ring in 2026.

This is a particularly busy time for the hard-working couple, as it is also lambing season (they lamb 100 ewes), but as Ivy says, “Lambing and foaling go well together as we are up all night anyway.

“We are lucky in that we have family close by, and my mother Vivien is great, especially with our daughters Chloe (12) and Amy (10). We also have super neighbours who will lend a hand if needed. We are grateful to all our clients over the years they are very much appreciated,” Ivy concluded.