Derby Sale Inspector Q&A

With inspections starting for the Derby Sale, our inspection team gave a little insight into the different aspects of their role, and some graduates that have caught their eye this season. Our inspectors will be travelling the length and breath of Ireland and the UK, aiming to secure the best three-and-two-year-olds with the overriding objective being to assemble the strongest catalogue at Ireland’s Premier Store Sale in June. The 2026 Derby Sale brochure can be read here.

1. What geographical area do you cover?
1. I see a small number of clients across the country. (SK)
2. Wexford, East Cork, Westmeath, Meath , Galway. (JC)
3. Kildare, Carlow, Kilkenny, Cork, Tipperary. (TH)
4. Limerick, Tipperary, Clare, Cork, Offaly, Galway, Roscommon, Sligo and Mayo. (TR)
5. Mid/North Leinster and Northern Ireland. (EMcE)
6. Meath, Westmeath, Louth, Cavan and Dublin. (ROM)
7. UK Nationwide. (SAJ)
8. UK Nationwide. (MH)
9. Waterford, Wicklow, and Kilkenny, with the occasional trip to Cork as well. (BON)
10. Kerry and Tipperary. (AP)
11. Munster. (LC)

2. What is the your favourite aspect to your job?
1. Meeting people, seeing nice horses, and discussing business, racing and pedigrees. The tea and cake are always welcome too! (SK)
2. Seeing our vendors farms and the different techniques they use to produce their horse always intrigues me. (JC)
3. Seeing the different systems that vendors use to get results. (TH)
4. Meeting clients, and sometimes finding diamond in the rough. (TR)
5. I love to see someone get well paid in the ring, especially with a home bred, as it’s so hard to breed a good one. (EMcE)
6. Catching up with vendors, and getting a first look at the progeny of sires with their first crops of three-year-olds. (ROM)
7. Meeting breeders, building relationships and getting to see well bred stock. (SAJ)
8. Meeting our clients, and seeing nice horses. (MH)
9. Getting to see the progeny of first season sires. (BON)
10. Seeing good looking horses. (AP)
11. Building relationships with our vendors, and seeing how their horses develop from inspection to sale. (LC)

3. What is the best DERBY SALE graduate that you have seen?
1. KOPEK DES BORDES was one that stands out of those I saw in recent years but there are many more. (SK)
2. FINAL DEMAND. The Parkhill’s are top class National Hunt breeders & their pedigrees have stood the test of time. (JC)
3. GREY DAWNING – I sold him! (TH)
4. BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD – She was perfection with movement to die for. (TR)
5. It’s only my second year inspecting, so it’s too early to call that one. (EMcE)
6. Most of my stores haven’t yet appeared on the racecourse. (ROM)
7. ROMEO COOLIO and BRAVEMANSGAME – two Festival Sale graduates. (SAJ)
8. IN A SONNET – I saw him win his point-to-point and he has been purchased subsequently by Gigginstown House Stud. (MH)
9. I’ve seen plenty but none that I’d like to pinpoint. (BON)
10. SIZING GRANITE – 2011 graduate. (AP)
11. A Poets Word gelding out of Shuil A Haon in 2025 – he was a beauty. (LC)

4. Which DERBY SALE graduate has impressed you most this season?
1. ROMEO COOLIO and FINAL DEMAND are both very exciting. (SK)
2. FINAL DEMAND, ROMEO COOLIO and KOPEK DES BORDES. (JC)
3. ROMEO COOLIO. (TH)
4. ROMEO COOLIO – what he has done this season has been impressive. (TR)
5. FINAL DEMAND and ROMEO COOLIO both look to have the potential to develop into top class staying chasers. (EMcE)
6. KOPEK DES BORDES. (ROM)
7. FINAL DEMAND looks like a jet. (SAJ)
8. FINAL DEMAND. (MH)
9. KOPEK DES BORDES and FINAL DEMAND look extremely exciting and are set to compete at the top level for the foreseeable future. (BON)
10. ROMEO COOLIO. (AP)
11. ROMEO COOLIO and FINAL DEMAND. (LC)

5. How do you spend your downtime?
1. With family, following all sports, and being a taxi driver for my two kids. (SK)
2.  I’m content farming, with the family, or playing some GAA. (JC)
3. Working at Castledillon Stud, and spending time with my family. (TH)
4. With my own horses. (TR)
5. Mostly going racing and taking the kids to their sports. (EMcE)
6. I’m marathon training at present, so that’s taking up plenty of time. (ROM)
7. With my own horses – the equivalent of going to the Maldives. (SAJ)
8. Going racing, and watching all sports. (MH)
9. I have three small children, so I love to spend time with them and my wife Brigid. (BON)
10. Watching sport. (AP)
11. Hunting in the winter and competing in the summer months. (LC)