Donal Hayes: Lismakeera Stud Talks Derby Sale

What has been your path towards consigning at the Derby Sale?

We are located in Limerick and always had sport horses. I’m still showjumping, and we would have sold horses all over the world. My dad and uncle have pinhooked horses for a long time, and I was exposed to it from a young age. I decided to take an interest in a couple, and there has been a natural gravitation towards it. My mother was in the background too, and always encouraged me to pursue it. I would say we always bought a nice type, while pedigrees and sires might not have been our strong point. The Stores I got involved in initially all did well, and that gave us belief and encouragement to build our interest.

Tom Rudd (Tattersalls Ireland Inspector) was very helpful during my early years. He provided invaluable insight, and having someone like that to provide some guidance is excellent.

I did Ag Science in UCD, and regularly took a bus to the sales where I’d meet my dad. My uncle pinhooked Imperial Commander and its great to have a horse of that quality to come from Lismakeera.

You had a good result at the 2024 Derby Sale. Tell us a bit more about that.

Yes, we sold a son of Jukebox Jury to Olly and Aiden Murphy for €75,000. He was a fabulous three-year-old. He had size and scope to him, and that combined with being by a stallion who was in demand, it meant people wanted him. Jukebox Jury has gone from strength to strength with the likes of Il Etait Temps and Honesty Policy. It was great that he was sold to such well respected people in the industry too.

What do you consider to be the most enjoyable aspect of your job?

I love working with young horses. I’m looking forward to getting the two-year-olds in after the Derby Sale, and doing that initial work. It gives me great satisfaction and pride to see our graduates achieve their full potential on the racecourse. It is so important that horses start with a good education, as failure to do so means they pick up bad habits and it will be evident in the future. Similar to humans, horses have their own traits and characteristics, and it’s great to see them on display in competition.

What would you consider to be the most challenging aspect of your job?

I would say sourcing the stock. I find the three-year-olds are all or nothing, and they have to meet all the criteria. It often happens that the good foal is the good three-year-old and there is a lot of competition to get those nice foals. It also has to make business sense, and needs to provide a pinhook opportunity. The National Hunt sales are also more commercial, and people are influenced by trends and results. It is important that you are chasing the right stallions at the right time, and the optimum time is when they are on that upward trajectory. I would recommend observing the stock of different stallion at the Store sales, and identifying how they have developed from foals.

Is there any advice that you would give to your younger self?

My advice would be to go and work with some of the leading consignors. It will save you a few mistakes and a few quid ! I have learned on the job, which is no bad thing but it’s a massive jigsaw with lots of moving parts. From getting horses fit and sound to the sales, maintaining their movement, and having the right value on your horse.

Tell us about your draft for next week’s Derby Sale?

We are taking a nice bunch of three-year-olds to the Derby Sale. A son of Order of St George (Lot 124) is a very athletic, good looking horse out of a mare called Famous Milly. The dam won a Listed juvenile hurdle for Gavin Cromwell, and he was bought as a foal at the November National Hunt Sale in 2022. He strikes as a sharp type, and hopefully if he could win a four-year-old maiden next spring he could be a candidate for one of the boutique sales.

We will offer a fabulous loose moving son of Maxios (Lot 289) and the stallion is proving popular. His half-brother SOBER GLORY looks a very promising sort having won three bumpers last season, having been purchased after winning his four-year-old maiden. His dam is a half-sister to FINGAL BAY who was a Grade 1 winning novice hurdler. We have a lot in our favour with the stallion and his half-brother winning the Listed bumper earlier in the season.

A son of Kew Gardens (Lot 625) will be offered in Part II on the Friday. He is a very commercial type, good moving and will make a lovely racehorse. He is from the family of the Grade 1 Betfair Chase winner SNOOPY LOOPY.

The preparation has gone well with them. It’s just a matter of keeping them sound, we are in a good place and we want to get them to Tattersalls Ireland in one piece.