In today's instalment of 2024/2025 Rapid Reflections, we feature a quickfire round with Sinead Flannery, Bloodstock Consultant at Inglis.
Favourite Day - racing, sales or breeding related - for 2024?
Sinead Flannery: It may not seem that glamorous, or exciting to some but an early spring day spent looking at yearlings in the Widden Valley for me this year was fantastic. It’s a special part of the country which has consistently produced top-class stock and the hospitality of the Thompson Family and the team that they have there is incredible. It was a very wholesome experience!
Sinead Flannery | Image courtesy of Inglis
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
SF: Not strictly advice per se but a quote a good friend (who is unfortunately no longer with us) was fond of often resonates - “Life is mostly froth and bubble, but two things stand like stone; kindness in another’s trouble and courage in your own”.
Which first-season sires progeny are you most excited to see hit the track?
SF: It’s hard to single out one, but Home Affairs seems to have a lot of people excited and it’s not hard to see why.
Home Affairs | Standing at Coolmore Australia
Which yearling purchase in 2024 are you most excited about?
SF: The yearling market is obviously very competitive, but Danny O’Brien bought a Toronado filly out of Contango Miss from the Vinery draft at the (Inglis) Classic Sale that I think merits getting excited about. She was bred by Greg Perry, who has an extraordinary record as a breeder and was bought for just $90,000, which might prove to be a bargain.
If you could be someone else in the industry for a day. Who would it be, and why?
SF: Jim Carey on September 1 every year – who doesn’t love pressure? It would provide a good dose of perspective.
Name an emerging human talent in the industry, and say why?
SF: I say emerging in the context of where they are now to where they will be in the coming few years – Grant and Alana Williams are such an impressive team already achieving great things, but I think the best is yet to come for them.
And without singling people out, we have such a dynamic young team here at Inglis across all departments – people who are hard-working, ambitious and just keen to do well. They are already making a positive contribution to the industry, and I think a number of them will go on to do very, very well.
Grant and Alana Williams | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Favourite day at a racecourse?
SF: I think there is a temptation to take the four days of the carnival at Flemington for granted but it really is an incredible experience. This year I was lucky enough to spend time in the company of someone who had never experienced it before, and they were regularly overwhelmed by the enormity and general grandeur of it all. It was a timely reminder to me of how lucky I am to have the opportunity to experience it annually as a VRC Member.
What positive change would you like to see in the industry?
SF: I think a continued focus on the development of technology in relation to the health and traceability of horses presents opportunity to improve efficiencies and reduce costs across a broad section of the industry whilst improving welfare, biosecurity, integrity and risk management.
Is there a particular horse you think about often? Why?
SF: So You Think. I have a painting on the wall in my office so am reminded of him daily. I would find myself going back and watching race replays a few times a year. What a horse! I now have a riding horse by him as well.
So You Think (NZ) | Standing at Coolmore Australia
