Image © Healy Racing
County Carlow handler Patrick Farrell enjoyed a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure at Moig South on Sunday when Lord Du Gouet made a winning debut in the four-year-old maiden. Remarkably, it was Farrell’s first runner since March 2024 and his first success since Colonel Harry scored back in January 2022. Supreme Jet in February 2020 had been his only other winner before that, making Lord Du Gouet just the third horse he has trained to win between the flags.
The French-bred son of Jeu St Eloi faced stern opposition from nine rivals in a strongly-run affair, where testing ground conditions resulted in only three finishers. Settled in mid-division, the bay crept into contention from the fifth-last, moved to the front before three out, and despite being headed soon after, he found plenty for pressure under Pa King. A mistake at the second-last left him with work to do, but he rallied gamely to reel in A Real Banter close home to score by a length.
With no runners during the 2024/25 season, Farrell explained the absence.
“We didn’t really have anything to run last year. We only ever have a couple of horses every year,” Farrell said.
“It’s just a hobby for us really. There’s only myself and the nephew Keith here at home. Keith works for Jessica Harrington as a yard manager, and when he’s home from the yard he helps out.”
Lord Du Gouet was purchased as a three-year-old and it was Keith who first identified him in the sales catalogue.
“He spotted him entered for the Land Rover at Goffs, and he went down to Thomas Whitehead before the sale and bought him privately. He was a lovely three-year-old. We gave him plenty of time. He was showing the right signs from early on.”
Going into the race at Moig South on Sunday, the Moylisha team were confident after an impressive schooling performance at Fairyhouse.
“We had him in a schooling hurdle about three weeks ago. He won that well, so we knew we had something nice.”
The horse runs in the colours of Farrell’s father, Harry, who also plays his part despite the small size of the operation.
“Dad drives them around for us,” Farrell laughed. “We’ve no gallop at home. The horses go to Willie Murphy’s and to Jessica Harrington’s when Keith is working there. We’re very lucky to have access to those facilities.”
Farrell is very appreciative of having access to the facilities at Ballycurragh and at Mrs Harrington’s, and he also paid tribute to rider Pa King, whose involvement stems from his long-standing association with the Murphy yard.
“Pa has been around here for years through Willie Murphy. Another nephew, Mark, works for Willie, and Pa schools horses for us when he’s down there. It all ties in well.”
Lord Du Gouet is by French stallion Jeu St Eloi, one of the most exciting National Hunt sires now represented in Ireland after joining the roster at Glenview Stud ahead of the 2024 covering season. A son of Saint des Saints, Jeu St Eloi was a leading sire of three-year-old hurdlers and chasers in France in 2024 and is already responsible for 19 individual black-type performers, including dual Grade 1 winner Kargese and the high-class Blueking d’Oroux. His stock have proven very popular in the sales ring too, with progeny selling for up to €300,000 this year.
Farrell was full of praise for the attributes the stallion appears to pass on.
“He has a great mind. A child could ride him. He was always behind the bridle at home, but when you wanted him, he was there. Very straightforward, very kind. The stallion seems to be putting a great attitude into them and they tend to go on any ground. I’d have no problem buying another by him.”
When asked how Lord Du Gouet compared to the yard’s previous stars Colonel Harry and Supreme Jet, Farrell didn’t hesitate.
“He’s tougher than them. They were two- to two-and-a-half-mile horses. This lad stays. We knew it would take a good one to beat him.”
There is already strong interest in the Moig South winner ahead of his appearance at the Goffs Coral Gold Cup Sale, which will be held after racing at Newbury on Saturday 29th.
“There have been a lot of phone calls,” Farrell admitted. “That’s the business now. There’s so much money for these horses, it’s hard to keep them. But we got a good result at the weekend, so we’ll go back to the sales again and start over.”
The small Carlow yard has three horses in work at present.
“We bought another nice gelding off Thomas Whitehead, who operates as Altenbach Bloodstock, the same day as we bought Lord Du Gouet. A four-year-old now by Voiladenuo. He’ll run after Christmas. And we have a nice three-year-old by Vendangeur as well.”
The Farrell family are kept busy with sucklers on their 120-acre farm at Moylisha, County Carlow, with the horses remaining a passion passed down through generations.
With limited numbers but an exceptional strike rate - three winners from just twelve runners since saddling his first runner in 2020, Farrell continues to make the very most of the horses that come his way.
