Fitzgerald relishing opportunity to train for Jet Bloodstock

Image © Healy Racing

Carlow handler Aidan ‘Scobie’ Fitzgerald is gearing up for the new four-year-old point-to-point season at Cobajay Stables, with a sizeable group of youngsters ready to run in the coming weeks.

Fitzgerald currently has 19 four-year-olds with hunter certificates, and a few more still to register.

“They’re fairly forward and they’re named now, so we just said we’d crack on and get it done. I can’t wait to get going with them; there’s some lovely horses in there. I have a couple of nice ones by Silverwave, so I'm excited to see how he goes as a stallion.”

"Lynne and Angus Mclennan have some lovely four-year-olds that we have to pre-train and point-to-point, that will then be moved on to track trainers then for next season."

A notable development for the coming term of four-year-old maidens has seen Fitzgerald being entrusted with horses for Jet Bloodstock, the newly established trading arm of leading owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

“I was delighted to be asked. I couldn’t believe they asked me, to be honest. It was an honour.”

Established with the explicit aim of producing and trading young jumps horses, Jet Bloodstock have entrusted Aidan Fitzgerald with a quartet of horses to prepare and campaign between the flags.

The horses were sourced by bloodstock agent Anthony Bromley, who manages the operation for Munir and Souede.

Among those set to run in Jet Bloodstock’s new ‘double blue’ silks this spring are Ashland, described as sharp and forward, Brockton, a smashing Crystal Ocean filly, and Southside Place, who is a little further behind but expected to run later in the season. The fourth horse is a lovely French-bred called Monstre D'Amour.

“They’re lovely horses. I get on very well with Anthony Bromley, and Simon and Isaac are gentlemen - very easy to deal with. I’m delighted to have horses for them.”

Fitzgerald will unleash the first of the four-year-olds towards the end of February.

“We’re aiming for the weekend of the 22nd of February. That’s when we’re hoping to roll them out.”

Cobajay have produced some top-quality horses over the years and another of Fitzgerald’s recent winners, Willow Tide, proved to be one of the highlights of last weekend’s Tattersalls Cheltenham January Sale when selling for £200,000 to Fergal O’Brien.

The Crystal Ocean five-year-old gelding made virtually all to land his maiden at Carrigarostig under Troy Walsh, jumping impeccably throughout and pulling clear to score by three-and-a-half lengths. That performance came after having fallen when well-fancied on his debut at Boulta.

“We knew we had a good horse and didn’t want to rush him. I owned him wih Kevin O'Ryan and Peter Nolan. We we turned down a lot of money the week before the sale, but we gave Jamie [Codd] in Tattersalls our word, so we are delighted it worked out." 
 
Bought as a store horse for just €10,000, Willow Tide was given plenty of time, with Fitzgerald explaining that although the gelding was ready to run last spring, the ground went against him.

“From St Patrick’s Day on, the ground came good and he was a shade on the weak side, so we decided to wait.”

Fitzgerald was rewarded for his patience with the success of Willow Tide and admits to being a big fan of Crystal Ocean’s stock.

“I’ll buy as many as I’m able to buy when the sales come around. I have a few of them in the yard. They’re doing very well at the minute.”

The handler is pleased with how the current campaign has unfolded so far, with four winners already on the board.

“We’re delighted with how the horses are running. We changed a few things that we do on the gallops and the horses seem healthier. We’re happier with them this season.”

Much of that progress has been driven by the team behind the scenes, with Fitzgerald keen to acknowledge both staff and riders.

"Jenieve Hudziak-Power is the head girl in the yard and she keeps it all together alongside my wife Ashling who looks after the office. I’ve never had such a good team of staff.”

Cobajay’s stable amateur Troy Walsh is enjoying a strong season, while Fitzgerald is also keen to highlight the group of amateur riders who assist with schooling and work at home, all of whom hold licences and will be given opportunities to ride as the season progresses.

“Luke Whitty, Andrew Kennedy and Declan Moylan are a massive help, and I’ve two girls, Imogen Mathias and Maite Laubies, with amateur licences in the yard. They’re very good, they all help with schooling and they’ll all get their chances as the year goes on. Ken Cummins and Joe Connolly are a great help".

The Cobajay operation continues to combine pre-training and point-to-pointing, with around 60 horses in harness altogether, approximately 25 of those being pre-trainers.

When asked about his training philosophy for young horses, Fitzgerald points to the importance of not overdoing things at home and allowing horses to develop naturally.

“We don’t have a big gallop. We have a small two-furlong gallop and a furlong-and-a-half uphill gallop. Because they’re not overtrained, the horses train on when they leave here.”

With an exciting four-year-old crop waiting in the wings and the backing of the newly established ‘double blue’ ownership operation, Fitzgerald heads into the spring campaign with quiet confidence.