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Tracey Collins and Michael Halford are optimistic about the future for their newly-established partnership as the pair prepare to welcome the public for the latest in the trainer open morning series, writes Paul Martin.

Collins and Halford joined forces in March and are based at the historicConyngham Lodge, out of which Collins’ father and grandfather trained multiple Classic winners.

On July 1, members of the community will get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into day-to-day life at the yard and Collins has plenty planned to keep people entertained.

“We are ready to go,” she said. “The place has been around a long time, the horses are in and we are looking forward to welcoming people.

“We’ll have a Q&A session with Dave Keena and a simulator with Ronan Whelan, who will give an exhibition on it. 

“After that, we’ll show some horses parading around the yard and then we’ll bring them out on to the gallops to see them cantering. 

“At the moment, there are more than 90 people booked in and we’ll hope for around 100 or more on the day itself."

Halford added: “These events are very important. People think about the glamour and the big days out but there is so much more to it, there is so much enjoyment had by the horses at home.

“When people come to the yard, they can get up close to the horses, see the lads and girls who care for them every day, which is such an important part of it. They can get to know the horses’ characters and see their quirks.

“For the kids, it’s something that sticks in their mind – I remember the excitement of visiting yards with my father when I was young. We are lucky the stars of our sport are so accessible.”
 

The open morning is part of an action-packed weekend at The Curragh, with the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival also taking place.

The Collins-Halford partnership have several potential runners entered on Sunday’s card, including Master Matt – a winner last time out at Fairyhouse – in the Rockingham Handicap and Inchturk in the Derby Festival handicap, both races with a €59,000 winner’s purse.

The meeting is particularly close to Halford’s heart and he is looking forward to the latest instalment.

“I was born and raised in Newbridge, only down the road, and my father was the farrier at The Curragh,” he said.

“I’ve been going to The Curragh from a very young age, it’s our local track, and it means a lot. It’s always a big occasion.

“There have been so many great Derby winners and it’s always nice to see a local winner, like when Dermot Weld’s horse won, and the great Pat Smullen was a very good friend of ours who rode a lot of winners for us. It was wonderful to see Sea Pass win the Derby.”

Halford has high hopes for Cosmic Vega, who beat Jessica Harrington’s Royal Ascot winner Villanova Queen, among others, when securing the pair’s first win since joining forces at Naas in May and Collins is pleased with their progress to date.

“Linking up with Michael has been very good,” she said. “We’ve both trained for a long time on the Curragh and originally, Michael started off just down the road from us.

“It’s going well, we’re going forward the right way, we’re building the brand on Conyngham Lodge and we have fantastic owners who back us. We thought it was a good idea and hopefully we’ll be able to repay them.

“There is a buzz in the yard. The horses are looking well, running well and the winners are starting to come forward. 

“It was a change for us and the horses, sometimes it takes a little bit of bedding in, but the horses have settled and they’re running consistently well.

“We have great staff and everything is looking like it’s coming together. The future is bright.”

These events are very important. People think about the glamour and the big days out but there is so much more to it - Michael Halford