Denis O'Connor's path into the world of racehorse ownership began not with a grand plan but with a neighbourly friendship, and a deep-rooted connection to his local community. Growing up beside trainer Terence O'Brien and his family, whose horses regularly galloped across his family’s land in preparation for point-to-points, he found his curiosity about the sport quietly taking hold in his early twenties. But it wasn’t until many years later and a chance conversation during the 2018 harvest, when Terence offered the chance to purchase a half share in a young horse that the curiosity turned into commitment. By the time the combine had cut its final row, the Carrigtwohill man had agreed to go halves on not one but two young horses, a decision that would lead his family to Cheltenham, immerse him in the heartbeat of a busy racing yard, and, most memorably, bring them all to Navan on Sunday to savour the extraordinary thrill of lifting the Troytown Trophy.
Where did the interest in horse racing come from?
Terence O'Brien would be a neighbour of mine and his father used to gallop horses on our land and do their final bits of work before they would run in point to points. We were always good friends with the family, I was about 20 years of age when I really got an interest in horse racing.
How did you become a racehorse owner?
Back in 2018, I was cutting corn and Terence happened to be there. He got up in the combine with me and we were chatting away. Before he left, he asked me whether I would be interested in going halves on a horse. He bought a three-year-old from the Derby Sale, which was Jeffrey's Cross. He bought Answer To Kayf about a couple of weeks after. He rang to say forget about Jeffrey's Cross, and take the half share in this fella instead, as he thought he was a nicer horse. I couldn't break my word, so I ended up taking a half share in him as well. In the space of a couple of weeks, I had gone from never being an owner to now owning two horses!
Is there a connection or meaning behind your colours?
They are the Carrigtwohill GAA Club colours, who would be our local GAA club. I had played with the club for the guts of 25 years, so it felt right to keep the ties back to the community.
Were you looking forward to heading to Navan for the Toytown Chase on Sunday?
Yes, we had plenty of family members heading up for the day, including my three sons and most of my grandchildren. Unfortunately, my daughter wasn't there on the day. I’d say she was very disappointed that she wasn't there!
What has it been like to be involved with Terence O'Brien and his team?
Terence has been great; I leave all the decisions down to him. Look, I'd be fairly into growing potatoes, and he wouldn't tell me how to grow them, and I don't tell him how to train horses! I would call up once a week to see the horses, maybe twice sometimes, it's a big part of the ownership journey and I have got to know and build good relationships with the staff that work there too. It's something to look forward to each week. The girl who looks after him, Grace Dorgan, has already asked if she can have Answer To Kayf when he has retired from racing. She is crazy about the horse and wants him when he's finished his racing career. I have the greatest respect for the grooms, the dedication they have is unbelievable. It's nice to have a relationship like that with the staff and there is a great atmosphere in the yard.
Answer To Kayf has been wonderful for you. Were you confident of a good run?
I was pretty confident going up there that he would have a chance. Terence would be a little more conservative than I would be. He's a horse that has had a lot of problems in the past, especially when he was younger. Thank goodness he got over all of that, and touch woo,d there seems to be no issues with him over the past three years or so.
What do you think the ownership journey has given you that you might not have expected?
I suppose Answer To Kayf has brought us over to Cheltenham twice, and we have been lucky to have had great fun with him. There were a couple of disappointing days where he probably didn't run as well as expected, but look, he has taken us on a very pleasant journey.
How does it feel to bring home the Troytown Trophy?
It was magic. To think the race looked like it was over at four fences from home, and the way he battled back made it all the more sweeter. To be standing there watching with the family and the younger ones going ballistic was great. It was a great buzz for us to be there and to take home the feature race made it even better. John Shinnick gave him a lovely ride, he's a grand young lad, and he's a great pair of hands. I knew his grandfather back along the years, he was a bit of a character too!
What is it like to have your family involved on this journey?
It's something to look forward to, having runners at the weekends and enjoying these days as a family. Today and from now on, we are looking forward to Christmas, wherever he may run, it's something to look forward to. The few that stayed at home on Sunday will be disappointed they weren't there and will no doubt want to be there the next day!
What are the plans next for Answer To Kayf?
I haven't chatted to Terence much after it all happened. There is a chase at Limerick and the Paddy Power at Leopardstown would be the obvious races to look at, and then maybe the Thyestes in the New Year, all being well.
What would you say to someone who is interested in becoming a racehorse owner but hasn't taken the leap yet?
If you are thinking about setting up a syndicate, make sure you go in with the ground rules laid out for it. There is no business coming together if one wants to gamble, and the others are there for the experience. Once you have those ground rules set out and you stick to them, you shouldn't have any problems.
Has your Ownership journey met your expectations?
Look, I had expectations, they weren't over the top, I knew the pitfalls that were there. As it turned out, I have been very happy with where the journey has taken me.
If you're interested in exploring racehorse ownership opportunities and discovering the stories behind the sport, contact us on [email protected] to find out how to get involved.
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