Talking with Roderic Kavanagh

Tell us a bit about you and what you do? 

I'm Roderic Kavanagh of Kildaragh Stud, Co. Kildare, Ireland, our family business, and I also run Glending Stables, which is co-owned by my father, Peter, Cormac O’Flynn, and myself, focusing primarily on breeze-up sales. We specialise in buying yearlings and preparing them for the breeze-up sales, which typically take place in the Spring. Now that the main yearling sales season has wrapped up, we've assembled most of our team of yearlings for the coming year.

Kildarragh Stud operates as a traditional stud farm with a primary focus on breeding. We’re also involved in pinhooking - we buy foals with the intention of reselling them as yearlings. This dual location, dual approach gives us experience across the different segments of the market. 

What have been your highlights to date both in and outside of the sales ring?

We sold a Sea the Stars filly in Tattersalls Book One a few weeks ago and this was a tremendous success for us. Selling a filly at that level was a big achievement for the farm—she was sold for 1.6 million guineas. For a family-run operation, having a horse of that calibre pass through our hands was a real feather in the cap for everyone involved. Kildaragh is a true family effort. My sister Alice works full-time alongside me, and both of my parents, Peter and Antoinette, are heavily involved. Some successful graduates of Kildaragh Farm include Group 1 winners G Force, Jukebox Jury, Frozen Fire, Glencadam Gold and Native Trail to name just a few. 

On a personal level, recent highlights for the Glending team include selling the last-ever son of the legendary stallion Galileo, who topped the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale in April at 1,000,000 guineas after being purchased for 125,000 guineas. We also had Vandeek, who was a joint Top Lot at the same sale the previous year. Vandeek notably went on to become an unbeaten champion two-year-old, an incredible achievement to witness firsthand. It's a dream to have a horse that wins two Group 1 races, and we were fortunate to have one of his class pass through our hands. Selling quality horses like him is essential; it elevates the entire operation. The breeze-up market likely experienced one of its strongest years in part due to standout graduates like Vandeek.

What do you look for when choosing a stallion for your mares?

At Kildaragh, my father, Peter, takes the lead in selecting stallions for our mares. From my perspective, when choosing a stallion for my own mares, my primary focus is on achieving a strong physical match. At sales, a horse’s physical presence can often make all the difference. For example, if you have a compact mare, it’s best to avoid a smaller stallion, as the result may end up being too small—unless, of course, the breeding goal is for something small, sharp, and fast. Generally, I aim to pair mares with stallions that can enhance any physical attributes they may lack, such as adding size and scope. Motion is also a major factor; I prefer stallions with strong, fluid movement, as this quality often carries through to their offspring.

What advice would you give to someone looking to buy their first foal/yearling to pinhook?

My first piece of advice would be to get specific about your goals, especially when deciding which sale to target. Think carefully about the type of horse you want to bring forward, and if you’ve been in the sales game for a while, try to envision the kind of buyer it might attract. Sometimes a horse a bit off the beaten track can be a smart choice. For example, in one of our early pinhooks, we picked up a Sir Percy for 16,000 guineas, thinking he’d suit someone like Anthony Bromley from Highflyer, who often looks for horses that can compete on the flat before transitioning to juvenile hurdling. That’s exactly the path that horse took. He may not have topped the Craven breeze-up, but he sold for 55,000 guineas—a rewarding boost when we were just starting out. So, instead of simply turning up at a sale to buy a nice horse, it pays to be strategic about what type of horse will appeal to specific buyers in a particular market. Of course, these things can be unpredictable, but being specific in your approach often pays off. 

How much of an importance do you put on pedigree versus the animal’s conformation when buying a horse?

As I mentioned before, I believe conformation is paramount. When people come to see a horse, they want one that looks road worthy—a horse that’s built to handle training, one that will reach the track without much time, improve with racing and take their racing well. That durability and trainability stands the test of time. Regardless of pedigree, if a horse has the physical attributes trainers seek, that’s what truly catches their eye. 

What are the facilities in your yard that are most essential to you day-to-day?

We're very fortunate with our facilities here at Kildaragh, especially since it's an established stud farm with quite a bit of infrastructure in place. We have six lunging rings, which is a great asset. Specifically for breeze-up preparation, we also have a good-sized sand arena. While not essential, I find it invaluable for schooling young horses to carry themselves well, respond to your leg, and sharpen their movements. When they’re attentive in flat work—holding a strong trot and canter—it really translates to improved performance at top speed, with better back engagement and balance.

One of the biggest advantages of consistent arena work is that any issues with movement or form become immediately noticeable. A horse working well should show consistency each day, so any irregularities are easy to pick up. With a strong foundation in flat work, the horses are more responsive and adaptable. However, it requires skilled riders who know how to incorporate leg and technique beyond simply going around a gallop. I’m particular about this process and I really enjoy seeing it come together. It all starts with the backing phase, where we focus on consistent lunging in a good rhythm. Establishing a daily routine from the beginning teaches the horses one reliable way of doing things, which sets the foundation for everything that follows. 

We’re also fortunate to have two walkers on the farm—an eight-horse and a six-horse. Initially, I wondered if a second walker would even be necessary, but now we can’t imagine being without it. During the breeze-up season, we don’t use paddocks as much, but they’re invaluable for the horses we start buying in August and September. For example, some of the horses we recently brought over from Newmarket were turned out for a couple of weeks to let them relax, build bone, and develop physically. Having paddocks readily available is something we sometimes take for granted, but you really see the benefit when the horses come back in with noticeable physical changes.

Finally, last year we installed a new gallop on the farm—a two-and-a-half-furlong round sand track—an exciting new chapter for our training facilities. It’s ideal for our needs; we don’t require anything too expansive, just enough to teach the young horses to move correctly and confidently. We also keep the number of riders small, allowing us to closely monitor each horse’s progress and ensure they’re on the right path. 

What, in your view, makes Ireland an ideal location for owning a stud farm?

Ireland is an ideal location for owning a stud farm, and it really comes down to the climate and soil. We’re fortunate to have several world-class breeders established here, a testament to the high-quality environment. The limestone-rich soil contributes significantly, producing excellent grass growth that is particularly beneficial for the development of young horses. When you see horses coming from farms outside of Ireland, they often seem a bit underdeveloped. Purchasing those horses can be a great opportunity; you can bring them home, where they’re likely to thrive, gain bone and substance, and reach their full potential. At least, that’s certainly how we like to think about it.