Mickey has been involved in the horseracing industry since he was born. After starting his career with point-to-point trainer Aidan Kennedy, he did his apprenticeship as a jockey at multiple Grade 1 winning trainer David Wachmans' stable, going on to ride 42 winners in Ireland. He combined his riding career with also riding at the breezeups, including for such luminaries of the sector as Thomond O’Mara, Con Marnane, Andy Slattery and Liam McAteer, who were all based around the Tipperary area.
Having spent 4 years preparing horses for the breezeups for prominent consignor Star Bloodstock, Mickey founded his own enterprise, M.C. Thoroughbreds, in 2019.
WITH SMALL NUMBERS OF HORSES AND HUGE ATTENTION TO DETAIL, MC THOROUGHBREDS PROVIDES A BOUTIQUE BREEZEUP HORSE TO THE SALES.
“My approach is to get them ready, make them good rides and get their heads right," he explains. "A lot of horses go through the breeze-up preparation and while some take it, some don’t – just like when they go to trainers."
"Obviously, we need to work them enough to do a nice breeze but my aim is to keep them happy and feed them well."
Raising them Right...
BALLYMOUNT BOY - a winner of the Listed Doncaster stakes as a 2yr old, he was a member of the outstanding 2023 Sales Class from MC Thoroughbreds. Bought by frequent MC client Adrian Keatley, and expertly campaigned in his 2yr old season, and he holds entries in the English and Irish 2000 Guineas.
SUMMER IS TOMORROW - a winner at 2, and 3, 2nd in Grp 2 UAE Derby 2022, at Meydan, and ran torid fractions early in the 2022 Kentucky Derby . Tragically lost before the end of his 3 year old year, while still improving . .
Another member of the incredible 2023 class of Sales Horses.