Born and bred in County Kildare, Ireland, a career in bloodstock has led this young man to make a life in the Hunter Valley working for some of our leading farms.
This week we find out more about Johnny McConnell, an Area Manager at Coolmore Australia overseeing client mares and foals.
1/ Where are you from, and what got you in involved in the thoroughbred industry?
I was born and bred in The Curragh, Co Kildare in a village called Suncroft. Horses were always in my blood as Grandfather and uncle worked/work for the Aga Khan Studs in Ireland.
My first job was with horse trainer called Mr Con Collins who trained horse for 55 years on The Curragh, I soon learned from a very early stage there was a right or wrong way to do things and always be truthful. The grounding I got from the Collins family will have me forever grateful to them.
I knew from my late teens I was not going to be a jockey so I decided to try my hand at stud work. I then did a Bachelor of Business in Equine studies followed by The National Stud course and after that came to the Southern Hemisphere where I have stayed since working for Vinery, Glastonbury, Segenhoe and Cambridge Stud in New Zealand, thankfully having some great mentors along the way.
2/ What does a workday in the life of Johnny McConnell look like?
I’m an Area Manager at Coolmore, overseeing the client mares and foals, so a day in my life looks like this.
Start at 5/5:30am and check in with Nightwatch/Foaling Supervisor . See all new borns and the mares. Check in with all other Supervisors to plan day etc .
Help out at vet work or do a feed run. Look at all foals for conformation notes. Organise screw surgeries and foal farrier lists. Liaise with vets and the managers regarding any issues. Check in with all supervisors regarding the day and any issues . Walk through the wax pens to see who is close to foaling. I’m also on call for any issues with foalings or whatever I can help the team with after hours.
3/ Who is your favourite horse and why?
My favourite horse would have to be Sea The Stars, he was a champion who had the pedigree with the physique and is doing fantastic as a stallion now. Ironically the only time he was beaten was when I bet on him.
Of those I have worked with Chelsea Rose and Dandy Man would be up there with my favourites, but I have been blessed to look after some good horses in all the farms or racing yards where I have worked.
4/ Tell us about the best day you had at the races or at the sales, and what made it memorable for you?
The first foal I pin hooked buying myself was a Zebedee colt who I bought for $46,000 at MM and on sold for $130,000 at Inglis Classic sale, so that was a great thrill. It would be great to do same with my purchases this year, but time will tell and I have my fingers crossed.
Also leading the full brother to Merchant Navy through the ring when working for Segenhoe at the Easter Yearling sales when he made $2,300,000, that was a very exciting day!
5/ What is your favourite show on Netflix or TV?
Anything to do with sport but I do love looking at good horse racing wherever it may be in the world which does drive my wife mad when it’s the early hours of the morning.
6/ Now that travel has opened again where is the first place you will go?
It will be most definitely be going back to Ireland to see my family and friends, it’s been a tough few years not being able to go home as I know it’s been for everyone, but with Bec and I expecting our first child in January it may have to hold off a little longer.
7/ What is your favourite cuisine and restaurant?
I love Teppanyaki so the Misono Japanese Restaurant up the Gold Coast would be one of my favourites.
8/ Name two things on your bucket list?
To own or manage a farm one day, whichever crosses my path first.
To attend some of the biggest race days across the world, The Dubai World Cup and Breeders Cup would be a couple that come to mind.
9/ What’s the best advice someone has ever given you?
I have a couple that have really stuck with me, First is when I worked at Segenhoe, Peter O Brien told me, ‘It’s the one percent jobs that make us better as the ten percent jobs look after themselves nearly.’
It took me a little bit of time to get but he was spot on.
Second one was when I asked Mr Collins when I was young that he must know everything, his response was, ‘Son when you meet the man who knows everything send him my way as I have been training all my life and still learn new things every day.’
In that response I quickly gathered that it’s not possible for someone to know everything and I should be learning for the rest of my career.
10/ Tell us one thing that not many people may know about you?
Nothing comes to mind, but I’m pretty honest so I’d say most people know everything anyway.
