Q&A with Jerry Horan of Paragon Bloodstock
How did you get involved in purchasing within the bloodstock industry?
My first purchase in the bloodstock industry was a couple of years ago when I bought a maiden filly at Goffs Breeding stock sale. It gave me a serious kick when the hammer fell my way but truthfully pedigree wise I hadn’t a clue what I had just purchased on paper. My neighbour Padraic Gahan gave me some helpful pointers on pedigrees when starting out and from being at the sales everything seemed to come together, but every day is most definitely a school day!
A year or two later I came up with the name Paragon Bloodstock and started signing my purchases under the banner. Since then I have used the Paragon Bloodstock name to purchase for myself or friends and it has been very lucky for me and for people involved with some of the horses over the past few years. Other services I offer at the moment is boarding which are mainly horses in partnership with friends or solely owned by friends. Overall I would like to try and grow my agent and boarding business over the next few years as best I can.
What do you look for when purchasing a horse?
I don’t look for one particular thing in buying a horse, usually it’s a number of factors. The main factor is value and I consider if I have an angle with this horse of any age to make it more valuable in the future, or sometimes it’s just a no brainer to me (and maybe no one else!) - I mark the catalogue of all the lots I want to see, I look at as many as I can usually only once at the barns and I will roughly value them. I will try hang around the back ring of each complex and watch each horse I have coming by on my list. Even if I think a horse will be over budget I will still leave on my list just in case it may slip through, usually on the ones I over value I do get blown out of the water but an odd time you’d be surprised and the horse would be knocked down to me.
Tell us about your best two bargain buys to date?
My two best bargain buys to date have been Dandy’s Beano, a €1000 Dandy man yearling who was black -type placed, €1,000 Invincible Spirit Broodmare Jumeirah Palm Star who has bred Ascot Princess Margaret Keeneland Group 3 2yo winner Under The Stars.
You’re man with a string of businesses, tell us the best business advice you have been given or would give to a young business man or woman?
The best business advise I have been given is “if you’re not in you can’t win”. In saying that, it is important not to jump at every opportunity as I can safely say I have been stung before but keep trying. I think when looking at any investments, if you can spread your risk a reward will come at some stage.
What are your plans for the yearling sales in 2021?
My plan for the yearling sales is to buy 8-12 yearlings at the Irish, UK, French & USA yearling sales with an aim to race as 2yos, spread across trainers in Ireland, UK & France. There is unbelievable value in buying yearlings to race with plenty of upside such as with every yearling offered. He or she potentially could be a group horse in the future so the dream is very much alive when buying a yearling with also mouth-watering sales bonus on offer this year with a sales race worth up to €1,000,000 such as the Goff’s Million Orby sale race, €100k Goff’s Sportsman’s Race, Great British Fillies Bonus, Goff’s UK “Free Horse“ sales race initiative, Tattersalls UK Book 1 & Craven Bonus, Tatts Ire €300k sales race and also French Owners Premiums which is only a snippet of bonuses on offer by all the sales companies in Europe. Anyone that is interested in getting involved in purchasing a share in a yearling at the upcoming sales please feel free to call, email or WhatsApp me for more details +353 87 4161729 & [email protected]
