Wednesday 6 July 2016

VISIT TO MANTON, BRIAN MEEHAN AT MANTON HOUSE ESTATE



As you enter into the well-equipped racing office, you would not be mistaken to think you were in a modern, hi tech establishment in the city,Open desk planning, wide screen T. V’s and recent racing publications, in a comfortable break out area receives you and assures you that this establishment is professional and the occupants know what they are about.
Brain Meehan has been a trainer not afraid of taking on the world. Whilst winning group races in the UK, the trainer has taken on, and beaten the best in America and Dubai.

Only settling in at Manton just outside Marlborough in 2015, the county Limerick born Irishman has approximately 70 horse in his charge.
 Asked how the season was looking for him, he mentioned,’ it’s been a quite one, but the horses are coming into themselves now, so fingers crossed we will make up for it on the back end of the season.’
The yard relaxed and spacious gives plenty of room for the horse not to feel hemmed in, this included their stables in the Astor yard. Large and airy, allowing the horse to have their own time if they want.

No mad shouts and yells from the staff, who all go about their business knowing what they have to do, and what the guvnor expects.








The horses on show were about a dozen two year olds  out for a short canter on the gallops that are bred themselves to make champions.


 Four all weather gallops, four grass gallops, and an undercover track all to choose from overlooking wide open spaces made for some tremendous landscape eye candy, but more importantly allowing the horse to work at their best. 
I must say though all of the two year olds, all but two unraced seemed to settle and go about their work in a relaxed manner.





The horses for ones starting out on their racing career looked well. Nice strong sorts that looked fit and eager to race.
Horses by See the Stars, Kodiak and Exceed and excel, all went about their work with great professionalism, all looked well, and horses the trainer would hope give him that stronger end of season he was looking for.





Brian not a trainer continually barking out orders to his staff, which would tell you he trusts in them to do what he is looking for.
 ‘I have a good bunch of staff, so I can get a little annoyed when they do something a little daft, as I know I have staff that are very experienced.’ And from the onset of walking into that racing office, you know you would expect.

The topic of conversation did flow a little about the industries staffing issue, Brain commenting on the pay structure in his yard is good for someone who wants to work in an industry that is exciting and fulfilling, good pay, approx. 18’000 pa, pool monies that can sometimes reach well over £1’000 and free accommodation all wrapped together in a package. To be even thinking of coming into the industry you must already have the love, passion and understanding of equestrianism, so you would be well aware of the downfalls, if not experienced them already, the trainer not offering some magic potion to cure the debate he just knows what he does and it works, and walking around the boxes and chatting to his staff, you can see it does work, all of them as calm, polite and knowledgeable as the trainer himself.

The trainer all too happy to let a group of enthusiasts around his yard, unaccompanied, again showing the trainers faith not only in us but that of his staff ended a visit that was a pleasure to be seen.

Like a good wine, the more you think of it, even after you have drunk it the better it becomes, and as I reflect on the visit days after, the more I felt it was a privileged to meet Brian Meehan and his team.

More images and blogs from yard visits, and racing reports from fat, under rules and Point to point racing can be viewed at