Address: Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
Principal Jockeys: Kevin Coleman, Tom Doyle, Derek O’Connor, Padraig Roche
Notable Wins:
Surehaul Mercedes Novice Hurdle: On The Way Out 2009
Galway Hurdle: Indian Pace 2008, Black Queen 1998
Fishery Lane Hurdle: Migmatite 2007
William Ewart Properties Handicap Hurdle: Ri Na Deise 2007
Boylesports 115 Nationwide Premier Handicap: King Rama 2007
Bewleys Hotels EBF Mares Hurdle: Blazing Liss 2005
Dawn Milk Omega EBF Mares Novice Hurdle: Blazing Liss 2005
Irish Cesarewitch: Clara Allen 2005
EBF National Hunt Fillies Bumper: Reine Des Reines 2003
December Festival Hurdle: Liss A Paoraigh 2002
Lismullen Hurdle: Liss A Paoraigh 2001
Royal Bond Novice Hurdle: Liss A Paoraigh 2000
Punchestown Champion Bumper: Liss A Paoraigh 2000
John Kiely has long been recognised as one of the shrewdest trainers in Ireland, having mastered his trade over a period of over 20 years. Not the type to seek the limelight, Kiely is one of the most respected members of the training ranks and his yard will more often than not house a talented horse. He has also trained some high-class performers in the early stages of their careers before selling them on to continue their careers in England.
Some of Kiely’s most long-standing supporters have been the Flynn family and it was for them that Kiely trained one of the most talented mares that he has had through his hands, Liss A Paoraigh. She made an eye-catching debut when finishing third in a maiden hurdle at Thurles in February 2000 and she soon delivered on that promise, winning a bumper at Clonmel the following month. Sent to the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at Punchestown for her next start, she belied odds of 9/1 to beat off some better fancied rivals by an authoritative three lengths. The following season she was sent over hurdles and won her first two starts in that sphere before gaining her second win at Grade 1 level in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse. One more start that season saw her lose her unbeaten record over hurdles at the hands of Colonel Braxton in a Grade 2 event at Leopardstown. 2001/2 saw her venture into all-aged company and she acquitted herself well, getting the better of the legendary Limestone Lad in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan, before finishing second behind the same rival in the Hatton´s Grace Hurdle and behind Ned Kelly in the AIG Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown. 2002/3 began in somewhat frustrating fashion for the mare, as on her first three starts she finished second to Limestone Lad, but her next start saw her gain the biggest win of her career, routing the field in the Grade 1 December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown. A few months later, she had the final start of her career when finishing a creditable fifth in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
The Flynn family provided Kiely with another talented mare in more recent years in the shape of Blazing Liss, who won three bumpers before going on to win twice at listed level over hurdles. Kiely does not have many runners on the Flat, but that has not stopped him from gaining a number of notable wins in that sphere in recent years, winning the Irish Cesarewitch with Clara Allen in 2005 and Boylesports 115 Nationwide Premier Handicap with King Rama in 2007. The Galway Hurdle is a race that holds a special place in Kiely’s heart, as he has won the highly-prestigious race on two occasions, namely with Black Queen in 1998 and Indian Pace in 2008.
A notable part of Kiely’s business has been to win bumpers with horses and sell them on. Notable examples of such trades in recent years have been Boychuk, who won a bumper at Killarney in July 2005for Kiely before going on to win Grade 2 events over hurdles and fences for Philip Hobbs, and Snap Tie, who made a winning debut in a bumper at Limerick in May 2006 before going on to be Grade 1-placed over hurdles for the same trainer.
With the JP McManus-owned pair of Sweeps Hill and Taking Stock having made impressive winning debuts in bumpers in recent weeks, Kiely looks to have some formidable ammunition for the seasons to come and this shrewd trainer is without doubt one that every punter should keep on the right side of.
February 2009
