Notable Wins:
- Horse and Jockey Hotel Hurdle: Sunshine Guest 2007
- Michael McNamara & Co. Builders Dublin & Galway Premier Handicap: Hard Rock City 2007
- Oliver Freaney & Company September Premier Handicap: Hard Rock City 2005
- Give Thanks Stakes: My Renee 2004
- Harvest Stakes: My Renee 2003
- Knockaire Stakes: Just Special 2002
- Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial: Preseli 2000
- Moyglare Stud Stakes: Preseli 1999
- Debutante Fillies Stakes: Preseli 1999
- Queen Alexandra Stakes: San Sebastian 1999
- Ascot Stakes Handicap: San Sebastian 1998
- Railway Stakes: Flame Of Athens 1995
- McDonogh Handicap: Alder Rose 1986
- Athasi Stakes: Quiet Thoughts 1985
Michael Grassick first came to prominence in racing as an amateur rider, but his true calling proved to be training, and having taken out his training licence to train in the mid-80’s, he is one of the more experienced trainers in the country and sends out a consistent flow of winners from his Fenpark Stables, which are based within a mile of the Curragh Racecourse. Michael didn’t waste any time making his mark as a trainer, gaining a notable victory with the useful Quiet Thoughts in the Athasi Stakes at the Curragh in 1985. Grassick also teamed up with Declan Gillespie to win the 1986 McDonogh Handicap at the Galway Summer Festival with 20/1 chance Alder Rose, while the consistent and versatile Dochas was a fine servant to the stable around this time winning on several occasions and reaching the frame on a regular basis.
Michael has some very loyal owners in his stable such as Pat O’Kelly of Kilcarn Stud who is a longstanding patron and together they have enjoyed considerable success. In 1995, the talented Flame Of Athens landed the Railway Stakes at the Curragh on Derby Day, but unfortunately his career was blighted by injury and he never really got the chance to attain the heights that were once promised. In the mid-1990s, a young Eddie Ahern was the stable apprentice and he quickly developed into a rider of some potential, being crowned Champion Apprentice in 1997. Eddie and Michael formed a good partnership and they combined to win some good races with the progressive San Sebastian. Having been rated just 47 when winning at Sligo in June 1997, the horse rattled off a succession of handicap victories during that season. The following year he gave his trainer and jockey a notable victory in the 1998 Ascot Stakes Handicap at Royal Ascot and the following season, he followed up with another Royal Ascot victory, this time under Michael Kinane as he narrowly took the Queen Alexandra Stakes, which has the distinction of being the longest flat race in Great Britain. By the time he was sold to England less than two years after his first win off 47, he was rated 110.
During the 1999 season, Grassick recorded his biggest training success when Preseli landed the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh under Eddie Ahern. Unbeaten on her first three outings including a fine victory in the Debutante Stakes at Leopardstown the previous month, Preseli began her three-year-old career with a narrow victory in the Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial in April, but ran below form when fancied for the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh the following month. She bounced back to something like her best form when narrowly failing to defeat Lady Upstage in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on Derby weekend, but a tilt at the Irish Oaks three weeks later exposed a lack of stamina and she trailed in towards the rear of the field.
In more recent times, Michael has done well with what he has at his disposal and the likes of Executive Decision (4 wins), Golovin (4 wins), Groundswell (3 wins), Little Nymph (5 races) and Lets Clic Together (3 wins) have all contributed to the tally of winners. Katherine Seymour was a useful juvenile and landed the Loder European Breeders Fund Fillies Race at the Curragh while Palace Royale went close on several occasions in listed races without managing to win one. Just Special gave the stable a notable victory in the 2002 Knockaire Stakes at Leopardstown and Crimphill won the listed European Breeders Fund Salsabil Stakes at Navan the following season. Another very useful performer was My Renee who won a listed race at Ascot in 2003 before taking the Give Thanks Stakes at Cork the following season and she rounded off her career with an agonising short head defeat in the Group 3 Princess Royal Stakes at Ascot in September. Another notable performer has been Sunshine Guest, who won five races on the Flat and two wins over hurdles including a listed event at Thurles last December before meeting with an untimely end at Doncaster the following month.
Michael's best horse in the past couple of seasons has been Hard Rock City, who has been a fine stable servant and was well placed by Grassick to win his first four races. Successful at Navan in May 2005, he subsequently won three handicaps at Leopardstown with the last of them coming in the very valuable Oliver Freaney September Handicap on the same day as the Baileys Irish Champion Stakes. He only made it to the track twice in 2006, owing to a ligament injury, but he returned in 2007 in better form than ever. He began his campaign with a win in a conditions race at Gowran Park before meeting with a number of defeats, but he bounced back to gain the most valuable win of his career in the Michael McNamara & Co. Builders Dublin & Galway Premier Handicap at the Galway Festival. While he has failed to run to form in both his starts this term, it would be no surprise whatsoever if Grassick can coax him back to form in the coming weeks and months.
Updated: June 2008
